Monoprinting with the Taos Moderns

Class held July 22-26, 2024 in Taos, NM. - Instructor: Mary Claire Becker, MFA - In the mid-20th century, a group of artists influenced by abstract expressionism convened in Taos, taking inspiration from the remarkable New Mexico landscape to create poignant abstract and non-representational compositions. Artists such as Louis Ribak, Agnes Martin, and Cliff Harmon traded the cityscapes of New York and Los Angeles for the vivid colors and brisk air of the New Mexico desert. Students in the class will take inspiration from the Taos Moderns to create abstractions of the Taos landscape via monotype. Monotype is the most painterly of the printmaking media and can be used to create a variety of textures, color flats, and patterns quickly and playfully. It is an ideal introduction to printmaking for the beginner, as well as being a rewarding generative process for the more seasoned artist. All skill levels welcome; no previous art experience necessary. Mary Claire Becker is an Assistant Professor in the OSU Department of Art, Art History & Graphic Design. As a studio artist, she uses printmaking, sculpture, and video animation to explore landscape in industrialized cultures. She has shown nationally at prestigious venues. She has been an artist in residence at Central Michigan University, the Jentel Artist Foundation in Wyoming, the Kimmel Harding Nelson Center in Nebraska, and the Lakeside Laboratories AIR program in Iowa. In 2023, she was an OSU Hargis Fellow in residence at the Doel Reed Center and taught a highly successful credit class.