FACILITIES

Kala Art Institute is a unique resource, providing high-quality working facilities to serious artists working in all forms of printmaking, photography, book arts, and since the mid-1990s, digital media including digital video, sound, and computer art. The array of equipment that Kala makes available to artists and students is staggering and far beyond that which any one person could amass: equipment for intaglio, lithography, monoprinting, silk-screen, bookbinding, relief printing, letterpress, aquatint, photography, and more, including the use of special non-toxic printing methods and equipment. The Electronic Media Center offers the use of top-of-the-line Apple computers, and the latest digital cameras and software for image, video and sound editing, and peripheral hardware including wide format digital printers and high definition film scanners. Along with the artists in residence, hundreds of novice students and artists also benefit from Kala’s outstanding facility and extensive array of equipment through enrollment in a wide array of open registration classes offered throughout the year—in addition, many of Kala’s class and workshop instructors are current or former artists in residence.

Two aspects differentiate Kala from most other studios and related programs: versatility and size. Kala’s facilities are spread out over two buildings and feature the following:

The Print Studio (8,000 sq. ft.) includes equipment to facilitate a variety of traditional and new print processes including Intaglio, Monotype/Monoprint, Woodblock, Lithography, Screenprint, Letterpress, and Black and White Photography. The Print Studio is separated into the following areas: Workshop, Darkroom, Acid Room, Exposure Room, Lithography, Multi-use/Shared Presses, Editioning Room, Letterpress, Paper Preparation/Print Dryers, and Kitchen.

The Electronic Media Center (EMC) (450 sq. ft.) houses digital media-based equipment to facilitate digital photography, design, large format printing and digital video editing. New equipment in the EMC includes the Imacon Flextight 848 virtual drum scanner, perfect for scanning slides, negatives and transparencies; Final Cut Pro 7 software and Mini DV decks for video artists. The two Epson 9900 Archival Inkjet Printers (44” wide) provide stunning output for color/B&W images and allow artists to produce their own transparencies for a variety of printmaking processes. In the EMC, artists are encouraged to integrate new digital technology with traditional printmaking techniques, or push the world of new technology much further than they had ever imagined.

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The Exhibition Gallery (2,200 square feet) is a light filled 2,200 square foot exhibition space. The gallery presents approximately six exhibitions each year in a wide range of media by both emerging and recognized artists. Three of the exhibitions feature new works by Kala Fellowship artists and Artist-in-Residence members of the Institute working in print, digital media, video, installation, photography and book arts.

Administrative Offices include workspace for Kala’s staff as well as a general-use copier, color printer, individual workstations, and a fax machine.

Kala’s Print Archive is an irreplaceable educational tool and historical record of artwork produced in Kala studios over the last three decades, housing prints, books, photographs, portfolios, objects created by artists from around the world. This selection of artwork illustrates the development of not only manifold techniques (for example, intaglio, etching, digital printing), but also individual artists’ styles. Contributions by artists to Kala’s archive at the end of each residency or fellowship period support the tradition of building a valuable printmaking resource for the artist community and public to benefit from for years to come.

Kala also boasts an extensive and diverse selection of more than 2,000 original prints on consignment. The collection includes a variety of works on paper, including archival digital prints, monotypes, intaglio and relief prints, as well as lithographs and screenprints.

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