The 'HITS!' series fundraiser
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What is 'HITS!'? HITS! - Printmakers Top 10 is an international print series initiated by artist Annegret Frauenlob. Every year, ten printmakers are invited to choose a favourite lyric or song and create a 7" square (folded or unfolded) print for the box-set. 50 copies of the complete set are available for sale and the series has been exhibited at art book fairs internationally, including London Art Book Fair (at the Whitechapel), Frankfurt Book Fair, CODEX (USA) and artbook.berlin. What are the prints in this fundraiser series? The three works below are the prints I created for the 2019, 2020 and 2021 'HITS!' series. They are a separate edition (denoted by Roman numerals) to that for the box-set (denoted by Arabic numerals) and in fact the 2019 print is a re-print created especially for this fundraiser. I think they work well as a series, partly because of the common elements (the lasercut shapes and the choice of typefaces, Eurostile Bold Extended and Plantin) and also because of the space I wanted to give to the lyric excerpts. What happens to the money? 100% of any sales (minus postage) goes to Refugee Action's Afghan Arrivals Emergency Fund. I will send you email proof of the donation plus a signed certificate of your donation. The money goes towards direct support for people arriving right now: expert staff to meet people at airports, give guidance and advice, provide interpreters, warm clothes, meals and access to phones to contact loved ones. |
Why is this fundraiser important? Throughout lockdown I have reflected often on my responsibilities as an artist, as a parent and, fundamentally, as a human in an unequal world. I am in a fortunate position, so I've initiated a series of print sales to raise funds. The first was for my local food bank and the second for a charity working with young people. This is the third fundraiser. I chose the lyric for my 'HITS!' contribution in early summer 2021. The band is Irreversible Entanglements, a free jazz / spoken word collective who came together originally to perform at a Musicians Against Police Brutality event in New York City. The words are by vocalist Camae Ayewa (aka Moor Mother): "they say freedom down the road / if we could just hold on / hold our breath / make it through the checkpoints / make it over the bridge across the sea / under the fence / if we could just hold on". They speak powerfully because of their universality. But, throughout August 2021, as I worked on the print, they clearly spoke too of the evolving situation in Afghanistan. I worked for the UK charity Refugee Action from 2007 to 2012 on a service that provided advice and advocacy to people granted refugee status in the UK during the period immediately after the decision on their asylum claim. The support, or lack of, that my home country offers to people in challenging and highly distressing circumstances remains an ongoing issue that I cannot ignore. |
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Print details
Size: 17.5cm (H) x 54cm (W). This equates to roughly 7" x 21"; ie, 7" square if folded. Stock: 160gsm South Bank book smooth (acid-free archival paper) Edition size: 25 Price £30 (plus shipping) - single print £75 (plus shipping) - full series of three prints (ie, third one is half-price) Purchase options There are four options: you can purchase either the 2021 print on its own or the whole series of three prints (2019-2021), and the prints can be shipped either flat or folded. The latter is intended primarily for international packages as it can be shipped in a cheaper rate category. Flat options ship in a custom-made rigid cardboard package; folded options ship in a rigid 7" vinyl cardboard mailer. Postage All the prices below include shipping. Please choose the right option from the drop-down menus - Royal Mail's world map is here. Packages will ship (tracked and compensated in case of loss or damage) the week of 20th September.
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Alternative donation possibilities
If funds are tight, you could consider donating clothes and/or other essential items via Care4Calais.They are currently co-ordinating a lot of the urgent donations around the UK. Map of their drop-off locations. (I did this for a group of friends locally a fortnight ago and it's easy.) Most UK cities also have their own refugee community networks run and/or guided by people with lived experience - eg, Manchester, Leeds, Bristol - who will be able to offer local donation options. Or, you could donate directly to the Refugee Action appeal if you prefer. |
Purchasing other work
Most of the work on this site is for sale. If you're interested in purchasing anything else in the same order, to take advantage of cheaper postage, please get in touch with me first to discuss. There is a pdf of the current catalogue I can send out. |
A final note
If you're a printmaker reading this and you have ideas for fundraisers, feel free to get in touch. I don't claim to have any answers, but perhaps we can pool our resources and ideas via some constructive conversations.
If you're a printmaker reading this and you have ideas for fundraisers, feel free to get in touch. I don't claim to have any answers, but perhaps we can pool our resources and ideas via some constructive conversations.