August 2016

East London makers
etching, aquatint, drypoint, lino, collograph or
screenprints – are made right there at the studio.
The artist-run, not-for-profit organisation was
opened in 1998 by a collective of about ten
artists with a passion for printmaking. In a former
clothing factory on Mare Street, ELP found the
ideal space to start printing. Over time they
began offering workshops, exhibitions and other
events with the community.
ELP now has 46 key-holders – artists who use
the studio in exchange for a monthly fee and
responsibilities in helping to run the organisation
– and about 250 affiliated members.
For anyone with some printmaking experience,
ELP offers open access sessions. Those who
haven’t got the knowledge yet or want to improve
their technique can choose from a wide range of C
day and evening classes.
While the atmosphere in the studio is a relaxed
and friendly bustle with artists absorbed in
different stages of their work, there is a big
behind-the-scenes thing going on there.
The studio has recently come under massive CY
financial pressure and ELP see themselves forced
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to look for new premises.
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Christine Preisig visits East
London Printmakers
East London Printmakers’ (ELP) bi-annual open
studio events are a great opportunity to pick
up amazing art at affordable prices.
They offer an insight into the vast range of
artistic printing techniques and all of the prints
on show and for sale – whether wood cut,
"With the area changing as it is, we
have come to a point where there
isn’t a calling for us here anymore," says studio
coordinator Susan Clark.
"Lots of people from the creative
sector are being pushed out
of the area, which makes ELP's
presence here redundant. We
need to follow these people
and find the next creative hub,"
she explains. That will still be in
East London, she promises. “We want to be in
travelling distance of everyone we've got here at
the moment.”
K
Autumn day courses: Etching for beginners, 16, 23, 30 Nov, £231 / £196 concessions. Screen printing
on paper, 5,12,19 Oct, £231 / £196 concessions. Autumn evening course: Etched Lino, 9, 16, 23, 30 Nov,
£160 / £136 concessions.
East London Printmakers, 129 Mare St, E8 3RH. eastlondonprintmakers.co.uk
16 LOVEEAST