The debut Double Calendar Project’s March/April calendar page was designed, printed, and engraved by Keith Cranmer. Cranmer is a Berkeley based artist who prints from metal & wood engravings, and intaglio print media and works on paper with drawing, gouache, ink, and painting. He is also a member of the American Society of Bookplate Collectors & Designers.
WEN’s long tradition of print exchanges includes not only the bi-annual bundle exchange, but also an annual calendar exchange that has been going on since at least 1998. Members who attend the annual conference are usually given first opportunity to choose a month. Any months left over are offered to other members. In the end, each participant gets 7 full sets of calendars to distribute as they see fit – usually to friends and family as gifts – a cherished gift! A print exchange is a printmaking tradition whereby participating artists agree to create an edition large enough to supply one print for each participant. Exchange coordinators then usually collate the prints together creating a set of prints that each artist receives.
WEN member Jon Hinkel of the Tight Squeek Press proposed a second auxiliary calendar project because most of the annual calendar’s project slots get snatched up so quickly. Those who were not able to attend the conference had to make special arrangements to reserve a coveted place in the original calendar project – if they even knew of the tradition in the first place. Well now, thanks to Hinkel’s idea and organization, WEN members have a brand new opportunity to participate in what will become a great NEW tradition! In addition to being a more transparent and equitable opportunity for members, the new Double Calendar project benefits WEN’s entire membership as one full set of calendars was included in the Autumn bundle mailing in 2017 – meaning every single member received a calendar!
