I met Mirka at Greta’s Frame Gallery on a First Friday in Bryan, Texas. she was doing a demonstration of her printing of images. She asked if I wanted to print one. Being my normal cranky self, I declined her offer but hung around inspecting her art work. The more I looked, the more I liked her work. I checked out her work on line. Wow! She really is an accomplished artist. Welcome, Mirka, to oldartguy.com.
MIRKA HOKKANEN
“My works steer to two main categories; one is about animals and nature and the other is about old Finnish hand embroidered textiles that were hung on walls.
“The Finnish wallhanging project is a departure of what I normally do. It is a task I took on that includes research on a disappearing hand craft tradition, generating artwork based on the tradition that is relevant and beautiful today, and compiling all my research into a bilingual book on the subject matter. I have worked on this for many years and now that the kids are finally getting older, am hoping to compile most of the book this summer 2015.”
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Mirka’s Galleries:
Galleria G
Pieni Roobertinkatu 10, Helsinki, Finland
+358 9 700 285 01, galleria.g@taidegraafikot.fi
Artway,
Meritie 10, Nummela, Finland
Contact: Merja Leander + 358-9-222-7675
Galleria Dix
Uudenmaankatu 11, Helsinki, Finland
+358 09 603 661, info@galleriadix.fi
The Frame Gallery, Bryan, Texas
http://framegallerydowntown.com/
Education:
Concentration in Printmaking
2004 Master of Arts in Art, University of Dallas, Irving, TX
Concentration in Printmaking
2002 Bachelor of Fine Arts in Art, Rockford College, Rockford, IL
Concentration in Printmaking
Grants & Awards
2011 Finlandia Foundation National Grant, given for the Finnish Wallhanging Project
2010 City Art Purchase Award, Kent Summer Art Exhibit, Kent, WA
2005 Purchase Award, 19th Parkside National Small Print Exhibition, University of Wisconsin, Kenosha, WI
2004 MAPC Juried Exhibition Recognition Award, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, NE
2001 The Dedrick Prize in Art, Rockford College, Rockford, IL
2014 Prints by Mirka Hokkanen, Jorvi Hospital, Espoo, Finland
2012 Prints by Mirka Hokkanen, Krab Jab Studio, Seattle, WA
2010 Inching Closer, La Familia Gallery, Seattle, WA
Puskaradio, Galleria Gjutars, Vantaa, Finland
2009 Down the Grapevine, Friends Gallery, Lakewood Library, Lakewood, WA
2007 Kaikenkarvaiset, Tuusan Aitta, Nummela, Finland
2006 Maatilalla (At the Farm), Galleria Harmonia, Jyväskylän Grafiikkakeskus, Jyväskylä, Finland
Manipulated, Continental Gallery, Dallas, TX
Selected Group Exhibitions
2014 Wood Engravers Network Triennial Exhibition, travelling exhibition starting from Hamilton Wood Type & Printing Museum, Two Rivers, WI
Master of Print/Grafiikan Mestareita, Galleria Dix, Helsinki Finland
A Woodengravers Menagerie, Zygote Press, Celeveland, OH
International Wood Engraving Invitational, Davidson Galleries, Seattle, WA
2013 Animal/Eläin, Haihara Cultural Arts Center, Tampere, Finland
Wood Engravers’ Network Relief Engraving Exhibition, Da Silva Gallery, New Haven, CT
2012 Uusi Lehti, Uutta Taidegrafiikkaa, Galleria G, Helsinki Finland
2011 PS 5, Washington State Convention Center, South Galleria, Seattle, WA
2010 18th Annual Juried International Miniature Show, Parklane Gallery, Kirkland, WA
La Familia Gallery Group Show, Art Monaco 2010, Grimaldi Forum, Monaco
2009 Grafiikkaa, Veistoksia, Galleria Ferin, Helsinki, Finland
National Small Works 2009, Washington Printmakers Gallery, NW Washington DC
2008 Faculty Exhibition, Armstrong Atlantic State University Gallery, Savannah, GA
Naestved International Mini Print Exhibition, Naestved Grafisk Vaerksted, Naestved, Denmark
Political & Poetical: 14th Tallinn Print Triennial, Kumu Art Museum, Tallinn Art Hall, Tallinn, Estonia
2007 Miniprint Finland 2007 Triennial, Lahti Art Museum, Lahti, Finland
6th Lesseda World Art Print Annual, Lessedra Gallery & Contemporary Art Projects, Sofia, Bulgaria
2006 Draw_Drawing_2, The Foundry Gallery, London Biennale, London, UK
West Meets West, University of Art and Design Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
2005 Egos: Erik Tosten, Mirka Hokkanen, Sara Maxwell English, 500X Gallery, Dallas, TX
New Texas Talent XII, Craighead-Green Gallery, Dallas, TX
2004 Mid America Print Council Members Juried Exhibition, University of Nebraska- Lincoln, NE
Jorvi Hospital, Espoo Finland
City of Kent, Portable Works Collection, Kent, WA
Käpytikka RY, Helsinki, Finland
Lillie M. Kleven Print Collection, Bemidji State University, Bemidji, MN
NoteWorld Service Center, Tacoma, WA
Weisman Art Museum, Minneapolis, MN
University of Art and Design, Helsinki, Finland
Bilkent University, Ankara, Turkey
BVRH Therapeutic Riding Program, Poplar Grove, IL
United States Army, Fort Stewart Museum, Fort Stewart, GA
Organizations
Wood Engravers Network
Suomen Taidegraafikot (Association of Finnish Printmakers)
Mid America Print Council
Southern Graphics Council International
Professional Experiences
2011 Printmaking Instructor at private studio, Tacoma, WA
Artist residency, Southwest School of Arts and Crafts. Work independently in the print studio and talk to the art classes about work, critiques. San Antonio, TX
2010 Guest Speaker at Moms of Preschoolers meeting. Talk about creativity and lead a block printing group project, Lakewood, WA
Workshop Instructor at Tacoma Art Place, afternoon workshop on how to print with polymer litho plates, Tacoma, WA
Workshop Instructor at King’s Books, workshop on how to print with polymer litho plates, Tacoma, WA
Printmaking Instructor at private studio, Tacoma, WA. 2009-2010
Member of La Familia co-operative Gallery, Seattle, WA. 2009-2010
2009 Open Studio Tour Artist for the yearly Tacoma Art at Work month event, Tacoma WA
Commission of three paintings for NoteWorld Service Center, Tacoma, WA
Member of the Grand Impromptu Gallery, artist co-operative gallery, Tacoma, WA
2008 Curator for the printmaking exhibition Old Print - New Tricks. Exhibition included a gallery talk. Armstrong Atlantic State University Art Gallery, Savannah, GA
Adjunct Faculty at Armstrong Atlantic State University, Fort Stewart and Savannah, GA. Instructor for printmaking and art appreciation. 2007-2008
Drawing Instructor at McIntosh Art Association, Darien, GA
Guest artist at Trinity University, San Antonio, TX. Presented work and demonstrations in intaglio and instructed advanced students.
Adjunct Faculty at Columbia College, Fort Stewart, GA. Instructor for two classes in art appreciation and history. 2007- 2008
2006 Guest Artist at Trinity University, San Antonio, TX. Presented work and demonstrations in screen printing and intaglio and instructed advanced students.
Panelist for Welding Cultural Identity Into Printmaking, Forging Connections, Mid-America Print Council Conference, Athens, OH
Guest Artist at Tarrant County College, South Campus, Fort Worth, TX. Presented two lectures of personal works.
Juror for regional Texas Art Education Association high school Visual Art Scholastic Event (VASE), Coppell, TX
Guest Artist at North Lake College, Irving, TX. Presented lecture of personal work.
2005 Printer in charge for Matrix Visiting Artist Rosalyn Richards. Assisted in printing an edition of her prints and designed and installed her exhibition at the Upper Gallery, University of Dallas, Irving, TX
Curator of the drawing exhibition Paper and Plastic. Exhibition included short gallery talk. Upper Gallery, University of Dallas, Irving, TX
Guest Artist at Mountain View College, Dallas, TX. Presented lecture of personal works.
2004 Assistant to art history professor Lyle Novinski for his class Eternal Cities of Italy offered at University of Dallas. Course included traveling to Italy and Greece with the class.
Member of 500X cooperative gallery, 2004-2006, Dallas, TX.
2003 Guest Artist at the Tarrant County College, Arlington, TX. Presented lecture of personal works.
Guest Lecturer at the Navarro College, Corsicana, TX. Presentation on the history and techniques of printmaking and personal work.
Co-Juror for The University of Dallas 18th national Print Invitational, selected artists and framed accepted work, University of Dallas, Irving, TX
Mirka’s Updates:
Classes
Intro to Relief Printmaking for Adults and Children ages 12 & up
Taught by Mirka Hokkanen at the Purple Turtle Art Studio
Sat Jan 24th, Sun Jan 25th, Feb 1 from 12.30-3.30pm
Parker Astin Arts Center, Purple Turtle Art Studio
$130 covers all class materials
Contact Le Sears Hale to sign up at 979-777-6535
purpleturtleartstudio@gmail.com
Beginning Linocutting workshop
Arts Council of Brazos Valley, 2275 Dartmouth St, College Station 77840
Feb 7th, 10.30am-1.30pm
More information of the workshop will soon be posted on their website at http://acbv.org
Couples Monoprinting Date Night
Location Purple Turtle Art Studio
Sat Feb 14 from 5-7pm
At the Parker Astin Arts Center, Bryan, TX
$35 per couple
Come and play with inks and make a mono print together to take home at the end of the night. The event is open, so come and go as you like.
Contact Le Sears Hale for more information at 979-777-6535
purpleturtleartstudio@gmail.com
Exhibitions:
Mirka Hokkanen - Etchings
Jan-Feb 2015
Arts Center Studio of Brazos Valley, 2275 Dartmouth St, College Station 77840
BVAL Juried Show 2015
Jan 8-Jan 31rd, 2015
Arts Center of Brazos Valley, 2275 Dartmouth St, College Station 77840
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For more information or to sign up to receive news about upcoming classes, you can email me at mirka_hokkanen@yahoo.com or see me on Facebook at facebook.com/PicaDoodlePress.
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Daisy Duck
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