“1,000 Pulls”

Louis Giordano as presented by Xico Inc.

September 2021

Why “1000 Pulls”?
Silkscreen printing is a printing technique where a framed mesh (or screen), is used to transfer ink
onto a substrate, such as paper or fabric. Areas that the artist does not want color applied to are
blocked by a stencil. Traditionally, the process was called screen printing or silkscreen printing because silk was used in the mesh. A blade or squeegee is pulled across the screen to fill the open areas of the mesh with ink, and a second pull stroke then causes the screen to touch the substrate momentarily depositing the wet ink onto the substrate. One color is printed at a time, so several screens are required to produce a multicolored image or design. Each one of my prints has 6-12 color screens or “plates”, each requiring at least two pulls to apply the ink. There usually are twelve prints in an edition of which 8-10 are at a level of quality to be deemed successful prints. The prints in the show likely represent considerably more than 1000 pulls of the squeegee.

About Louis Giordano:

“I am an artist from Scottsdale, Arizona, and a graduate of the Arizona State University, College of Fine art. I create paintings and limited-edition silkscreen prints, based on my photography and illustrations. The art features various subject matters inspired by the people and places around me. These works include retro themes, mid-century modern design, southwest plants & animals with the occasional political satire. People often confuse art and craft. One might look at a painting or sculpture as an art object, when in fact the art exists within the idea and the personality that is being expressed through the medium. I strive make the art more than a representation of reality, even though much of the work I do, particularly my painting, is rendered in a realistic style, I work to interweave art and craft in a way that makes it hard to separate the two. I do this because, to me, art is at its best when it is an honest expression of who you are – how you feel and think combined with supreme craft. Often this work begins with photography. Nothing brings me more pleasure than wondering the places where I live and visit, with my camera looking for that perfect subject. I love old buildings and people that are a little rough around the edges, places that are haunted by a past you can feel. Less often, I may make a political or a social statement, but then I’m most likely to resort to satire – perhaps for comic relief or gallows humor. I will let the viewer decide.” -LG