RELIEF PAPER HEADQUARTERS

Some time ago, I wrote, with regret, about the demise of Aiko's Paper in Chicago. Well, it has come to pass that they have shut their doors, and it is a loss to the paper purchasing world. The folks at Aiko's were very generous in helping Graphic Chemical to fill the void left by their closing. They shared with us a tremendous amount of information regarding papers that were popular with their customers, who their suppliers were, and much more.

Last month a contingent from Graphic traveled to an oriental paper summit. No it wasn't in Japan - if it had been I'd have found a way to attend. This one was held in Toronto, and our crew told me they found it not only interesting but highly invigorating. They are really psyched up to make us a major player in papers for relief printing techniques.

To that end, I did a quick count on how many papers have been added to our supply list in the past 2-3 months, and I was staggered to see that the number was 110 new papers. The interesting part of this is that they aren't done yet by a long shot.

Packaging papers is an art form in and of itself, and thin papers such as most of these is significantly more difficult. Our paper specialist, Pete, was really impressed with the training that he received relative to handling and packaging.

I've asked the boss - Susan - to do a guest piece here with more information about the specific papers, characteristics and strengths. She, as I expected gave me that look. You know the one that means, yeah, right! Eventually I'll get her to at least give me the information, but in the meantime, look at our web site for information, or call us, we're happy to talk to you about these new products.

SGC CHICAGO

We aren't too far away - hard as that is to believe - from the Southern Graphics Council conference in Chicago. The show ndates are March 25-29, 2009. The theme of the conference is Global Connections, and the committee is hard at work to put on one of the best conferences that SGC has ever had.

First of all, we're in Chicago, one of the great cities in the World (of course I'm biased). For the record - no cowboys and Indians, no Al Capone, and very few buffalo roaming the plains of the city, although we did have a cougar last Spring. Chicago is world class in every sense of the phrase - world class art & music, world class museums and galleries, world class architecture and world class sports...well that's a little bit of a stretch particularly with Winter sports.

Secondly, we're hosted by Columbia College a great school noted for its arts programs. Columbia is the home of Anchor Graphics, Columbia Book & Paper and some of the finest technology programs anywhere.

And finally, Chicago is just a scant 17 miles from the world headquarters of Graphic Chemical & Ink Company! If there is sufficient interest, we may try to organize a tour of our facilities for a group of attendees. You can always arrange for a private tour while you are in town, but we're hoping to jazz it up a little bit with a bus from the city, snacks and soft drinks etc. We have already begun the cleaning process so that when March rolls around we'll be ready for the onslaught.

CHICAGO AREA ART EXPO

Come and visit Graphic Chemical & Ink Company in Lisle, IL for the Learning & Product Expo 2008, July 11-13th. For those of you from out of the area, Lisle is about 25 miles west of downtown Chicago.

We'll be at the Hickory Ridge Mariott along with many other art supply vendors.

Classes and demonstrations are being presented in a variety of areas including printmaking, oils, wayter colors, ceramics and many more. Go to the show website - www.learningproductexpo.com/chi - for a show preview and registration information. While pre-registration isn't required, the earlier you sign up the better chance you have to get into the classes or demos you want.

Our good friend Teresa Parker is teaching a class on linoleum block printing on Friday, a Collage/Monotype class on Saturday, and classes on both techniques on Sunday. She will be highlighting the Caligo Safe Wash Relief Inks that are handled by Graphic Chemical. These inks, as many of you know, are oil based inks with all of the positive qualities of that medium, with the added bonus of cleaning up with soap and water!

Caligo Inks along with a wide selection of our product line will be available in Graphic's booth at the show. Hope we'll see you there.

AIN'T IT THE TRUTH

There is a great controversy today regarding the No Child Left Behind act. The act was due for reauthorization in 2007, but given the political climate, it could be several years before reauthorization occurs, if it ever does.

What that means is not that the law goes away, but rather it continues in its present form until 2014. The present form is probably more of a problem than many people think because, in my opinion, it takes a great idea, and lets the government deternmine how it is implemented.

A couple of years ago, a good friend from college that now teaches in Tennessee sent me a great e-mail called "NCLB football" explaining how the concept of No Child Left Behind would affect the game of football. For example, all kids would play football, but coaches would only work with the kids who weren't as skilled as their teammates. Football would be played year-round, but scores would only be kept in 3rd, 5th, 8th and 11th grades.

The end of this e-mail was a somewhat somber statement that I have stolen repeatedly for speaking engagements. It is," Remember that if no child is left behind, it's because no child is getting ahead."

Now, a colleague of mine has forwarded a new, far more timely e-mail regarding the subject. Tom Chapin, a well known recording artist has come up with a presentation on the fate of the arts under NCLB.

Please click on the following link to access the performance of Not On the Test. http://www.notonthetest.com/index.html

SCHOOL GOVERNANCE

The following was blatantly stolen from my good friend Brenda Welburn, the executive director of NASBE, the National Association of State Bords of Education. It has nothing to do with printmaking specifically, but the topic affects the quality of our education system nationwide.

Horace Mann, the father of public education in America, chaired the first State Board of Education in the United States in Massachusetts. He believed the “common school” would be the true equalizer for all Americans and used his service on the State Board of Education to focus the attention of state leaders on the intrinsic value of public schools. In 1839 he presided over the establishment of the nation’s first public school in Lexington, Massachusetts. During his tenure, fifty high schools were established across the state; not because he had the power of the governor or the budgeting authority of the legislature, but because he had a passion for educating all students.

I wonder what Mr. Mann would think today about the legislation that is making its way through the Vermont assembly to abolish the State Boards of Education, or for that matter the countless efforts by several governors to eliminate or diminish the public’s participation in public education governance. There are proposals in at least 10 states to reduce the authority of Boards, if not to eliminate them all together. The arguments are as inevitable as the proposals; “accountability should be in the hands of the governor”; “business leaders are dissatisfied with the slow progress of education reform”; “the majority of the Board was appointed by someone from another party, someone who doesn’t share the political views of the current governor.”Interesting how this line of reasoning focuses on power, influence and authority, not on the zeal embraced by Horace Mann for determining first what is good for all students, and then how providing a quality education of those students would benefit the country. We are inundated by state leaders with the challenges of global competitiveness and the importance of rigor, less frequently do we hear about academic relevancy or why students are disengaged.

The model of independent lay boards was developed to insulate education to the extent possible from politics. It had merit in 1837 when Horace Mann became the first State Board Chairman and it has merit today. The variety of views and perspectives from across a state informing the policymaking process benefits every child in the state. Four years before the Wallace Foundation identified school leadership and the role of the principal as a cornerstone for educational reform, State Board Members identified this as a critical issue and requested a NASBE Study Group on the topic. Before Governor Warner successfully led the National Governors’ Association’s initiative on high schools, State Board Members participated on a NASBE Study Group on the crisis state of the American high school.

As institutions State Boards are not perfect, as individuals State Board Members have flaws, but the same can be said for governors and legislatures and the solution is not to abolish them to improve the quality of governance at the state level. Governors and legislators should concentrate on how to strengthen and improve State Boards of Education, not eliminate them. Least we forget, it was a State Board Member who had the vision for public schools for all.

Brenda Lilienthal Welburn
Executive Director

NAMTA 2008

For over 40 years, almost without exception, Graphic Chemical & Ink has exhibited at the National Art Materials Trade Association (NAMTA) show. For reasons that I'll probably never understand, I chose not to get a booth this year, choosing rather to walk the show floor rather than exhibit.

NAMTA is an organization that is geared to the art supply retailer. Most of the exhibitors, including Graphic Chemical, are manufacturers of quality art materials. The show is only open to the trade, so most artists cannot get in the door. I can go on at great length about that particular situation, but suffice it to say that the majority of the members of this group would disagree with my position regarding allowing artists/educators to walk the show and provide manufacturers with input about new products.

Several years ago, I chaired the Art Educators committee of NAMTA. Our charge was to find ways to improve the interaction and communication between manufacturers, retail stores and artists. A number of suggestions were made and rejected as too risky to the industry, and the committee no longer exists.

Anyway, this year's show was held in Reno, NV, and while it seemed smaller than past years shows, I have no doubt that it was quite successful for most of the attendees. We have actually identified several new suppliers and a number of new offerings from some of our existing suppliers. Watch the blog for information on these products in the next few weeks. One product that I am excited about is a new size lino block - a 10 x 20" size that promises to be very popular.

Renewing acquaintances with our friends in the industry is always great fun. At the President's Reception, Susan and I were joined by Gary & Sherrill Owens of EC Lyons, and Martin Lawrence of TN Lawrence in England at the Reno Antique Car Museum. Unfortunately, the kind gentleman that we asked to take the picture below, was apparently visually impaired or so it would seem from the cut off heads of all the men.

SGC '08 WRAP UP

The Southern Graphics Conference is history for another year, and with it comes the need to recap what took place in Richmond, VA this year.

While we had a great turnout, the event was a little spread out for the tastes of the vendors. We had, I believe, 27 companies represented, including a few newcomers and a few of the old standbys.

Graphic's booth was supplemented this year by our good friends from Caligo Inks. Michael and Joy Craine (above right) brought lots of samples of both the Safe Wash Relief and Etching inks. These inks, as many of you recall, are top notch oil based inks that wash up with soap and water! Graphic Chemical is the exclusive agent of Caligo in North America.

Susan and I visited their plant (second time for me) in March, got to know some of their staff and got a handful of ideas that may well help us to serve your needs better in the future.

The Caligo ink room is a marvel of technology, their products are excellent, and the staff is wonderful. I was particularly taken by a sign as one entered the shop. Translated into American English, it says, "Ask your host for a lab coat as you tour the plant. Fine printmaking ink is, by nature, very permanent.

Back to the SGC show... it was a very successful show for introducing new products, especially the new Double End Carbide Tipped Tool. We sold out of this on the first day. German brayers, Oriental papers and books were among the more popular items.

We have added a large number of Oriental papers to help fill the gap left with the demise of Aiko's in Chicago. Check the website (http://www.graphicchemical.com/) for a complete listing of the papers that we've added - it's pretty extensive.

Finally, SGC makes its way to Chicago next year, hosted by Columbia College. The organizing committee has been active for 4-5 months already, and will now kick it into gear to get ready for next March 25-28, 2009. We're aiming to have the finest SGC show ever. You can do your part by planning on being there. It'll be well worth the effort.