Iris de Leeuw worked in the 1960’s and 70’s with print protest through poster art. Print was previously an easily disseminated and effective visual communication form, but has lost this edge to the web. However, one medium does not have to exclude the other, but can work together calling on combined core strengths to get the message through. Therefore, Iris has developed not only a web place site for protest and positive change through art, but has also masterminded the ‘Art as a Tool for Freedom’ symposium in Holland May 20 2010 at the Roosevelt Academy. Print based activist come together with social scientists to explore freedom.

Print- is still alive. It needs no electricity to happen, just great ideas combined with an ethos. Unplugged- the poster has the potential still to electrify.

Iris writes’ Bring peace into the world with your art.’
For more information go to: www.irisdeleeuw.com then : freedomhouse-art int in the lower right corner on the site.

Enjoy Iris’ print from 1967ish.

I took off to Ornskoldsvik which is a smallish town in North Sweden. 29000 inhabitants, snow drifts, a ski-jump which dominates the edge of the city and one, fine collective printsstudio named ‘The Culture Factory’. I became a true cultural worker assisting master printer Stefano Beccari with a monumental printmaking workshop. The week resulted in a sort of existential detox.My existence became printmaking, conversations and snowlined silence.

The Culture Factory is run by a dedicated voluntary team of people who for 30 years have built towards their vision resulting in a shared working space. It is harmonious and well -equipped.The space is grounded in creativity and community,and I long to return to work, staying in the guest-flat above. Existence is stripped of the big city frenzy,and here it is just about making the image, and it fine to be kind to strangers while letting the universe of imagination unfold and flow within as the town bumbles on next to the fjord. Rivers make this town possible.

That makes me think that this year wil be all about ‘flow’ and water is its central theme. Preparing for the Littoral Show in Bristol and starting work on oversized prints with Stefano Beccari on ’sewage’. The existential detox continues through the medium of printmaking.

And here is the story:
Arriving at Arlanda airport’s train station platform. No chance for a hustle and bustle.

Taking the train from Stockholm Central Station. Last moment for relishing crowds before the emptiness of the north.

First look at ‘The Culture Factory’, perfect for an art-nomad: step of the the train and roll on with a 10 kg wheelie-bag in through the gallery:

Surroundings are suitably snowed in - although this time of the year is supposedly called late-winter-early-spring.

The fjord.

Center of town.

Master printer Stefano Beccari who joyfully battles with monumental prints up to 2.5 meters.At this moment resting.

The heart of the studio- the giant press!

A print drying by one of the eight artist-participants.

I discovered that The Culture Factory has a fully equipped letterpress set-up with an array of presses and an extensive font collections. So I met Maestro Number 2: Christer who helped me completing a five colour mini-print amidst the monumental workshop print activities using a letterpress for linocut relief print.

Maestro Christer at the press reminding me that in print- preparation , registration and perfection is the only way.

Preparing setting up the linocut, and the cradle for the block.In the end- it wasn’t perfect.

And then the end- a series of three prinst on show for one day in the gallery by one of the participants.

My collaborator was never found, which resulted in auto-collaboration, although both the Slovenian and British post office literally put their imprint on the piece. The final contribution became a stamp depicting a football manager. That game certainly has a love for money, although in the 60’s , I think , they played for love, not money.
The print was sent back, completed in the end, to the arrangers of the project.