Who Am I:
My name is John Gutoskey. I am an artist, designer, and collector who has lived in Ann Arbor, Michigan for the past 27 years. I have had a studio practice based in my home for almost as long. I love to make art, and I love to teach others how to do the same. I have shown my artwork all over the country in galleries and at art fairs. In the late 1980’s, with a BFA in Theater Design and a background in costume crafts, I moved to Ann Arbor to teach costume design and costume crafts at the University of Michigan's Department of Theater. A quarter of a century later, I went back to graduate school at the University of Michigan where I completed an MFA this past spring with a focus on printmaking and a certificate in LGBTQ Studies.
What I Am Doing:
I am launching this Indiegogo campaign to raise funds to set up the A2 Print Studio —an independent print studio where I will continue to make my own work, and also offer an affordable space where other people can learn printmaking and have access to a press. The future home of the A2 Print Studio will be my 320 square foot garage that was renovated into a studio space 15 years ago. It has good natural light, track lighting, electricity, heat, AC, and plumbing. Best of all—no monthly rent! I will offer open studio days where artists can rent time to work in the print studio and use the press to create their own work, as well as workshops where people can learn how to make prints.This is a way for me to give back to the Ann Arbor community that has supported me as as an artist and designer through the years, and as a way to create a larger community of artists who want to engage in printmaking and have access to a printmaking studio.
Through a small group of angel donors, I have already been able to raise $20,000 --enough money to be able to buy a combination relief and litho press with the basic tools and accessories needed to operate it, as well as an exposure unit to do photolithography. I am halfway to my goal of $40,000. Please consider helping me reach this goal. In return you will receive, along with much gratitude, an original handmade print produced by the A2 Print Studio.
What Is Needed & What You Get
The Need:
I still need to raise $20,000 to purchase the rest of the myriad of tools, supplies, and materials needed to set up a fully functioning print studio. The money will go towards plumbing for a sink, rollers, brayers, ink, drying rack, wide format printer, transparency film, 3 hole punch system, tear bars, rulers, ball grain litho plates, photo litho plates, photopolymer plates, copper plates, newsprint, paper, linoleum, intaglio tools, gum arabic, aquatint screen, tannic acid, asphaltum, lithotine, plate developer & pad, plate finisher, silk screen photo emulsion, hand shears, mag carb, vegetable oil, tusche, acetone, denatured alcohol, mineral spirits, knives, scrapers, rosin, talc, tympan grease, sponges, and cheesecloth--to name a few.
If I do not reach the goal, I will work with what is raised, and fund the remaining needs as I go--after the studio is up and running. I plan to have the studio set up and ready to go by September of this year.
What You Get:
PRINTS!! Handmade Original Prints produced in the A2 Print Studio.
You will have your choice of a selection of handmade original prints produced and created especially for this Indiegogo campaign at the A2 Print Studio. (See gallery for some of my previous print work.)
You Can Help Out In Other Ways:
Of course, I realize that not everybody has a lot of disposable income in these tough economic times. But every contribution helps, even a small one.
And you can help out in other ways too.
- Share this campaign on your social media networks.
- Email 10 of your friends about the project, and encourage them to contribute.
- Tell your friends about the A2 Print Studio, and suggest they look it up on Facebook.
- Let your friends who are artists know about the A2 Print Studio, especially if they live in the Ann Arbor/Detroit Metro area!
Thank you so much for any help you can offer.
Sincerely,
John Gutoskey and the A2 Print Studio