Jay Arpin: Prints
Read the Interview with Printmaker Jay Arpin
Miles Davis - 1958
2018
Linocut print
7 x 5 in
Miles Davis - 1968
2018
Linocut print
7 x 5 in
Miles Davis - 1973
2018
Linocut print
7 x 5 in
Miles Davis - 1987
2018
Linocut print
7 x 5 in
Mingus
2018
Linocut print
7 x 5 in
Breach #4
2018
Linocut print
7 x 5 in
The Flood
2019
Linocut print
7 x 5 in
Under Pressure #1
2019
Linocut print
7 x 5 in
Untitled
2019
Linocut print
7 x 5 in
The Flood #2
2019
Linocut print
7 x 5 in
The Contract
2019
Linocut print
7 x 5 in
Tell Me
2019
Linocut print
7 x 5 in
sold
Interview with printmaker Jay Arpin
by Sharon Mergener of the Jazz Gallery Center for the Arts
You are known to excel as a musician and printmaker. What does printmaking mean to you?
Jay was drawn to printmaking as an art form with a detailed process. He says that it works well with his brain; carving is very calming. He also loves the graphic nature of it. Both process and result give equal joy.
These pieces are so powerful! Please comment on your subject matter--jazz musician, floods and breaches....what do they mean to you?
Miles Davis is one of Jay's favorite artists in any medium and has had a huge influence on him. He has created portraits of other artists, not necessarily jazz musicians. The portraits are both personal and important to him. Jay is a jazz drummer himself and thought these portraits would resonate well with the Jazz Gallery.
Do your creative interests synthesize and feed each other, or evolve on their own?
Jay was trained in printmaking and is a trained artist. His brother is a trained musician; Jay has been primarily self-taught. He says that perhaps his own naivety allows what his brother has called his "reckless abandon" while making music. Both music and printmaking (artmaking) feed off each other. Although he is a jazz drummer, he listens to all kinds of music while creating.
Some of these prints are very narrative--or inspire narration. Care to share any stories, such as with the 'flood' pieces?
The non-portrait pieces lend themselves more room for interpretation. It's interesting when one starts to examine intent vs. content vs. perception. Jay doesn't want to 'spell it out' too much, allowing others to bring and share their viewpoints. However, The Flood touches on society, technology, and our relationship with it. It enjoys phrases such as 'flood of information'.
Note: Jay Arpin just created a new Facebook page titled Quarantine Gallery. It is open to the public and allows artists of all kinds to share their work and what they're creating right now. He wanted to start something creative during this challenging time in our world. Jay encourages others to join and share!