There’s another word for art in Madison this month: Prints.
Print exhibitions are happening everywhere throughout the city, from museums and galleries to academic buildings, art supply shops, city government offices and even a bar. The celebration of all things printmaking also includes lectures, portfolio shows, print sales and more.
From March 16-19, Madison is playing host to the 2022 SGCI Annual Conference, which is expected to draw more than 500 artists, students, educators and professionals from the U.S. and abroad. SGCI stands for Southern Graphics Council International, a Georgia-based organization that has its roots in the southeastern U.S., but now has global reach and hosts the largest annual printmaking conference in North America.
“It’s been three years since our last conference” because of the COVID-19 pandemic, “so everyone is super-excited,” said Emily Arthur, an associate professor of art at UW-Madison and a member of the conference steering committee. The 2022 event also marks SGCI’s 50th anniversary as an organization.