Seattle-Tashkent Printmakers Exchange
Printmakers Exchange
In September of 1989, the Seattle gallery "Stone Press Editions" hosted and exhibition of fine prints by artist from Seattle and Tashkent. The exhibition at Stone Press Editions showcases the work of thirty-two Seattle artists and sixteen Tashkent artists. The Seattle Printmakers exchange is intended to inform the general public of Seattle and Tashkent about the art being made in their sister cities. Many individuals got the chance to visit Tashkent during the exhibit such as Seattle artist Paul D. Natkin who visited Tashkent artists in their studios and showed them work of various Northwest artists. Art played a big role in bringing these two groups of people together in the newspaper article I have provided you can see Seattle artist Paul D. Natkin and Tashkent artist Vyacheslav Akhunov, Atkin had the Chance to meet Akhunov and showcase art between each other.
A Day in The Life Exchange
In 1988, The Committee for Visual Exchange proposed a photographic exchange of a series of seventy photos from Seattle photographers in 1989, and to be followed by an exchange of seventy photos from thirty photographers in Tashkent. The photos were to be displayed at the Henry Art Gallery in Seattle and followed by a gallery in Tashkent. The photographic exchange allowed citizens in both sister cities an artistic view of life in their respective sister cities. These exchanges allowed a way to get closer and build relationships while not meeting face to face. A means to bridge a gap and get to know one another through the form of photography and art, just because these artists were not meeting each other face to face didn’t stop them from connecting and understanding each other. The idea of shipping art and photos to one another was fascinating even though these citizens didn't have to meet one another they were still meeting them in a different way. Through their art and photographs many had the feeling they knew each other. These individuals took advantage of the sister city relationship between Seattle and Tashkent to promote Northwest art and Uzbek art.