Wood and Linoleum Carving

This year, we’re thrilled to have the Chicago-based artist Rene Arceo as a crucial part of our festivities. With an illustrious career in printmaking that dates back to the 1980s, Arceo has a rich history of active participation in community-centric events.

Recently, Arceo has successfully collaborated with our community members, guiding them to create smaller prints. Inspired by this fruitful collaboration, we’re eager to continue the journey with him as he conducts several more workshops. The culmination of these activities will be showcased at the Viva Mexico September festival. The grand design will be the printing of the mythical creature Quetzalcoatl, a significant supernatural feathered serpent that holds a central place in various Mesoamerican religions.

Steamroller Printmaking is the final workshop set for September 16, from 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm at the downtown West Chicago at Viva Mexico celebration. It allows for the creation of larger prints than would be possible with traditional printmaking presses.

Class description: Artists first carve their designs into large linoleum or wood blocks. Ink is then applied to the cut surface, and a large sheet of paper is placed on top. A steamroller drives over the setup, pressing the ink onto the paper to create a print. Finally, the paper is lifted to reveal the completed artwork.