BHM Printmaking Workshop and Art Talk

Plese join teaching artist Kelvin Lopez and writer Akiko Surai to celebrate the Black printmakers of the WPA.

Saturday, February 22nd and Sunday, February 23rd from 11 am to 3 pm, esteemed printmaker Kelvin Lopez will be leading a printmaking workshop at the Hill Street Country Club in Oceanside, California. Participants will explore the legacy of Black printmakers involved in the Works Progress Administration (WPA). Kelvin Lopez will be joined Saturday afternoon by writer, educator, and artist Akiko Surai to discuss the enduring legacy of these artists and the value of art-making to record personal and community histories.

The WPA employed everyday people as well as artists, writers, and musicians, to create works and earn an income to combat the pressures of the great depression. This marked the first nationwide effort to support the arts and gave rise to the idea of art as a career, not merely a pastime.

Completed works will be exhibited in a pop-up exhibition on Saturday, February 29th from 3 to 5 pm where a jury will select one outstanding work to receive a $100 cash prize. Join us in celebration of Black history month and learn more about your American history.

Kelvin Lopez received a BFA with an emphasis in Printmaking from California State University Long Beach. He is affiliated with Self Help Graphics and Art in Los Angeles and a member of the Los Angeles Printmaking Society. He is currently an MFA candidate in the printmaking program at the Rhode Island School of Design. Akiko Surai received her BA in Painting, Printmaking, and Photography at San Diego State University and completed graduate work at the School of the Museum of Fine Arts Boston. She currently works at the Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego and in the San Diego Mesa College Art Gallery.

The Hill Street Country Club is a non-profit organization dedicated to shaping the growing arts and culture scene in Oceanside and the surrounding North Country region. We strive to create an inclusive and diverse atmosphere that reflects the socioeconomic landscape of our community. Our workshop space is wheelchair accessible….