Artist Bio

Ash Armenta (they/them) is a non-binary artist from the Bay Area of California working in printmaking. They are a recent 2022 graduate of the MFA Printmaking program at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Ash completed a two year program specializing in lithography at Tamarind Institute and received the title of Tamarind Master Printer in 2017. They received their Bachelor of Art at The University of California Santa Cruz in 2011 with a concentration in Printmaking.

“How can interpersonal relationships with self and community be visualized?”

By utilizing most forms of traditional printmaking practices, Ash explores these concepts through creating 2D and 3D printed work and sculptural installations that incorporate sound and light.

Ash enjoys collaborating with other artists to connect the public to a fine art sphere of printmaking with live pop-up printmaking events. They have previously organized three steamroller street printing events and recently organized an international call to artists for a 2022 exhibition, Queer Printmaking and Futurity. Ash is committed to continuing to engage with their LGBTQ community within their own practice.

Ash Armenta was selected by a jury in 2022 and will begin as the Thurber Park Artist-in-Residence in Fall 2022.

WAYS TO VISIT & GET INVOLVED:

CoFFEE WITH NEIGHBORS: Thurber Coffee Open House
3325 Thurber Ave
On Selected Sundays 9 - 11:30am

Stop by Thurber Park (3325 Thurber Ave) to chat with artist-in-residence, Ash Armenta (they/them) and sip coffee with neighbors. All ages welcome, masking inside the space is encouraged.

4/9 CANCELLED
4/23
5/14
5/28
6/11
6/25

Additional community events at Thurber Park with Ash (more details to come!)

ARTISTS' NIGHT EVENT*: Printmaking in Community with Artist-in-Residence Ash Armenta
Friday, June 2 from 6-9pm
Thurber Park, 3325 Thurber Ave

All ages are welcome to join in exploring Printmaking within Community Space through hands-on exploration with traditional printmaking practices to explore the question of: “How can interpersonal relationships with self and community be visualized?” 
Drop by to meet Ash, see this unique community studio space and residency -- and maybe even create something in the meantime! 
*This Open Studio is a part of the city-wide Artists' Night organized by Communication Madison, learn more here.

Make Music Madison 
June 21st, time TBA 

Thurber Studio Classes facilitated by Ash

Paper Marbling, Elementary youth-adult
Wednesday April 19th 6-8pm REGISTRATION LINK

Hand Carved Stamp paper and fabric printing 
Monday April 24th 6-8pm REGISTRATION LINK

DIY Screenprint: Tips and tricks for successful at home (tshirt and poster printing) 
Wednesday May 3rd 6-8pm REGISTRATION LINK

Hand Carved Stamp and fabric printing 
Wednesday May 10th 6-8pm REGISTRATION LINK

SOME BACKGROUND:

In 2017, Ash applied their lithographic skillet post Tamarind institute as a Research Fellow for the Frederick Hammersley Institute. With a passion for sharing studio practice, Ash taught printmaking at Kala Institute in Berkeley 2017-2019.

In 2018, Ash opened Little Giant Collective, a member-owned cooperative print studio in Santa Cruz, Ca. Part of the working mission of the cooperative is to foster collaboration with artists to connect the public to a fine art sphere of printmaking. Actions include live pop-up printmaking events and an open door attitude in inviting the public into the studio space for art events that center community and inclusivity. Ash is excited to share their artist practice with the Madison community through the Thurber Artist Residency. Ash is also a resident of the neighborhood near Thurber Park and looks forward to walking and biking to the studio workspace.

They also worked at Tandem Press as a workshop assistant in Madison, WI 2019-2020. Ash looks forward to one day teaching studio printmaking in an academic setting.

Contact:
Trent Miller, tmiller@madisonpubliclibrary.org re: Thurber Park community connections & programming
Karin Wolf, kwolf@cityofmadison.com re: Public art created by Thurber Park artist(s)