In this episode of Platemark, I talk with Judith Solodkin, a renowned master printer and founder of SOLO Impression. Judith shares her extensive experience, from being the first woman to graduate from the Tamarind Master Printer program to her unique work in digital embroidery. She reflects on her collaborations with notable artists like Louise Bourgeois and Sonya Clark, and her teaching role at various art institutions. We talk bout Judith’s passion for wearable art, specifically her creation of one-of-a-kind hats. Additionally, we discuss the technical and collaborative aspects of printmaking and embroidery, as well as the importance of documenting and preserving artistic processes and works.

Cover image: Grace Graupe-Pillard

USEFUL LINKS

https://www.millinersguild.org/

https://www.soloimpression.com/

@judithsolodkin

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June Wayne. Near Miss, 1996. Lithograph. 26 x 32 ½ in. Printed and published by SOLO Impression, Bronx.

Joyce Kozloff. Now, Voyager I, 2007. Color lithograph with glitter. 31 ½ x 31 ½ in. Printed and published by SOLO Impression, Bronx.

James Rosenquist (American, 1933–2017). Paper Clip, 1974. Ten-color lithograph. 36 ½ x 69 in. (92.7 x 175.3 cm.). Published and printed by Petersburg Press.

Nancy Spero (American, 1926–2009). Torture in Chile, from the A. I. R. Print Portfolio, 1975. Lithograph. Sheet and image: 22 1⁄4 x 30 in. (56.5 x 76.2 cm.). Smithsonian American Art Museum, Washington, D.C.

Dotty Attie. The Forbidden Room, 1998. Lithograph. Sheet: 18 x 24 in. Printed and published by SOLO Impression, Bronx.

Howardena Pindell. Peters Squares Waterfall Johnson Vermont, 1986. Color woodcut with collage on various Asian papers. 26 1/2 x 36 in. Printed and published by SOLO Impression, Bronx.

Lois Dodd. Mirror, 1975. Stone lithograph. 15 x 18 in. Printed and published by SOLO Impression, Bronx.

Alice Neel. Portrait of Judith Solodkin, 1978. Lithograph. 30 x 22 in. Printed and published by SOLO Impression, Bronx.

Philip Pearlstein (American, 1924–2022). Iron Bed and Plastic Chair, 1999. Oil on canvas. 59 ½ x 39 1/2 in.

Judith Solodkin hats at Winterthur Museum, Garden & Library, Winterthur, DE.

Judith Solodkin in one of her own creations.

Louise Bourgeois (American, born France, 1911–2010). The Song of the Blacks and the Blues, 1996. Lithograph and woodcut with hand additions. Sheet: 21 ¾ x 96 in (55.3 x 243.8 cm.). Printed and published by SOLO Impression. Museum of Modern Art, NY.

Louise Bourgeois (American, born France, 1911–2010). Ode à l'Oubli, 2004. Fabric illustrated book with 35 compositions: 30 fabric collages and 5 lithographs (including cover). Overall: 10 5/8 x 13 3/8 x 3 3/16 in. (27 x 34 x 8.2 cm.). Printed by SOLO Impression, published by Peter Blum Edition. Museum of Modern Art, NY.

Elaine Reichek (American, born 1943). Collections for Collectors: 2006 Spring, 2006. Portfolio of 17 digital embroideries on linen. Each: 15 ½ x 12 ½ in. (39.4 x 31.8 cm.). Printed and published by SOLO Impression.

Ghada Amer and Reza Farkondeh. The Perfumed Garden, 2006. Lithograph with digitized sewing. 20 ½ x 24 in. Printed and published by SOLO Impression, Bronx.

Allan McCollum. The Shapes Project: Threaded Shapes Coll No.21–2883, 2005/2009–10. 144 framed ovals with digitized embroidered shapes on cotton fabric (each shape is unique). Each frame: 11 1/4 x 9 1/4 in. Fabricated by Judith Solodkin, Theodore Yemc, and Rodney Doyle; published by SOLO Impression, Bronx.

Kent Henricksen (American, born 1974). White Ghost, Black Ghost, 2012. Two digital embroideries. Each: 8 ½ x 5 in. (21.6 x 12.7 cm.). Printed and published by SOLO Impression.

Sonya Clark. The Huest Eye, 2023–24. Embroidered thread on Rives BFK paper. 36 x 24 in. Printed by SOLO Impression, Bronx; published by Goya Contemporary/Goya-Girl Press, Baltimore.

Liliana Porter. Red Girl, 2006. Digital embroidery and thread on paper. 22 x 17 ½  in. Printed and published by SOLO Impression, Bronx.

Howard Hodgkin (British, 1932–2017). Moonlight, 1980. Lithograph on two sheets. 44 x 55 ¼ in. (111.8 x 140.3 cm). Printed by SOLO Impression, published by Bernard Jacobson Ltd. National Gallery of Australia, Canberra.

Michael Mazur. Wakeby Night, 1986. Lithograph with chine collé, woodcut, and monoprint. 66 x 30 in. Printed and published by SOLO Impression, Bronx.

Françoise Gilot (French, 1921–2023). Music in Senegal, 2017. Color lithograph. 18 x 24 in. Printed and published by SOLO Impression.

Robert Kushner (American, born 1949). Nocturne, 1988. Color lithograph. 25 x 37 in. Printed and published by SOLO Impression.

Joe Zucker (American, born 1941–2024). The Awful Heat Wastes Man and Beast No. 4, 1985. Lithograph, silver foil, and varnish. 36 x 48 in. Printed and published by SOLO Impression.

Christian Marclay. Untitled, 1991. Unique surface print. 39 x 39 in. Printed and published by SOLO Impression, Bronx.

John Hejduk. The Flight, from the series Zenobia, 1990. Lithograph. 25 x 17 in. Printed and published by SOLO Impression, Bronx.

John Torreano. Emerald, from the series Oxygems, 1989. Color woodcut with embossing. 30 x 36 in. Printed and published by SOLO Impression, Bronx.

Judy Chicago (American, born 1939). What if Women Ruled The World?, 2022. Inket print on fabric with digital embroidery. 33 1/2 × 24 in. (85.1 × 61 cm.). Printed and published by SOLO Impression.

Betye Saar. Blow Top Blues, The Fire Next Time, 1998. Color lithograph, hand coloring, photo electric collage. 27 x 22½ in. Printed and published by SOLO Impression, Bronx.

Beryl Korot. Weaver’s Notation – Variation 1,2013. Embroidery and inkjet print. 21 ¼ x 21 ¼ in. Printed and published by SOLO Impression, Bronx.

Artist Ivan Forde in his photo-sensitive paper jacket and Powerhouse Arts Printshop director Luther Davis at IFPDA Print Fair, October 2023.

Louise Bourgeois (American, born France, 1911–2010). Henriette, 1998. Lithograph and digital print. Sheet: 45½ x 31½ in. Printed and published by SOLO Impression. Museum of Modern Art, NY.