After browsing the design boutique Composition for an hour (see Sunday in Belmar Part 1: Composition) my friend and I headed down the street to Ink Lounge Gallery to check out their current exhibit (till March 6th) of screen printed concert posters and art hailing from Austin, TX.
The work is from The Decoder Ring, a design firm who's motto is "Do work we love for clients we admire." I too admire their clients who include Modest Mouse, Wilco, Spoon and the Shout Out Louds. My friend purchased the Spoon poster pictured above.
While visiting, we learned a little bit about Ink Lounge, owned by print makers Nicky and Stu Alden. The gallery specializes in print making and is one of the few, if not the only one, in Denver that does so. Amazingly they donate 50% of their proceeds from exhibit openings to two organizations: the Tong-Len Charitable Trust - a group working towards universal education and poverty relief within displaced communities in Himachal Pradesh, India - and the Lumberg Elementary School Art Program - a school in Edgewater, CO (where Nicky went to school).
The gallery also host workshops where you can learn the basics of print making. On Sunday, Feb 24th is the Beginning Ink workshop. The one day workshop will cover the basics of screen printing onto paper including art and film preparation, screens - mesh, emulsion, exposure and cleaning.
In addition to The Decoder Ring posters, 2008 calenders designed by the owners are available for purchase too. Check the designs out here. The calendars are so beautiful I would never think of disposing once 2008 runs its course.
Ink Lounge Gallery
[where: 445 S. Saulsbury St., Studio H, Lakewood, CO 80226
303-321-7101
www.inkloungegallery.com
The Decoder Ring
www.thedecoderring.com
