Decatur artist honored at art fair’s Atlanta opening
As The Other Art Fair, presented by Saatchi Art, makes its Atlanta debut, running from Oct. 1 through Oct. 4, Georgia artists will have a place in the spotlight alongside independent talent from throughout the Southeast, across the U.S. and around the world, according to organizers.
One of those artists is Jennifer Mack-Watkins, the recipient of The Other Art Fair’s New Futures designation. The distinction provides first-time exhibiting artists with promising talent a career launchpad, stated officials.
Mack-Watkins, an instructor at Georgia State University, is an illustrator with much of her work focusing on the Mokuhanga technique, which is described on worldofprintmaking.com as “the traditional Japanese relief printmaking process that uses carved wooden blocks, water‑based pigments, and hand‑rubbing with a baren to produce delicate, layered images.”
Her work is in the permanent collections at institutions including the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Library of Congress, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, and The Getty Archives.
“The process of printmaking allows me to experiment like a scientist,” said Mack-Watkins. “I can build the image through a series of silkscreened transparent layers or carved images using wood as medium. I am allowed to totally control the density of colors by adding drops of pigment to mix the perfect hue. I use patterns and the female as the subject intertwined with photographic images to interrupt the plain white surface of the paper.”
As the recipient of the New Futures designation, she will receive free exhibition space at the fair, mentoring, and professional support, creating an opportunity to introduce their work directly to collectors and a broader audience, stated organizers.
During the event, Mack-Watkins will be putting her art and talents on display at Booth 79 where she plans to conduct demonstrations of her printmaking technique.
Mack-Watkins will join hundreds of other artists at the fair at Grant Park’s Enspire Mercantile during its inaugural run in Atlanta.
The Atlanta event is the newest addition to The Other Art Fair’s international footprint, which has connected independent artists directly with collectors and art lovers through fairs in cities including London, Melbourne, Sydney, Brooklyn, Chicago, Dallas, Los Angeles, and Phoenix, according to the fair’s website.
Tickets start at $18. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit www.theotherartfair.com/atlanta/tickets.
