In this workshop, participants will learn an alternative approach to relief printmaking utilizing a soft rubber matrix, and a hand printing method. Participants will develop their own unique set of motif/symbol designs that are carved and printed as surface patterns. Participants will learn how to print in various networks of pattern making and textile printing on fine papers, handmade Japanese washi, and print their own unique Paliacate (bandana) on organic muslin. All materials will be provided for each participant.

Beyond its historical significance as one of the oldest printing methods, Relief Printmaking offers a unique tactile quality and visual aesthetic that digital processes often can't replicate, connecting to the hand of the artist and the repetitive physical process. Artists continue to push its boundaries, traditionally using techniques like woodcut and linocut for bold expressions, but this workshop will emphasize the use of a rubber block alternative that makes printing by hand with ease. Moreover, its relative accessibility makes it an enduring medium for both established artists and beginners, fostering a hands-on approach to image-making in an increasingly digital world.

BIO: Dusty Guerra is a Xicano artist, printmaker, paper/book maker, and educator based in Southern California. As a first generation artist, Guerra explores familial heritage and traditions to further investigate the origins of his ancestral lineage. Guerras art practice is managing the creation of a non-verbal, spiritual language of symbols and motifs rooted in ancient native belief systems and histories of migration. He holds a BFA in Printmaking and currently teaches Relief Printmaking at Cal State Long Beach and has been teaching printmaking to underserved communities in Los Angeles for the past 12 years.