The International Print Center New York (IPCNY) is a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting the appreciation of fine art prints. Its galleries present original prints from both established and emerging artists. They also organize two printmaking exhibitions each season in Chelsea.
The IPCNY was founded in 2000 by Anne Coffin. Its mission is to help students and teachers enjoy fine art prints. Although the organization is a nonprofit, it receives funding from government agencies, foundations, and individual donations. In addition to organizing new print shows, the IPCNY hosts special events and programs to engage audiences and foster serious study of fine art prints.
The International Print Center New York is the first institution in the United States to focus on the medium of print. Their mission includes offering professional print production services, desktop publishing products, and other printing related education tools. They have a wide variety of resources for printmakers of all skill levels and a growing team to support them.
One of their flagship services is the Digital Print Center, which is located in the Studio Arts Building. This center offers large format archival digital printing. The center accepts a range of media including USB thumb drives and labeled media. However, it cannot provide storage space for prints. There Print Center is no guarantee that a print will be available for pickup three days after its completion.
Another one of the Print Center’s offerings is a web-based storefront. The site allows users to view an order history, request print orders, and check the status of jobs in progress. Some examples of prints that have been created are a laser cut leaves in an artist book by Bethany Collins, and a pair of copper foil acetate sound tapestries by Jess Rowland.
The Print Center has also incorporated the best of modern printmaking techniques into its educational offerings. For example, the Visual Record: The Materiality of Sound in Print, an exhibit which consists of a selection of exemplary works, will highlight the relationships between sound and image.
Other notable Print Center features include a digital color copier that can handle both black and white and color prints. This color printer can produce 8.5 x 11 and 11 x 17 copies and has faxing capabilities. Additional printers are located on the first and second floors of the building.
A new print making exhibit will be opening this April. Titled Printing, it will include a number of large and small pieces and demonstrate a few printmaking techniques.
Using the Print Center as a learning tool is a great idea for educators. In the past, the center offered a limited number of services to students and campus personnel, but now the organization is expanding its footprint and the physical space it resides in. As a result, Print Center has become a major hub for learning about and enjoying the medium of print.
Among other activities, the Print Center has an annual calendar. Its most exciting exhibitions are likely to appear in the next few years.