Glass Woodcut Prints

Mortimer and the Octopus | 2009
left: water color and woodcut print on Rives BFK | 11" x 24"
right: glass and oak | 16" x 28" x 6.5" (closed) | 32" x 28" x 6.5" (open)

Kirk Waldroff, a DC-based printmaker and sculptor, uses traditional woodcut techniques to create non-traditional prints in glass, concrete and on paper. His mixed media works depict invented saints and never-told fables.
Kirk's work was featured in the international exhibition of glass artwork, "Glass 3" in Georgetown in 2008, where he exhibited his beautiful technique that combines printmaking and sculptural glass. Kirk has a solo show of his glass woodcuts at NOVA's Waddell Gallery opening Jan 11 titled: Saints and Fables: Prints and Print-based Sculpture

Saint Funiculus | 2009
left: woodcut on unryu | 3.5" x 24" | edition of three
middle: glass, oak, flourescent lighting | 9" x 30" x 6"
right: concrete, grout, gold leaf | 3.5" x 24"

Theodulus and the Egret | 2009
left: water color and woodcut print on Rives BFK | 11" x 24"
right: glass and oak | 16" x 28" x 6.5" (closed) | 32" x 28" x 6.5" (open)

From Kirk Waldroff's artist statement:

I draw great inspiration from art that I consider beautifully melancholy and aim to make pieces that are at once dark, humorous, and thought-provoking. I often draw upon religious imagery and enjoy employing social and historical themes as well.

Since the beginning of my education in art, I have been most attracted to printmaking. I enjoy the methodology as well as the very tactile link to the past this medium provides. In addition, printmaking is uniquely poised to integrate and borrow from new technologies and methods. My most recent glass and concrete cast-prints blend the traditional art of woodblock printing with innovative techniques in sculptural casting and are certainly the only of their kind.

Saint Cuspis | 2009
left: woodcut on unryu | 3.5" x 24" | edition of three
middle: glass, oak, flourescent lighting | 9" x 30" x 6"
right: concrete, grout, gold leaf | 3.5" x 24"
detail of Kirk's glass woodcut technique


Candy for Sachiko | 2009
left: woodcut print on Rives BFK | edition of one | 7" x 32"
right: glass and oak | 11" x 36" x 6.5" (closed) | 22" x 36" x 6.5" (open)

Saints and Fables
Prints and Print-based Sculpture
January 11 - February 12, 2010

Gallery Talk: Wednesday, January 20, 12:00pm - 1:00pm

Reception: Friday, January 22, 6:30pm - 8:30pm

Waddell Art Gallery
Northern Virginia Community College

1000 Harry Flood Byrd Highway
Sterling, VA 20164 (google map)