Liz Chalfin Art News November 2025
This year has been a roller coaster of emotions
This year is the 25th anniversary of Zea Mays Printmaking, the studio I founded and have directed since the turn of the century. We had some wonderful celebrations including an open house, a community party, featured articles, interviews and exhibitions. I have been riding high on the love and recognition all year.It’s also been a year of frightening changes in our country causing levels of anxiety and discord I haven’t experienced before. And I have grieved the passing of several friends and partners of community members this year. Life as I know it is fragile.
All this to say that I am constantly reminded that we are called upon to hold both joy and sorrow, optimism and despair, fear and bravery, movement and stasis simultaneously. Finding this balance takes effort, and for me, making art not only helps the balance but tips the scale towards joy and inner peace. So I continue to make prints, show my work and create space for others to do the same. Here are some of the things I have been working on and celebrating this fall. Thank you for caring.
Liz
I’m participating in a panel discussion about the studio’s legacy and practice along with Joyce Silverstone and Angela Zammarelli on Wednesday, November 12 at 5:30 PM at the Fine Arts Center, UMASS, Amherst. I hope to see you there. It’s free and open to the public. Reserve a space here to skip the line.
The wonderful marketing team at UMCA has put together three videos of me and a group of artists in the show talking about Zea Mays Printmaking, their own practices and our place in the art ecosystem. They are short and lovely.
Rollin’ on the River: 25 years of Zea Mays Printmaking
Another ZMP anniversary exhibition just opened at the Hosmer Gallery, Forbes Library, Northampton entitled, Rollin’ on the River: 25 years of Zea Mays Printmaking. This exhibition features the work of over 60 ZMP artists. One of my new prints, “Storm over Trefeglwys” is included in the show. It’s an etching done on zinc, etched in a copper sulfate mordant and printed with subtle color shifts. I made it at Trefeglwys Printmakers, Andrew Baldwin’s studio in Wales last May when I took a group of ZMP artists to work with the inventor of the BIG etching ground. It’s part of a series of prints I’m working on imagining clouds, storms and murmurations.
The reception for this show is on Friday, November 14th from 5-7 PM.
Small Works Season is Upon Us
This time of year is full of art sales and small works shows and I’ve got work in a couple of them.
Small Works at Mitchell Giddings Fine Art
November 28, 2025 – January 11, 2026
Gallery Exhibit Opens
Friday, November 28, 11amArtist Reception
Gallery Walk Friday, December 5, 5:30pm
Juror Georgia Küng selected two of my small etchings, Canyon Ferry Sunset 1 and 2 for the 3rd annual Mini Gems show. SAGA's Mini Gems is a national, juried miniature print exhibition held in SAGA Gallery in Union Square, New York City. 200 mini prints on view, Saturdays from December 6, 2025 to January 10, 2026-12 to 5pm.
Opening reception and awards: Saturday, December 6-2 to 5pm.
Proud to be showing “July Rains” in this members’ exhibition at the Housatonic Museum of Art.
You can view the whole catalog here
