In s3e59, Platemark host Ann Shafer sits down with David Avery to talk shop. David is an etcher, who restrains his work in both size and palette, but manages to tackle big topics. His social commentary is stinging and remarkable in that it comes in such a small package. These etchings pack a punch.

Ann and David talk about absurdist literature, standing on the shoulders of giants (Dürer, Max Klinger, Della Bella), how prescient Goltzius's Disgracers are, and how we could never have imagined the state of our politics—reality is outstripping our imaginations.

Cover image: Patricia Avery

Max Klinger (German, 1857–1920). Abduction (plate 9 from Paraphrase on the Finding of a Glove), 1881. Etching, drypoint, and aquatint on chine collé. Sheet: 18 15/16 x 26 in. Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York.

David Avery (American, born 1952). Obeliscolycny, 2013. Etching. Plate: 27 ¾ x 5 in.; sheet: 33 5/8 x 10 in. Courtesy of the Artist.

David Avery (American, born 1952). Safe, Clean, Cheap: Phaethon in the 21st Century, 2011. Etching. Plate: 6 x 6 in.; sheet: 11 x 12 in. Courtesy of the Artist.

David Avery (American, born 1952). Too Close to the Sun, 2013. Etching. Plate: 6 x 6 in.; sheet: 11 x 12 in. Courtesy of the Artist.

David Avery (American, born 1952). Running on Empty, 2016. Etching. Plate: 6 x 6 in.; sheet: 11 x 12 in. Courtesy of the Artist.

David Avery (American, born 1952). Mendacia Ridicula (The Wheel of Ixion), 2018. Etching. Plate: 6 x 6 in.; sheet: 12 x 11 in. Courtesy of the Artist.

Hendrick Goltzius (Dutch, 1558–1617). After Cornelis Cornelisz van Haarlem (Netherlandish, 1562–1638). The Four Disgracers, 1588. Engraving. Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York.

David Avery (American, born 1952). Ship of Fools (Das Narrenschiff), 2018.Etching. Plate: 14 ¼ x 7 ½ in. Courtesy of the Artist.

David Avery (American, born 1952). After the Deluge, 2022. Etching. Plate: 10 ½ x 7 ¾ in. Courtesy of the Artist.

David Avery (American, born 1952). Becalmed, 2023. Etching. Plate: 6 x 15 ¾ in.; sheet: 10 x 18 ¾ in. Courtesy of the Artist.

David Avery (American, born 1952). Concerning The Great Ship MOUR-DE-ZENCLE, 2016. Etching. Plate: 12 ¾ x 6 ¼ in.; sheet: 18 ¼ x 11 in. Courtesy of the Artist.

David's galleries

https://www.inclusionsgallery.com/

https://www.warnockfinearts.com/david-avery

https://childsgallery.com/artist/david-avery/