Philagrafika 2010

Our picks for this year's fest.

by Holly Otterbein

Duke Riley's magnum opus is only an infinitesimal part of Philagrafika 2010, a 10-week printmaking festival as large and potent as Live Arts and Philly Fringe. It'll bring in more than 300 artists, involve more than 80 local venues, and be the culmination of more than five years of work from a staff of about 10. Like Live Arts/Fringe, Philagrafika is split into a few different parts: "The Graphic Unconscious" is the core exhibit, featuring mostly international artists in big-dog venues like the Philadelphia Museum of Art and the Print Center; "Independent Projects" takes place in small-scale galleries about town; and "Out of Print" pairs five artists, including Riley, with five Philly historical centers.

Riley isn't the only Philagrafika artist who pushes printmaking's boundaries. "Since it's a triennial, it's important that it's not a tightly curated show. It needed to be experimental, and add to the understanding of the currency of print," says artistic director José Roca. "I'd say that most of the artists involved wouldn't call themselves printmakers."

Look below for a few of our favorite artists, all of whom are exhibiting until April 11 unless otherwise noted. Check out philagrafika2010.org for many more.

One of the few locals who managed to squeeze his way into the highly competitive "Graphic Unconscious" show, this Temple University Tyler School of Art professor created a bedazzling memento mori (pictured) on the floors of the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts. His X-ray image of a skull is printed not on paper, blocks of wood or even linoleum— but on black and gold confetti. PAFA, Samuel M.V. Hamilton Building, 128 N. Broad St., 215-972-7600, pafa.org.

Though most of Sue Coe's show is dedicated to animal rights, this British-born rabble-rouser added an unrelated piece at the last minute. Her newest woodcut is about Haiti, and it's as evocative as any of her past works, which are notoriously challenging. Print Center, 1614 Latimer St., 215-735-6090, printcenter.org.

Always working hard to bring art to the masses, Spiral Q has organized an exhibit that is at once a ballyhoo traveling RV/print shop and a sober examination of print's role in South Africa's anti-apartheid movement. Hit up the venue's Web site to see where the RV stops during the spring and summer. Runs through March 1, Tyler School of Art, Temple University, 2001 N. 13th St., 215-222-6979, spiralq.org.

This exhibit features prints on porcelain and embroidery — delicate mediums for a show about biblical plagues, locusts and corruption. Taking full advantage of her space, Regina Silveira's creepy works literally crawl up and down the walls. Galleries at Moore College of Art & Design, 20th Street and Ben Franklin Parkway, 215-965-4027, thegalleriesatmoore.org.

This Brooklyn collective teamed up with the Independence Seaport Museum to print an imaginary newspaper for the 1895 Navy vessel Olympia, which sits in retirement in the Delaware River. Did someone tell Duke Riley about this? Independence Seaport Museum, Penn's Landing, 211 S. Columbus Blvd., 215-413-8655, phillyseaport.org.