87th Annual Members Exhibition – Society of American Graphic Artists

Letter from our President

It is with considerable pride that the Society of American Graphic Artists (SAGA) presents to the public our latest exhibitions of member works. We are presenting one of the largest groups of prints to be exhibited by SAGA in recent years, with prints from 150 members displayed at two venues: The Salmagundi Club, host of our 87th Annual; and The Metropolitan Museum of Art, whose installation of SAGA member works will be shown at The Gallery at The Met Store.

These past few years have been difficult ones for many, personally and globally. The Covid-19 pandemic is playing a big role in SAGA’s history. Despite the downside of postponing the 87th Annual, twice cancelling our annual gathering at Westbeth, and having to resort to zoom for monthly Council meetings, we were able to use the time to turn our crowded office space into a bright gallery that now exhibits member as well as non-member works through exhibitions like our Mini Gems Print Show. We also updated our website to include updated artist pages, a list of our past 900+ members and putting all our show catalogues online. We donated SAGA’s exhibition catalogue collection to the New York Public Library for safe keeping, historical reference and availability to the public. We also established Regional Committee Members who act as ambassadors for SAGA and search out national venues for us to show our work. I’d like to thank the entire council and especially my two Vice Presidents, Colleen Pike-Blair and Diego Briceno Campusano, for their tireless help in accomplishing all of this.

This is not the first time SAGA has gone through tough times. Established during World War I, SAGA also survived the Spanish Flu and WWII. During our 25th Annual in 1940, President John Taylor Arms wrote, “In its infancy the Society struggled through years of the World War, depressions, recessions, increasing fear, and the cult of hate spreading over the globe. There must have been times during these twenty-five years when printmakers, print collectors and laymen have wondered if there were a need for beauty in a world gone mad, yet now, I believe, the vast majority has come again to the firm belief that this intangible, the ineffable thing called beauty, is of the rare and enduring necessities without which we cannot live fully and with joy. For those who create it, it brings an exquisite satisfaction of memory or of vision which no one and nothing can ever take away.”

I feel like those same words apply today. For some of our members their wished-for goals have been postponed. Although some members found ways to continue working without access to a printing press, representation by galleries diminished when many had to close their doors due to the pandemic. We, at SAGA, are determined to find more venues for our members.

In 1915 a small group of 27 artists formed a printmakers’ society under the name of The Brooklyn Society of Etchers. Their purpose was twofold: to bring to the public an annual exhibition of outstanding fine art prints; and to afford an opportunity to artists, whose work measured up to the necessary standards, to show their work under the best conditions. Today, at age 107 and nearly 200 members strong, it is still an organization run by artist members for artist members. We welcome all artists who express what they feel with conviction in media that shows technical skill and an uncompromising struggle for quality. Through the spirit of unity, arising from mutual respect and understanding, our goal is to consider for membership all printmakers regardless of race, gender and religious or political beliefs.

There is a tendency, during difficult days, to feel that art is non-essential and is to be put aside until better times arrive; ironically, although art is the first to be cut from educational programs, it is always the thing to flood into situations to help ease the stress and strain of troubled times. To every creative artist there comes a time when, in a moment of discouragement or sorrow, they turn to art as the one means of escape from the ills of reality into the realm of thought and beauty. With this, we artists of SAGA share with you prints that come from our hands and our hearts hoping that you receive, even for a moment, a break from today’s troubles.

On behalf of SAGA’s Council, I’d like to thank the many who have made these shows possible. From Dan Greenwald and the staff of The Salmagundi Club for their loyal support and interest; to Laura Einstein, Manager of The Gallery at The Met Store and her staff for their gracious hospitality and appreciation of our historic Society; to the contributing artists whose work has made SAGA a worthy organization; to the donors of prizes for their generosity and interest in printmaking, and to Juror Ann Shafer for her skill and careful consideration in selecting the award winners. And lastly to our Advisory Board for their generous professional and financial support the Society of American Graphic Artists extends its heartiest thanks.

DeAnn L. Prosia,

President.

Ann Shafer, Juror.

Ann Shafer is a curator, art historian, writer, podcaster, editor, graphic designer, and a leading expert on intaglio printmaking by Stanley William Hayter and Atelier 17. Unpretentious; charismatic; charming. During the 2020 pandemic, a robust blog was born. In its (hopefully) waning days in 2021, a podcast was born.

I love prints. What an honor to assign awards to the SAGA artists showing in this 87th Annual Members Exhibition. It proved to be an immensely satisfying challenge. But the task makes one thing clear: I am envious of all of you. My tiniest smidge of artistic talent is not enough to motivate me to create. I?m glad I left it to all of you, for you seem to have figured out how to take a concept from deep inside your head (the birth of the idea/image), pass it through your heart (your passion makes its creation necessary), and get it to come out of your hand (your technical facility brings it into being). All that while making work that makes sense, is beautiful, and marks a certain point in time. Congratulations to all the artists.

Ann Shafer.