Vanity Fair, ABC News interview Chuck Close (video)

Chuck Close interviewed by Vanity Fair in his New York studio in early 2014; behind the artist are a suite of prints created at Magnolia Editions as maquettes from which Close is painting a new series of self-portraits.
In Vanity Fair's "Up Close and Personal," we go behind the scenes of a Chuck Close portrait sitting. Says the magazine: "Guest artist Chuck Close brought 20 Hollywood luminaries into his studio for a photo shoot with unusual and strict rules. He talks to us about how he gets everyone comfortable, even without a hair and makeup team, on the other side of his lens."

Keep an eye out for the appearance of three colorful self-portraits hung behind Close in one interview segment: they are 'proofs of concept,' maquettes based on Close's handmade collages and printed at large scale by Magnolia Editions as a reference for the artist to paint from.

Chuck Close interviewed by Vanity Fair in his New York studio in early 2014.
These prints may or may not ultimately result in a published edition -- but as it stands, they are a unique example of the cross-fertilization between printmaking and painting in Close's practice, and of Magnolia's continued dedication to providing artists with cutting-edge tools and techniques with which to realize their concepts.

Chuck Close interviewed by Vanity Fair in his New York studio in early 2014 with a suite of prints created at Magnolia Editions as maquettes, which Close is using as reference materials for new paintings.
Meanwhile, in this video from the Australian Broadcasting Corporation previewing a major Close exhibition at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Sydney, Close and curator Terri Sultan discuss the artist's process and history with a panoply of Magnolia Editions publications and proofs in the background:

Once you check out the video, be sure to take a closer look at the editions pictured above on Magnolia Editions' website.

Open Studios June 8-9th: See our new gallery!

Builder Jack Champion (foreground) and architect Marisha Farnsworth (right) in what will soon be Magnolia's new gallery space.
Magnolia will be open to the public from 11 am to 5 pm on Saturday June 8th and Sunday June 9th, 2013, the second weekend of the annual Pro Arts East Bay Open Studios event.

This will be a very special Open Studios for us: as you read this, the front portion of our warehouse location in Oakland is being completely torn out and renovated. Visitors to Magnolia will soon enter through a brand new gallery space, with walls tall enough to accomodate even the largest tapestry editions.

The upcoming Open Studios will be an unofficial grand re-opening of sorts; please come celebrate with us beneath the high ceilings and abundant natural light of our handsome new gallery!


Builders Gary Johnson and Jack Champion (foreman for the 2012 temple
by David Best at Burning Man)
For the Open Studios weekend only, Magnolia will also hold one of its very infrequent framed art sales, in which decades worth of framed prints by some of the most well-known artists from the Bay Area and beyond are offered at greatly reduced prices. (Please note: discount and artist information will NOT be available in advance or by phone/email during the event, and discounts will be offered only to those attending in person.)

Due to the recent construction, we have unearthed a treasure trove of empty frames which will also be available for sale at bargain prices during Open Studios.

These sale events at Magnolia only happen two or three times a decade, so please mark your calendars, arrive early, and be sure to bring your fellow art lovers! We look forward to seeing you here.



A new floor!