On Friday, September 12th from 6:00 to 7:30pm we will welcome April to lead our first artist presentation at our new studio space in the Kendall Building at 888 Mililani Street (at the corner of Queen and Mililani). She will talk about Mokuhanga, a traditional Japanese water-based woodblock printing. April is an amazing American artist and printmaker from New York. She is the author of the 2015 publication “Japanese Woodblock Printing Workshop”. Don’t miss this presentation. You can also see some of her work on exhibit at HoMA in the “Enduring Impressions: Contemporary Woodblock Prints” exhibit. Her knowledge and experience makes her a printmaking national treasure. We look forward to welcoming her.
A Letter from Our Director, Denise Karabinus
When I lost my newborn son in January 2013, Honolulu Printmakers became my creative refuge. The compassion, generosity, and space to create were vital for my healing. I had a story to tell, and the cathartic repetition of printmaking processes — mixing ink, tearing paper, rolling brayers, and making thousands of prints — provided the time and space to quietly unfold myself to the world again.
My commitment to Honolulu Printmakers is deeply personal. I took the stewardship of this organization seriously, especially during our most vulnerable moments. We are now in a very different reality than when I took over during COVID.
Our studio is bustling and filled with amazing creative energy. Taking this significant step into property ownership will secure our precious organization and launch our community into the future. We are doubling our size, moving into a safe, light-filled home where our artists and the many lives we touch can truly thrive. Let's take this leap together!
Deep appreciation to everyone involved in this project!
Through sheer grit and determination we are starting the next chapter in our next 100 year story. With over 500 volunteer hours contributed already, office cubicles have been gutted, carpeting removed, plumbing updated, gorgeous crystal-clear tint applied on windows to show off our awesome view and new floors are installed!
Three major $50,000 gifts from longtime supporters are on offer to kick start this project. Mahalo to Paul Weisman, Marcia Morse and another anonymous family for helping us get to LIFT OFF!
Our vision to develop the state of the art printmaking studio of our dreams is beginning to take shape. We want YOU to be a part of this story.
Additional volunteer work days have been announced via email and are added to our website. We need a lot of help and we want everyone to be involved. It is exhilarating to be a part of this. Do not miss out!
We need helpers to paint, do light carpentry work with José in the evenings, and pack/unpack and organize the studio areas once we move into the new space. Please use this linked schedule to sign up or contact Denise at 210-315-2244 to let us know when you can come in to help out.
And please join us this Friday, August 22nd from 5-7pm at our 1142 Bethel Street location for one last toast to our space before we say goodbye.
Your donation will launch us towards our goal to match $150,000 by October 2025. Join the Brayer Bunch. Add your name to our Founding Donors Wall.
Be Part of the Next Chapter of Honolulu Printmakers
We’re building the premier printmaking center for the next generation right in the heart of downtown Honolulu. Three incredibly generous donors have each pledged $50,000, and they’re challenging our community to match their $150,000 gift by October 2025.
Every donation, big or small, brings us closer to unlocking this match and opening the doors to our new creative home. As a thank you, your name will be proudly featured on our Founding Donors Wall, a permanent tribute to the people who made it possible.
Join the Brayer Bunch. Shape the future of printmaking in Hawai‘i. Let’s meet this challenge together!
Our strategic actions:
Renovate our recently purchased property!
Purchase a few key pieces of the most advanced printmaking equipment available today.
Offer world class printmaking workshops to our members and the community!
SPECIAL PROGRAM Intaglio Line Work with Visiting Artist Koichi Yamamoto
Instructor: Koichi Yamamoto
$450.00
June 22nd - 28th 9:00 am - 1:00 pm
Course includes open studio the entire week.
In this course, we will be investigating fundamental visual elements, especially with copper Intaglio printmaking lines from drypoint, engraving and etchings. Understanding various quality of lines are essential part of building drawing and compositions. We will be making various types of lines such as fast dynamic and expressive gesture trace mark to slow meditative precision engraving lines and dots on copper plate to create contrast in in intaglio image makings. All participants are welcome to bring their own works as well as start a new work on copper plates. We will be experiment with drypoint lines and later translate that to burin copper engraving and etchings. We will cover some historical background as well as technical demos including Chine- Collé and à la poupée.
Supplies List for Participants: Order your supplies for delivery before course begins.
Printing paper Fabriano Unica 250gsm, 22x30” x 10 sheets each student
Leather work gloves, Home Depot or Amazon
Sharpie markers black and red
Supplies provided by the HP studio:
Baldwin Ink Grounds, Lexan plate 9”x 6”, newsprint, brayers, cleaning supplies, Frosted mylar 24x36x.005”, Tracing paper and many shared supplies and tools. Teaching Assistant knowledgeable with BIG grounds will be available for consult.
Skill Level: Open to All
$50 Discount for Members. Discount Code will be sent out in advance to add to your cart on check out. If you did not receive the Discount code in an email or text 210-315-2244 ask for it before checking out. Sorry - no discounts can be applied after checkout.
$50 Fee will be taken for any workshop cancellations to cover our administrative costs. No cancellations accepted 7 days before a workshop.
Instructor Bio:
Koichi Yamamoto is an artist who merges the traditional and contemporary by creating unique and innovative approaches to the language of printmaking.
Koichi has worked with meticulous copper engravings to large-scale monotypes and kites. He studied at the Pacific Northwest College of Art in Portland, Oregon then relocated to Krakow, Poland and Bratislava Academy of Fine Arts in Slovakia for learning copper engravings. He completed MFA at University of Alberta, Canada. He has taught at Utah State University and University of Delaware and currently a professor at University of Tennessee in Knoxville.
To sign up, please go directly to the class page, add to cart and check out.
Risography Digital Tools with Pencil Urchin Press
Risography Digital Tools with Pencil Urchin Press
Instructor: Pencil Urchin Press
Saturday, May 17th 10 am - 4 pm
Sunday May 18th 10 am - 4 pm
During this two session workshop, participants will come in with pre-planned images/projects to Riso print. Having taken Intro to Risography, or other prior Riso experience is recommended. Workshop participants will also be encouraged to bring their own laptop or tablet for demos and making content for the workshop.
Appropriate projects for this course would be complex print projects (3+ colors, multiple prints, etc), or small publications (art book, comics, zines, etc). Extra attention given to preparing print files in the following softwares:
● Adobe Photoshop
● Adobe Illustrator
● Spectrolite
● Procreate
A working knowledge of any of the above programs is preferred. Through the use of digital tools participants will be able to quickly output images with a higher range of control then working with physical media. Course outline:
• Presentation on examples of digital tools being utilized in Riso, overview of methods/softwares
• Tutorials in the above software, with focus in:
- Setting up CMYK (or simulated process) images, both with an without halftones
- Setting up illustrations/designs as prints through photoshop channels / color range selection tool.
- Setting up files for a riso animation
- Double-sided printing & setting up trim marks
• Individual press time for each participant
• Time to finish and assemble individual and group project
This workshop included all basic Riso supply fees. If participants desire specific colors and sizes of paper they should plan to bring them to the workshop. White paper and a few colors will be offered for in workshop use.
Bio & Teaching Experience:
Devyn Park & Sarah Week are two visual artists living and practicing art in their hometown, Kailua-Kona Hawai’i. Devyn and Sarah own and operate their own Risograph and Screen Printing studio, Pencil Urchin Press. Devyn obtained her BFA in Illustration at the Rhode Island School of Design in 2015, and her MFA in Print Media at the Pacific Northwest College of Art in 2019. Sarah obtained her BFA in Animation at the Academy of Art University in 2014.
-$50 Discount for Members. Discount Code will be sent out in advance to add to your cart on check out. If you did not receive the Discount code in an email or text 210-315-2244 ask for it before checking out. Sorry - no discounts can be applied after checkout.
$50 Fee will be taken for any workshop cancellations to cover our administrative costs. No cancellations accepted 7 days before a workshop.
To sign up, go to our class page, add to cart and check out.
Kamehameha Schools Printmakers
This is the second year for the Kamehameha Printmakers exhibition at Printmakers. The artworks will be on exhibit from January 3 – 26th. The exhibition highlights a selection of outstanding examples of student creativity and innovation! The relief and screen-prints on view emphasize the young printmaker's Hawaiian identity. Their art is inspired by ‘Ike Kupuna, ‘Ōlelo No’eau, Hawaiian History, family legends and personal insights.
Students were asked to talk story with their Kupuna and create a story about an interaction a family member had with an `aumakua. Students then made a visual representation of this story through printmaking.
Open Jan 3rd through Jan 26th during studio hours (Tues – Sat 9 – 5) at 1142 Bethel St, Honolulu
Printer Lei on Display This Weekend
The Honolulu Printmakers “Printer Lei” project is in full swing. Please join us this weekend during the DAC Holiday Extravaganza at our Bethel Street location for a hands-on workshop of paper lei-making. Use our precut circles, flowers, and various shapes crafted out of Riso by-product papers to create lei with some of our volunteers.
Come view some of the prototypes of “Printer Lei” print works in our ongoing exhibition and enjoy the music of James McCarthy.
Honolulu Printmakers will be open on Friday and Saturday, December 13 – 14th from 5:30 – 8:30pm. Learn more about the DAC Holiday Extravaganza and all of the events here.
Empower Creativity and Preserve our 100 Year Legacy with Your Support
Dear Friends and Supporters,
As we reflect on another vibrant year in our community, we are filled with gratitude for the passion, creativity and dedication that each of you brings to Honolulu Printmakers. Your support has enabled us to continue our mission of fostering a thriving artistic environment, preserving the rich history of printmaking and nurturing the next generation of artists. We invite you to join us in taking bold steps forward as we plot and plan our big 100 Centennial Celebration!
L: Volunteers at the Print Experience at DAC’s Heart of Arts Street Festival. R: Volunteers at the 2024 Annual Exhibition
We foster Community, Connection and Creativity in everything we do:
Celebrating Artistic Excellence: This year, we hosted 10 dynamic exhibitions showcasing the talents of both emerging and established printmakers across the islands. Your contributions have allowed us to offer artists a platform to share their work with the community.
Educational Outreach: Our workshops and educational programs reached hundreds of new friends, providing them with hands-on experience and nurturing their love for the arts. Our partnerships with Kalihi Kai Elementary, Ryse Foundation, After School Art and many more are vital in keeping the art of printmaking alive and inspiring future generations.
Community Engagement: Our community events, including the popular annual Holiday Sale, Printerlei Project and Print Experience Program. We brought together art enthusiasts from across the islands. Our collaboration with B-Hari and the Alzheimer's Foundation, Waikiki Aquarium and Hawaii Plantation Village pave the way for new long term partnerships. These programs not only support local artists but also foster a deeper appreciation for the art of printmaking within our community.
Our Vision for the Future:
As we look ahead, we are excited about the possibilities that lie before us. We are planning our Centennial Celebration and proudly declare— 2028 The Year of the Print! Honolulu Printmakers is actively seeking our forever home. We are envisioning a dynamic Print Center that will nurture our community for the next 100 years.
Can we count on your support as we boldly step forward?
Honolulu Printmakers are Leaders in the Creative Community:
Expand Our Educational Programs: Increase the reach of our workshops to underrepresented communities, ensuring that more individuals have the opportunity to engage with the arts. We are developing workshops together with neighbor island art centers.
Enhance Our Facilities: Upgrade our printmaking studios and equipment to provide a state-of-the-art environment for our artists to create and innovate.
Preserve Artistic Heritage: Promote and preserve the rich history of printmaking in Hawaii, ensuring that future generations can learn from and be inspired by our past. Our new Statewide Newsletter about Printmaking in Hawaii will be coming out in early 2025!
L: HCF Communications Team R: On and Off the Press at Donkey Mill Arts Center.
How You Can Make a Difference:
Your generosity is the cornerstone of our success. This year, we ask you to consider making a tax-deductible donation to Honolulu Printmakers. Your gift, no matter the size, will directly impact our ability to provide valuable resources, support local artists and enrich our community.
$50 – Supports the purchase of new ink for open studio + workshops.
$100 – Helps fund educational outreach programs for underserved youth.
$250 – Purchase special supplies for our Lithography program.
$500 – Provides 2 scholarships for aspiring artists to attend our advanced workshops.
$1,000 – Fund the publication of our Statewide Newsletter Paper and Ink
Together, we can ensure that the art of printmaking continues to thrive in Hawaii.
Donate Today: To make your contribution, mail a check to: Honolulu Printmakers, 1142 Bethel Street, Honolulu, HI 96813 100% of the donation goes to HP.
Donate Online through our website home page.
For more information on our programs and events, feel free to reach out to us at director@honoluluprintmakers.org
Thank you for being a vital part of our community. Your support and commitment inspire us to keep pushing the boundaries of creativity and artistic expression.
Ke Alaula
Join us (Windward CC Gallery 'Tolani) for Ke Alaula, a series of six discussion programs featuring the photographers in the exhibition The OGs: Photographers of the Silver Gelatin Process, a roundtable conversation with experts on the importance of archiving and caring for photographs, and a second roundtable on the historic struggles over water diversion in Waiahole and using photography as a weapon.
All programs are free and open to the general public. Ke Alaula is the accompanying program for the exhibition: The OGs: Photographers of the Silver Gelatin Process, September 6 – December 6, 2024.
Windward CC Gallery 'Tolani hours: Monday through Saturday, 1-5pm. Located adjacent to Paliku Theatre.
All Talks will be held from 2 – 3:30pm
October 19 – 'Aina That Which Feeds, Kimo Cashman and Karen Kosasa October 26 - Wayne Levin: A Life in Photography
November 9 – Capturing Our Past for Our Futures — Preserving the Photographer's Opus November 23 - Franco Salmoiraghi: Photography + Experience
November 16 – Mai Nã Kupuna Mai, Renee lijima and Shuzo Uemoto
November 30 – Waiahole: Photography As a Weapon
For more information contact: kapulani@hawaii.edu at 808-236-9155 or visit gallery.windward.hawaii.edu
Join us for a conversation between member of the Honolulu Printmakers, Renee lijima and Shuzo Uemoto moderated by Shirley Lam. lijima and Uemoto will discuss how the medium of photography allowed them to capture important experiences. lijima's work in the gallery first presented in 1991, allowed her to reflect on the subject of "impermanence and change" as she photographed family members, especially the women in her family. She artfully combined older photographs, photocopied images, and photographs she had just taken.
In 1981, Uemoto worked with the Kalihi-Palama Culture and the Arts Society to document important kumu hula. This project provided the opportunity for him to learn about the Native Hawaiian community, the priviledge to get to know important cultural leaders he did not know beforehand, and eventually led to a book project, exhibition, and acquisition by the Hawaii State Foundation on Culture and the Arts.
Download the flyer here.
Artwork by Yvonne Cheng
The Legacy Collection of Hans Loffel: On View Now
Excerpt from On View: 9 Crazy-Good New Art Exhibits to See in September
Written by Brie Thalmann for Honolulu Magazine
Local Honolulu Printmakers recently acquired the extensive personal art collection of celebrated Hawai‘i artist Hans Loffel. The assortment spans a broad range of techniques and mediums and includes original works by acclaimed Hawai‘i artists, including Hiroki Morinoue, Yvonne Cheng, Core Yee, Franco Salmoiraghi and Ken Bushnell, a selection of which will be on view. In addition, the art exhibit includes several of Loffel’s own mixed-media creations, which blend elements of print and paint.
On view at our 1142 Bethel Street location through October 20, 2024.
Read the entire article to get a great overview of what is happening in the Honolulu art scene right now on honolulumagazine.com.