PRINTMAKING HISTORY OF COLORADO TIMELINE

1874

Otto Mears, railroad builder and entrepreneur, publishes the first issue of The Saguache Chronicle, which soon becomes The Saguache Crescent. 

1876

August 1, 1876  – U.S. President Ulysses S. Grant signs a proclamation admitting Colorado, land originally occupied by indigenous nations including the Apache, Comanche, Shoshone, and Ute, to the Union as the 38th state.

1893

The Mancos Times was founded with C.M. Danford as editor.

1906

George Elbert Burr, printmaker and painter, moves to Denver, Colorado. 

1910

  • George Elbert Burr builds a brick house and studio at 1325 Logan Street in Denver, Colorado. Purchased by The Denver Woman’s Press Club in 1924.

  • The Mancos Times Tribune purchases its Cranston “Country” newspaper press and moves to its location on Grand Avenue, where it remained until the 1970s.

1917

 The Saguache Crescent is purchased by the Coombs family. 

1925

January 14, 1925  – Rudolph (Rudy) Otto Pozzatti was born in Telluride, Colorado.

1931

Richardson Rome and Dave Sterling open Rome Creations in Estes Park, selling hand printed stationary. 

1934

  • Lyman Byxbe moves to Estes Park, Colorado. 

  • The Denver Artists Guild starts the Rocky Mountain Print Makers exhibition at Chappell House. (1934-1937)

1935

Lester Varian begins teaching etching at the University of Denver. (1935-1942)

1936

Harold Keeler starts and works as the Supervisor of the Colorado WPA Block Print Project (the Sterling Project) along with William Traher. (1936-1937)

1937

Harold Keelers opens a lithography workshop in Denver, Colorado. 

1938

Lawrence Barret hired at the Broadmoor Academy (Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center). (1938-1952)

1943

Rudy Pozzatti’s undergraduate studies at the University of Colorado are interrupted when he was inducted to serve in the U.S. Army during the Second World War. He served in the 659th Field Artillery of the 7th Army. Rudy completes his BFA in 1948.

1947

Orin Loo, former head of lithography at Hallmark, and Miriam Loo open Looart press in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

1950

  • Lawrence Barrett co-authors How to Draw and Print Lithographs with Adolf Dehn.

  • Rudy Pozzatti earns his MFA from the University of Colorado.

1963

Jack Orman creates the printmaking program at Colorado State University in Fort Collins, Colorado. 

1967

Lester Varian dies in Denver, Colorado. 

1968

James Dormer hired at Colorado State University in Fort Collins, Colorado. 

1970

The printing of The Mancos Times transitions to offset, the Cranston Press is shut down, and the working space it occupied is boarded up.

1973

Lawrence Barret dies in Colorado Springs. 

1976

Bud Shark creates Shark’s Lithography Ltd. in Boulder, Colorado. 

1977

Ray Tomasso joins the MFA printmaking program at the University of Colorado Boulder, studies with Clinton Cline. 

1978

  • The Anderson Ranch Arts center establishes a print studio in the basement of the Dows Barn.

  • The Press at Colorado College is founded by James Trissel. (1978-1999)

1980

March 27, 1980  – Lyman Byxbe dies in Longmont, Colorado.

1981

The summer printmaking collaboration program begins at the Anderson Ranch Arts Center, spearheaded by master printers Bud Shark and Craig O’Brien.

1983

E.C. Cunningham begins teaching at Metropolitan State University of Denver and builds the printmaking program.

1988

Riverhouse Editions opens in Steamboat Springs, Colorado.

1989

Mark Lunning creates Open Press in Denver.

1992

Leon Loughridge opens Dry Creek Art Press.

1994

  • E.C. Cunningham voted as the President of the Mid America Print Council. (1994-1996)

  • Rick Griffith opens BLOC Editions in North Boulder. 

1995

The Art Students League of Denver hires Mark Lunning to design a print shop and be the first printmaking faculty.

1997

The Art Students League of Denver’s print shop moves out of the basement and to its permanent home on the 2nd floor.

1998

Shark’s Lithography Ltd. moves to Lyons, Colorado and becomes Shark’s Ink.

1999

  • Rick Griffith transforms BLOC Editions into MATTER.

  •  Brian Molanphy becomes the Printer of The Press at Colorado College. (1999-2004)

2000

  • Jack Orman retires from Colorado State University in Fort Collins, Colorado after teaching for 37 years. 

  • July 2000  – Brad Keech opens Pressure Printing Inc. in Denver, Colorado. 

2002

  • 2002 - Todd Simmons opens Wolverine Farm in Fort Collins, Colorado.

  • June 1, 2002  – E.C. Cunningham publishes Printmaking: A Primary Form of Expression.

2004

Chris Forsythe becomes the Printer of The Press at Colorado College. (2004-2006) 

2005

  • Elaine and Ernie Stires open Red Delicious Press in Aurora, Colorado. 

  • Wolverine Farm becomes a 501(c)(3) non-profit.

2006

  • Melanie Yazzie hired at the University of Colorado, Boulder.

  • Joshua Butler hired at Colorado Mesa University, Grand Junction, Colorado.

  • Colin Frazer becomes the Printer of The Press at Colorado College. (2006-2010)

2007

  • Patricia Branstead opens Kozo Fine Art Materials.

  • October 5, 2007  – Stu and Nicky Alden open Ink Lounge, hosts its first exhibit, Locals Night.  

  • November 2007  – Alicia Bailey opens Abecedarian Gallery. 

2008

Jan 26, 2008  – Ink Lounge hosts its first Intro to Screen Printing workshop. 

2009

Shark’s Ink publishes The Legend of Bud Shark and his Indelible Ink. 

2010

  • Riverhouse Editions closes.

  • Aaron Cohick becomes the Printer of The Press at Colorado College. (2010- )

  • Susan Hover Oehme opens Oehme Graphics in Steamboat Springs, Colorado.

  • September 2-4, 2010 - Ten Denver galleries take part in The Print Event: The Weekend of Prints.

  • October 1, 2010  – Eldon Lloyd (E.C.) Cunningham dies in Denver, Colorado.

2011

Arley Torsone and Morgan Calderini open Ladyfingers Letterpress. 

2012

Catherine Chauvin voted as the President of the Mid America Print Council. (2012-2014)

2013

  • February 1, 2013  – 528.o Regional Printmaking Exhibit opens at RedLine Contemporary Art Center. 

  • March 2013 – Peter Bergman and Heather Link-Berman create is_PRESS.

  • April 2013  – Good Thieves Press opens. Named after a quote by E.C. Cunningham. 

  • June 2013  – Alicia McKim becomes the first organizing Chair of Mo’Print.  

  • July 2013  – The Letterpress Depot non-profit is formed by Tom Parson and the Englewood Depot building is acquired in September 2013.  

  • August 2013  – Britt Madden and Ava Goldberg open Banshee Press.

  • The Cranston press and 100 years of archived newspapers are discovered in the historic Mancos Times Tribune building.

2014

  • Johnny Plastini hired at Colorado State University in Fort Collins, Colorado. 

  • Viviane Le Courtois and Christopher R. Perez open Processus. 

  • January 11, 2014  – Open Press 25th Anniversary Exhibition opens at the McNichols Civic Center Building.  

  • February 2014  – The television program CBS News Sunday Morning featured a visit to The Saguache Crescent, still being published by the Coombs family. 

March 2014 - 1st Biennial Month of Printmaking

31 exhibits in galleries, event spaces, alternative spaces, and libraries. 18 artists and print shops took part in the Studio Tour. 13 events, workshops and demonstrations. 

  • March 2, 2014  – How Has Technology Changed Printmaking? panel discussion at the McNichols Civic Center Building.  

  • March 6, 2014  – First Mo’Print fundraiser. 

  • March 25, 2014  – Innovations in Printmaking panel discussion at Walker Fine Art.  

  • March 28, 2014  – White Wine White Gloves event at the McNichols Civic Center Building. 

  • April 12, 2014  – Steamroller printing event at RMCAD. 

2015

  • 528.o Regional Printmaking Exhibit opens at RedLine Contemporary Art Center. 

  • Kozo Fine Art Materials closes.

  • Good Thieves Press closes. 

  • September 6, 2015  – Laura Grossett opens Mad Deer Press in Fort Collins, Colorado. 

  • October 10, 2015  – Flatiron Press opens in Boulder, Colorado. 

  • July 2015  – Art Gym Denver opens.  

  • October 5, 2015  – Gregory Santos hired as the Printmaking Director at Art Gym Denver, designs the print shop using Clinton Cline’s former private equipment as its foundation. 

2016

March 2016 - 2nd Biennial Month of Printmaking

42 exhibits in galleries, event spaces, alternative spaces, and libraries. 30 artists and print shops took part in the Studio Tour. 25 events, workshops, demonstrations.

  • February 25, 2016 – Space Gallery hosts the first Print Educators of Colorado Exhibit.

  • March 4, 2016  – Colorado Landscapes in Print: A Century of Printmaking in Colorado exhibit opens at Tam O’Neill Fine Art.

  • March 6, 2016  – The Art of Collecting Prints panel discussion at the Arvada Center for the Arts and Humanities.

  • March 6, 2016  – Art Students League of Denver hosts its first Monotype-A-Thon.

  • April 23, 2014  – Steamroller printing event at RMCAD. 

  • October 2016  – Gregory Santos becomes the Chair of Mo’Print. (2017-2020)

  • Jason Rodriguez, aka “FORGE,” opens the Mobile Art Gallery, selling prints out of a vintage 1979 Chevy van.

  • Ladyfingers Letterpress opens their flagship store in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

2017

  • Mad Deer Press closes. 

  • James Dormer retires from Colorado State University in Fort Collins, Colorado. 

  • May 26, 2017  – 528.o Regional Printmaking Exhibit opens at the Center for Visual Art. 

  • August 2017  – Jade Hoyer hired at Metropolitan State University of Denver. 

  • September 14, 2017  – The Great War: Vision of a World Conflict exhibit of wartime lithographic posters opens at the Arvada Center.

  • October 6, 2017  – Rembrandt: The Etchings Works from the Collection of Tobia and Morton Mower opens at The Art Gallery at the Fulginiti Pavilion.

2018

  • January 13, 2018  – Master Printmakers and Print Educators in Colorado exhibit opens at the McNichols Civic Center Building.  

  • Flatiron Press closes. 

  • June 2018  – Banshee Press closes. 

  • February 2018  – CU Boulder acquires the Sharkive from Shark’s Ink. 

March 2018 - 3rd Biennial Month of Printmaking

47 exhibits in galleries, event spaces, alternative spaces, and libraries. 40 artists took part in Open Portfolio. 37 artists and print shops took part in the Studio & Print Tour. 39 events, workshops, demonstrations. Black Ink exhibit and fundraiser raised $2500 for future programming.

  • March 2, 2018  – Black Ink fundraiser and exhibit at TRVE Brewing. 

  • March 15, 2018  – Printmaking: The Digital Debate panel discussion at the McNichols Civic Center Building. 

  • March 17, 2018  – Open Portfolio event hosted by RedLine Contemporary Art Center.

  • March 24  – Studio & Print Tour 

  • April 28, 2018  – Steamroller printing event at RMCAD.  

  • May 22, 2018  – Building a Print Collection lecture at the Kirkland Museum of Fine & Decorative Art. 

  • July 2018  – Open Press relocates to Sterling, Colorado. 

  • October 2018  – The Denver Art Museum’s “Demonstrating Artist Program” dedicates 7 months to various printmakers.

  • September 2018  – Rembrandt: Painter as Printmaker exhibit opens at the Denver Art Museum.

2019

  • January 2019  – Gregory Santos creates Mixed Grit and begins mailing lithographic stones across the country.

  • February 4, 2019  – Clinton Cline dies in Northglenn, Colorado. 

  • June 8, 2019  – BIG INK event at Red Delicious Press. 

  • December 6, 2019  – Desert Dog Press opens in Grand Junction, Colorado.

  • Mancos Common Press opens as a traditional letterpress studio and arts program. The historic Cranston “Country” press finds new life.

2020

  • January 16, 2020  – 528.o Regional Printmaking Exhibit opens at the Arvada Center for the Arts and Humanities.  

  • February 22, 2020  – Rauschenberg: Reflections and Ruminations exhibit opens at the Museum of Outdoor Arts. 

  • February 28, 2020  – Prints From Shark’s Ink exhibit opens at Michael Warren Gallery. 

  • March 2020  – Johanna Mueller opens Wonderhand Studios in Greeley, Colorado. 

March 2020 - 4th Biennial Month of Printmaking

53 exhibits in galleries, event spaces, museums, educational institutions, and print shops. 50 artists scheduled for the Open Portfolio event. 48 events, workshops, and demonstrations. 26 artists and print shops scheduled to take part in the Studio & Print Tour. Black Ink exhibit and fundraiser raised $4,390 for future programming.

  • March 6, 2020  – Black Ink exhibit and fundraiser at TRVE Brewing. 

  • March 8, 2020  – Process & Print exhibit opens at the Kirkland Museum of Fine and Decorative Art. 

  • March 14, 2020  – Open Portfolio event hosted by RedLine Contemporary Art Center (cancelled due to Covid precautions). 

  • March 21, 2020  – Print Madness event hosted by the Arvada Center for the Arts and Humanities (cancelled due to Covid precautions). 

  • March 28 & 29, 2020  – Studio & Print Tour (cancelled due to Covid precautions).

  • April 18, 2020  – Steamroller printing event at RMCAD (cancelled due to Covid precautions).

  • May 2020  – Emily Moyer and Jennifer Ghormley become the new Co-Chairs of Mo’Print (2021-present). 

  • June 2020  – Emily Moyer opens Little Drop Print Shop. 

  • June 25, 2020  – Ray Tomasso dies in his studio in Englewood, Colorado. 

  • September 7-12, 2020  – Embracing the Wilds virtual conference hosted by the Western Printmaking Alliance.

  • October, 2020  – The Merlin sisters open Odd Ones Press, a risograph print studio.

  • November 2020  – Open Press closes. 

2021

September 24, 2021 – Print Renaissance: Mid-century Masters of American Printmaking exhibit opens at the Littleton Museum.

2022

March 2022 - 5th Biennial Month of Printmaking

60 exhibits in galleries, event spaces, museums, educational institutions, and print shops. 60 artists participating Open Portfolio event. 33 events, workshops, and demonstrations. 25 artists and print shops participating in the Studio & Print Tour.

  • March 4, 2022  – Black Ink exhibit and fundraiser at TRVE Brewing.

  • March 9-11, 2022  – Western Wilds Collective virtual conference.

  • March 12, 2022  – Open Portfolio event hosted by Denver Botanical Gardens.

  • March 19, 2022  – Print Jam event hosted by the Denver Art Museum.

  • March 26 & 27, 2022  – Studio & Print Tour

  • April 2, 2022  – Modernist West: Prints from the Robert G. Lewis Collection exhibit opens at PACE Center Art Gallery

  • April 2-3, 2022  – BIG INK event at the Arvada Center for the Arts and Humanities.

  • April 16, 2022  – Steamroller printing event at RMCAD.

  • July 14, 2022  – Barbara Hale dies in Denver.

  • August 27, 2022 – The first annual Fort Collins Small Press Fest is held at Wolverine Farm.

  • October 28, 2022 – Picasso as Printmaker: A Collector’s Perspective exhibit opens at the Museum of Art Fort Collins.

    2023

  • January 2023, The Print Shop at the Beet opens in the Education Center at the Loveland Museum.

  • November 7, 2023 – MoPrint Inc. receives 501(c)(3) status. Founding board members:

    President - Brady Smith

    Vice President - Gregory Santos

    Secretary - Jennifer Ghormley

    Treasurer - Emily Moyer


    2024

    January 19, 2024  – 528.o Regional Printmaking Exhibit opens at the Arvada Center for the Arts and Humanities. 


March 2024 - 6th Biennial Month of Printmaking

64 exhibits in galleries, event spaces, museums, educational institutions, and print shops. 78 artists participating Open Portfolio event. 64 events, workshops, and demonstrations. 29 artists and print shops participating in the Studio & Print Tour.

Compiled by Gregory Santos, this timeline makes no claim to be complete or definitive. Its intention is to list newsworthy and notable print history of Colorado as well as printmakers who’ve made considerable contributions to Colorado’s print community. It is not intended to be an archive of every living print artist to have practiced in Colorado.