Cannonball Press: A Simple Recipe
By Rebecca Stern
On a Thursday night with so many events to choose from in the Atlanta area, I decided to attend the Cannonball Press lecture, “Woodcutology,” at the Savannah College of Art and Design’s Printmaking Workshop. A crowd of people listened eagerly to a presentation by two men who had been extremely productive for the past week in the workshop. As Rich Gere, Chair of SCAD’s Printmaking department, so eloquently stated, “These guys are here to create a stir of creativity.” Hopefully the creativity stirred up by the speakers will provide the impetus for the students to be creative and productive.
These two fun-loving guys are in love with what they do and want to spread the word and inspire others. Martin Mazorra and Mike Houston are the two founders and owners of Cannonball Press, a small but well-known shop in Brooklyn, New York. In their small space, Martin and Mike, along with many other artists whom they represent, create magnificent woodcut prints. The prints are sold at prices that the average person can afford without breaking the bank. The artists at Cannonball Press create work that is political, humorous, entertaining, religious, and educational. Their recipe for success, appropriate for all artists, is “a down home dish that is tasty hot or cold.”
The lecture to an overflowing audience provided an insight into the philosophical practices of Mike and Martin. Their passion, beliefs, and values provide a solid ground for paving the road to a successful career. Their work and the work of the artists they represent is exciting and their craftsmanship is worth checking out. Also their prices are still a bargain and remarkable when compared to a market in which artwork can be sold for thousands or even millions of dollars. Cannonball Press is trying to create a market where artwork is affordable for the common person. Their works sell for as little as $25.00, but are worth much more.
Rebecca Stern is an MFA candidate in photography at the SCAD-Atlanta.
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