Big Ink

You're invited to experience BIG INK! Catch the Big Tuna, a portable print press whose girth inspired its name, in action as it reels off large-scale works by Colorado artists at the Arvada Center.

Each of these artists submitted a design and have spent the spring carving an enormous woodblock to use on this gigantic printing press. This one-of-a-kind printing event is free and open to the public - stop by and experience BIG INK on April 2 and 3.

Featured Artists:

Saturday: Amy Callnen, Ashley Quick, Christine Nguyen, Drew Carroll, Eleanor Sabin, Emily Grace King, Finley Baker, Johanna Mueller and Holly White.

Sunday: Gregory Santos, John Carlson, Jonathan Nicklow, Judy Gardner, Julianna Kirwin, Miriam Dubinsky, Olivia Bradstreet, Paige Dirksen, Tony Ortega and Zach Greenway.

Lyell Castonguay and Carand Burnet founded BIG INK in 2012. It began with Castonguay envisioning a community of like-minded artists who share an interest in large-scale woodblock printmaking. Recognizing that most artists don’t have the technical expertise required to produce such work, Castonguay began teaching the process. In 2016, BIG INK raised $13,000 through public support to build a press designed for routine travel called The Big Tuna. It’s made a lasting impression when assembled in museums, universities, art centers, galleries, and beyond. Given its modular construction, The Big Tuna is transportable virtually anywhere.

BIG INK tours the country hosting workshops with their press. What started as a small-town project has grown into a national program. Each year more artists become aware of how satisfying it is to carve and print. Also, the public becomes better informed about the process by viewing the art BIG INK participants create.

Since its founding, BIG INK has visited dozens of cities across the country and created thousands of prints.

Big Ink

Featured Artists:

Big Ink

Follow Us