The Leonard Baskin-Ted Hughes printmaking project which we are doing together with the University of Exeter is going well. Last Saturday we welcomed a new group of young people into printmaking. We visited the Special Collections at the University to view first hand their collection of Leonard Baskin prints (beautiful!). They are etchings, woodcuts and lithographs primarily, mostly annotated with Baskin’s words ‘To Ted and Carol Hughes’. Baskin and Hughes worked closely together on several publications including ‘The Crow’ and ‘Cave Birds’. Baskin, from the States, lived in Mid Devon for about 9 years in the 1970s. After his return to the States he and Hughes continued to collaborate.
The Art Society at the University of Exeter are working with us too, assisting with the teaching and organisation of the project. This project results in two exhibitions. The first one at The Ariel Gallery, Totnes will primarily show the printmaking by the Art Society and also prints created by adults on Double Elephant’s “Printmaking on Prescription” programme. This opens for 10 days on 31st January.
The second exhibition to be held at the University of Exeter will show all the work by the young people (13-18 yrs) alongside Baskin prints (reproductions as the environment isn’t suitable for the originals). From 27 Feb-30 April.
There is a wonderful film by the filmmaker Noel Channon, who was friends with both Hughes and Baskin. http://www.artistandpoet.co.uk/
There will be a film screening of this film in March, date to be confirmed. Contact catherine@doubleelephant.org.uk for more details.
Our talented photographer is Rob Darch www.robertdarch.com
