The International Prints Department is deeply saddened by the news of Jörg Schmeisser’s death.
In 1976 Schmeisser came toCanberra as a visiting fellow in the Humanities Research Centre at the Australian National University, and from 1978 until the late 1980s he headed the printmaking workshop at the Canberra School of Art. During this time he established strong connections with the National Gallery of Australia, generously giving his time to promote prints and printmaking through a range of workshops and lectures in association with various Gallery exhibitions and events.
A notable example of such an occasion occurred in 1985, when Kenneth Tyler visited the Gallery for the first time, in conjunction with the exhibition Kenneth Tyler: printer extraordinary. Schmeisser, in association with Tyler and curatorial staff at the Gallery, facilitated a lecture and workshop series attended by printmakers from around Australia. Tyler gave a slide lecture entitled ‘The new surface of prints at Tyler Graphics Ltd’ and together Schmeisser and Tyler led a paper making demonstration, followed by a technical workshop demonstrating lithography, etching and aquatint.
Schmeisser was an inspirational teacher and a commanding artist. His sophisticated works reveal a masterful command of printmaking techniques and his death is a great loss to the art world locally, nationally and internationally.
The National Gallery holds a significant collection of Schmeisser’s work; you can read about a selection here:
http://artsearch.nga.gov.au/Detail.cfm?IRN=167423
Further links relating to Schmeisser’s work are listed below:
http://www.museumsandgalleries.act.gov.au/cmag/JorgSchmeisser.html
kennethtylercollection.net 