Eva Svitek
Judy Dekel

ESSENCE

ABOUT LAPS

The Los Angeles Printmaking Society (LAPS) is a national non-profit dedicated to the encouragement of printmaking, the interests of artists who make prints, and the general advancement of printmaking in public awareness and education. LAPS fosters dialogue for artists to expand the appreciation of printmaking in contemporary art.

Our biennial print exhibition, The National, exhibits artists of international stature alongside artists juried into the exhibition by prominent curators and artists to present a dynamic review of contemporary printmaking.

In addition to The National, LAPS sponsors at least two yearly membership exhibitions and organizes and sponsors printmaking demonstrations and workshops.

The Los Angeles Printmaking Society (LAPS) is a national non-profit dedicated to the encouragement of printmaking, the interests of artists who make prints, and the general advancement of printmaking in public awareness and education. LAPS fosters dialogue for artists to expand the appreciation of printmaking in contemporary art.

Our biennial print exhibition, The National, exhibits artists of international stature alongside artists juried into the exhibition by prominent curators and artists to present a dynamic review of contemporary printmaking.

In addition to The National, LAPS sponsors at least two yearly membership exhibitions and organizes and sponsors printmaking demonstrations and workshops.

The Los Angeles Printmaking Society (LAPS) is a national non-profit dedicated to the encouragement of printmaking, the interests of artists who make prints, and the general advancement of printmaking in public awareness and education. LAPS fosters dialogue for artists to expand the appreciation of printmaking in contemporary art.

Our biennial print exhibition, The National, exhibits artists of international stature alongside artists juried into the exhibition by prominent curators and artists to present a dynamic review of contemporary printmaking.

Judy Dekel

ESSENCE

Eva Svitek

LAPS also sponsors programs to encourage printmaking in the schools and promotes our membership artist advocacy on the issue of climate change with a yearly Earth Day event.

Our LAPS Foundation actively supports local student artists exploring printmaking media with annual scholarship grant awards. We also offer symposia, student portfolio critiques, and low-cost student memberships that allow our student members to participate in all our juried shows.

LAPS is an active participant of recent print portfolios and exhibitions at SGCI Conferences in 2019 and in 2023.

LAPS also sponsors programs to encourage printmaking in the schools and promotes our membership artist advocacy on the issue of climate change with a yearly Earth Day event.

Our LAPS Foundation actively supports local student artists exploring printmaking media with annual scholarship grant awards. We also offer symposia, student portfolio critiques, and low-cost student memberships that allow our student members to participate in all our juried shows.

LAPS is an active participant of recent print portfolios and exhibitions at SGCI Conferences in 2019 and in 2023.

In addition to The National, LAPS sponsors at least two yearly membership exhibitions and organizes and sponsors printmaking demonstrations and workshops.

LAPS also sponsors programs to encourage printmaking in the schools and promotes our membership artist advocacy on the issue of climate change with a yearly Earth Day event.

Our LAPS Foundation actively supports local student artists exploring printmaking media with annual scholarship grant awards. We also offer symposia, student portfolio critiques, and low-cost student memberships that allow our student members to participate in all our juried shows.

LAPS has also been a member of the American Print Alliance, a consortium of non-profit printmakers’ councils in the United States and Canada which sponsors national and international projects and traveling exhibitions.

Founded in 1962 by artists Connor Everts and Paul Darrow, Los Angeles Printmaking Society continues its long and illustrious history as an active part of the Los Angeles arts community representing our national and international printmaking artists members and keeping the dialogue going forward!

LAPS is an active participant of recent print portfolios and exhibitions at SGCI Conferences in 2019 and in 2023.

LAPS has also been a member of the American Print Alliance, a consortium of non-profit printmakers’ councils in the United States and Canada which sponsors national and international projects and traveling exhibitions.

Founded in 1962 by artists Connor Everts and Paul Darrow, Los Angeles Printmaking Society continues its long and illustrious history as an active part of the Los Angeles arts community representing our national and international printmaking artists members and keeping the dialogue going forward!

LAPS has also been a member of the American Print Alliance, a consortium of non-profit printmakers’ councils in the United States and Canada which sponsors national and international projects and traveling exhibitions.

Founded in 1962 by artists Connor Everts and Paul Darrow, Los Angeles Printmaking Society continues its long and illustrious history as an active part of the Los Angeles arts community representing our national and international printmaking artists members and keeping the dialogue going forward!

HISTORY

HISTORY

Founding

Founding

In 1962, Los Angeles artists Connor Everts and Paul Darrow began discussing ways to improve the perception of printmaking as an art form. They decided that the best method to accomplish this goal would be to improve exhibition opportunities, educate the public, and popularize printmaking as an art form. They received support and encouragement from Ken Ross, of the newly formed Los Angeles Arts Commission, and Ebria Feinblatt of the Los Angeles County Museum of Art. They were joined by artists Leonard Edmondson, June Wayne, Ynez Johnston, Emerson Woelffer, Guy Maccoy, Dick Swift, Tom Fricano and others to form the Los Angeles Printmaking Society.

Within a year, by-laws were drawn up and LAPS was incorporated as a non-profit organization. The organization began with thirty invited members.

In 1962, Los Angeles artists Connor Everts and Paul Darrow began discussing ways to improve the perception of printmaking as an art form. They decided that the best method to accomplish this goal would be to improve exhibition opportunities, educate the public, and popularize printmaking as an art form. They received support and encouragement from Ken Ross, of the newly formed Los Angeles Arts Commission, and Ebria Feinblatt of the Los Angeles County Museum of Art. They were joined by artists Leonard Edmondson, June Wayne, Ynez Johnston, Emerson Woelffer, Guy Maccoy, Dick Swift, Tom Fricano and others to form the Los Angeles Printmaking Society.

Within a year, by-laws were drawn up and LAPS was incorporated as a non-profit organization. The organization began with thirty invited members.

In the early years, LAPS was fortunate to have the support of a wonderful artist and patron, Esther Lewis, who generously donated studio and gallery space on the second and third floors at 818 Spring Street in downtown Los Angeles.

In 1962, Los Angeles artists Connor Everts and Paul Darrow began discussing ways to improve the perception of printmaking as an art form. They decided that the best method to accomplish this goal would be to improve exhibition opportunities, educate the public, and popularize printmaking as an art form. They received support and encouragement from Ken Ross, of the newly formed Los Angeles Arts Commission, and Ebria Feinblatt of the Los Angeles County Museum of Art. They were joined by artists Leonard Edmondson, June Wayne, Ynez Johnston, Emerson Woelffer, Guy Maccoy, Dick Swift, Tom Fricano and others to form the Los Angeles Printmaking Society.

Within a year, by-laws were drawn up and LAPS was incorporated as a non-profit organization. The organization began with thirty invited members.

Paul Darrow, Co-Founder of LAPS
Paul Darrow, Co-Founder LAPS

In the early years, LAPS was fortunate to have the support of a wonderful artist and patron, Esther Lewis, who generously donated studio and gallery space on the second and third floors at 818 Spring Street in downtown Los Angeles. At that time LAPS was a small cooperative organization providing various services to its members. The organization also operated a gallery and a studio space with a press.

In the early years, LAPS was fortunate to have the support of a wonderful artist and patron, Esther Lewis, who generously donated studio and gallery space on the second and third floors at 818 Spring Street in downtown Los Angeles. At that time LAPS was a small cooperative organization providing various services to its members.

At that time LAPS was a small cooperative organization providing various services to its members. The organization also operated a gallery and a studio space with a press.

Over the years, the local LAPS group has expanded and now is an international society with artist/printmakers from all across the United States, Canada, Europe, Australia, South Korea and Egypt. LAPS members include artists, curators, educators and collectors.

From the initial conversation between two artists in 1962, the Los Angeles Printmaking Society has grown and enriched the art of printmaking and created an active community beyond its founders’ expectations.

"L.A. artists were exhibiting prints all over the nation and winning all these prizes, but there wasn't any kind of showplace to promote the prints."

Paul Darrow, Co-Founder of LAPS

Over the years, the local LAPS group has expanded and now is an international society with artist/printmakers from all across the United States, Canada, Europe, Australia, South Korea and Egypt. LAPS members include artists, curators, educators and collectors.

From the initial conversation between two artists in 1962, the Los Angeles Printmaking Society has grown and enriched the art of printmaking and created an active community beyond its founders’ expectations.

The organization also operated a gallery and a studio space with a press.

Over the years, the local LAPS group has expanded and now is an international society with artist/printmakers from all across the United States, Canada, Europe, Australia, South Korea and Egypt. LAPS members include artists, curators, educators and collectors.

From the initial conversation between two artists in 1962, the Los Angeles Printmaking Society has grown and enriched the art of printmaking and created an active community beyond its founders’ expectations.

"L.A. artists were exhibiting prints all over the nation and winning all these prizes, but there wasn't any kind of showplace to promote the prints."

"L.A. artists were exhibiting prints all over the nation and winning all these prizes, but there wasn't any kind of showplace to promote the prints."

The National Print Exhibition

In 1973 the first “LAPS National Print Exhibition” was held at the Los Angeles Municipal Art Gallery in Barnsdall Park. James Brown, director of the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, juried the exhibition. From a pool of 800 entries, 111 works were selected for exhibition.

Since then, LAPS has presented The National print exhibition approximately every two years.

The Grunwald Center for the Graphic Arts at UCLA hosted the Seventh, Eighth and Ninth National exhibitions, and the 20th National was held at the Los Angeles Municipal Art Gallery once again.

At each National, LAPS includes recent work from prominent Los Angeles presses, encouraging an inclusive dialogue throughout the contemporary print community. Many generous vendors, corporations, organizations and private collectors have been

supporters of The National, donating cash awards and purchase prizes.

Jurors have included Peter Frank, Archana Horsting, Ruth Weisberg, Kevin Salatino, Ed Ruscha, Nathan Oliveira, Ynez Johnston, Laddie John Dill, Henry Hopkins, Elizabeth Smith, Bruce Davis to name a few. In 1995, LAPS began organizing with a consortium of galleries in Los Angeles to exhibit prints and print related exhibitions in conjunction with The National exhibition.

LAPS FOUNDATION

The LAPS Foundation was founded in 1987 to support the next generation of artist printmakers in Southern California.

The Foundation administers the Foundation Scholarship Grant Awards, a self supporting endowment of cash grants awarded to student printmakers yearly.

Applicants must be enrolled in college, university or art school and have the support of their instructor in order to apply for a Foundation grant.

No active regular Member of LAPS may apply, however, LAPS Student Members are eligible for an award.

Brian Borlaug, a 2011 recipient of the LAPS Foundation Student Scholarship

Student winners are encouraged to donate a print to the Foundation collection, which in turn supports fundraising.

The student awardees automatically become LAPS Student Members without needing to pay dues.

When they no longer are students, they may apply to become full LAPS Members and go through the jury process.

The Foundation maintains a collection of prints that are used in a variety of LAPS fundraising efforts.

LAPS FOUNDATION

Brian Borlaug, a 2011 recipient of the LAPS Foundation Student Scholarship

The LAPS Foundation was founded in 1987 to support the next generation of artist printmakers in Southern California.

The Foundation administers the Foundation Scholarship Grant Awards, a self supporting endowment of cash grants awarded to student printmakers yearly.

Applicants must be enrolled in college, university or art school and have the support of their instructor in order to apply for a Foundation grant.

The LAPS Foundation was founded in 1987 to support the next generation of artist printmakers in Southern California.

The Foundation administers the Foundation Scholarship Grant Awards, a self supporting endowment of cash grants awarded to student printmakers yearly.

Applicants must be enrolled in college, university or art school and have the support of their instructor in order to apply for a Foundation grant.

Student winners are encouraged to donate a print to the Foundation collection, which in turn supports fundraising.

The student awardees automatically become LAPS Student Members without needing to pay dues. When they no longer are students, they may apply to become full LAPS Members and go through the jury process.

No active regular Member of LAPS may apply, however, LAPS Student Members are eligible for an award.

The Foundation maintains a collection of prints that are used in a variety of LAPS fundraising efforts.

Student winners are encouraged to donate a print to the Foundation collection, which in turn supports fundraising.

The student awardees automatically become LAPS Student Members without needing to pay dues. When they no longer are students, they may apply to become full LAPS Members and go through the jury process.

The Foundation maintains a collection of prints that are used in a variety of LAPS fundraising efforts.

Brian Borlaug, a 2011 recipient of the LAPS Foundation Student Scholarship

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Los Angeles Printmaking Society:

Karen Fiorito President

Wendy Murray Treasurer/Interim Archivist

Angela Oates Corresponding Secretary

Sydney Cross Recording Secretary

Cathie Crawford Blog

Marianne Sadowski New Members

Jackie Nach and Curtis Bartone Exhibitions Co-Chairs

Charlie Bloede Student Chair

Karen Fiorito President

Wendy Murray Treasurer/Interim Archivist

Angela Oates Corresponding Secretary

Sydney Cross Recording Secretary

Cathie Crawford  Blog

Marianne Sadowski New Members

Jackie Nach and Curtis Bartone Exhibitions Co-Chairs

Charlie Bloede Student Chair

LAPS Foundation:

Diane McLeod Foundation President

Gail Jacobs Foundation Treasurer

Vinita Voogd Foundation Secretary

Diane McLeod Foundation President

Gail Jacobs Foundation Treasurer

Vinita Voogd Foundation Secretary