VISIT the Puzzle Prints Blog for Frequent Updates

PARTICIPANTS, Please submit your block details for the Colophon: CITY BLOCK INFO

Project SUMMARY:
Generally speaking, a puzzle print is any print in which the block is sawed into pieces, each of which is carved and sometimes inked separately. The "puzzle" is then assembled at press and printed as a single image.

A Collaborative-Puzzle-Print is a special kind of puzzle print whereby a humongous block or three are painstakingly sawed into many many many funny shaped pieces. Each of the pieces is then flown across the world landing squarely in the carving bench of brave printmakers everywhere. Each artist carves their little piece, sometimes unaware of the "big picture" but always under a theme.
The instigato--er, coordinator I meant, receives back the tiny blocks and assembles them one by one until all come home. The coordinator then assembles and prints the entire puzzle composed of wonderfully carved images. Each printmaker then receives a rather large print of the entire project.

COORDINATOR (once more the foolish one):
Maria Arango Diener - contact: 1000woodcutsgmail.com

THEME:
THE THEME for this project is "City of the World", as tightly or loosely interpreted as each participant wishes. The overall design will interpret the theme literally, that is, the pieces will be part or entire cars, trucks, apartment windows, houses, clouds, planes, park benches, trees, shops, pieces of street or sidewalk, buses, and a very long etcetera. The piece each participant receives may or may not be recognizable and the shape may or may not influence the individual's design. The design may be how an individual sees themselves "in their corner of the world"; how they perceive themselves within the world or the world of printmaking; a representation of their actual place in their city or town; more generally "home"; their view of their city or town, again, etcetera. Anything goes in the City of the World.

The only requirements are that the piece be carved "side up" as indicated by the arrow on the back of the piece and that it follow the general theme: City of the World.

Suggestion: Discussion in the Barenforum may bring up some ideas.

DEADLINE:
December 1st, 2011. Approximately 11 months from completion of sign up closing. I will print the entire project around January/February 2012.

FORMAT/DETAILS:
Coordinator will purchase as many blocks as required for the size of the project; the Cairn allows for a scroll-format so that this may be a looooong print (my press allows for a width of 30 inches or 75 cm). The blocks will then be sawn in as many pieces as there are participants. The pieces will be irregular and resembling the shapes or portions of the shapes described above (for example, a bus may be divided into 2 pieces). The overall design is NOT to be considered necessarily when designing each individual piece.

Upon sign up completion:

- Each participant receives a pre-cut block, approximately 5" x 7" (12.7 x 17.8 cm) in size and of an irregular shape. There will be a pre-set orientation marked on the back of each block (which way is up).
- Design and carving starts in the privacy of everyone's homes and at whatever pace you should like to work as long as the deadline is met, a generous 12 months after sign up. Don't worry, I will remind everyone periodically. Any carving/gouging/sanding/injuring method may be used on the block; final block will be printed relief.
- Participants mail the blocks to the coordinator at their expense.

After all the blocks are received by the coordinator:

- The individual pieces will be re-assembled and printed in BLACK ink on WHITE paper, so keep that in mind when designing.
- Any drop-outs will result in a missing puzzle piece. I will substitute the missing piece with a blank block or a proper substitute participant may enter late in the game. May I remind participants that this substitution process was a real pain last time as new blocks have to be cut in precisely the shape of the missing piece.
- Ink will be oil-based BLACK and I will most likely use a heavy printmaking off-white paper such as BFK buff or similar.
- Each participant gets 1 print of the entire City of the World.
- As the blocks will be glued to a backing, the block will remain with the coordinator and loaned to any exhibitions.
- Web exposure, participants names and process pics will be provided in my website, linked from this index and from this page.

INSTRUCTIONS WILL BE SENT WITH EACH BLOCK AND CAN BE VIEWED/PRINTED FROM THIS PAGE: INSTRUCTIONS FOR CITY OF THE WORLD PUZZLE PROJECT (PDF)

FINANCES:

- Expenses for the project include: Woodblocks, scroll saw blades, ink, paper, mailing boxes/tubes, postage to mail the blocks and the prints. A detailed finances sheet is always published on this website itemizing each expense. See example of previous costs for the last project here: Finances for Cairn Project

-In previous projects, contributions have been completely voluntary and this resulted in committment and revenue issues. Around the end of last project I decided that the next project should be funded a bit more equitably. I think a participation fee of $25.00 is very fair and will just about cover expenses. For this third project I am requesting that the participation fee be sent at the time of signing up. Cash, checks/money orders or PayPal (preferred). I will request that everyone PLEASE contribute what they can any time BEFORE BLOCKS ARE MAILED OUT, around January 2011.

Contribution to Expenses - Sign up below

Contribution $25.00

Contribution $Other

If mailing check/money order or cash please send to: Maria Arango-Diener 2544 Casey Drive - Las Vegas NV 89120-1819 - USA

An alternative to the buttons above, PayPal contributions directly to: 1000woodcutsgmail.com