Billions: New Work by Jonathan Barcan

Mirabo Press is thrilled to announce its inaugural exhibition, Billions: New Work by Jonathan Barcan. 

This exhibition presents a selection of prints from resident artist Jonathan Barcan’s most recent series, Billions and Billions. The work on view is comprised of multi-plate prints, wherein each image is made up of ten to fifty different etchings, run through the press together on a single sheet of paper. Each resulting piece has a stacked and quilted quality, referencing compiled information and presenting many parts as a whole.

The concept, inspired by contemporary philosopher Alan Watts’ lecture, “The Wiggle World,” is communicated via imagery ranging from the figurative to the abstract. Diagrammatic drawings sit alongside anatomical illustrations, textual elements, and references to medical scans. The prints, like Watts’ theories, explore the progression of humanity in relationship to the evolution of the universe. Barcan dissects the connection between nature and progress both from close up and a distant point of view.

Barcan’s conceptual approach matches his creative process, wherein he employs various techniques; drypoint, line etching, and aquatint to name a few. He will be sharing his process with Buffalo not only at the exhibition, but also via workshop. On Saturday, July 20, Barcan will host a workshop at Mirabo Press, Wabi Sabi Etching. For more information and to register, please visit https://www.mirabopress.com/book-online/wabi-sabi-etching.

About the artist:
Barcan is a former University at Buffalo graduate student in the Department of Art. He has come back to town from Portland, Oregon where he maintains a studio practice based in mixed media and printmaking. Barcan has shown nationally and internationally, with noteworthy exhibitions including the Florence Biennial, Florence, Italy, and the Today Museum Printmaking Center, Beijing, China, and residencies at the Central Academy of Fine Art, Beijing, and Druckwerk Print Studios in Basel, Switzerland.
Jonathan Barcan’s website: https://jonathanbarcan.com/

About Mirabo Press:
Mirabo Press is a printmaking studio founded by Bob Fleming, Rachel Shelton, and Mizin Shin. We offer limited edition printmaking by contract to individuals and galleries, working to expand the local art scene by collaborating with both regional and national artists. These collaborative opportunities allow for advancement of the medium and we are happy to work with artists both inexperienced and well versed in print media.

Equipped for intaglio, monotype, relief, and screen printing, Mirabo Press also provides educational and community programming. Workshops for small groups designed to give individual attention cover a range of processes, and local educational institutions are welcome to bring students to the studio to learn about this democratic and socially formative medium.
Mirabo Website: www.mirabopress.com