National Small Print Show 2026

 Created by former CAC Board Member and local printmaker Larry Basky, the the National Small Print Show has been an integral part of CAC's mission and provides support for other programs. For over 20 years, the NSPS has been held in the lobby of the Creede Repertory Theatre.

The NSPS will be on display at Creede Repertory Theatre's lobby for in-person viewing from May 24 through June 23. The virtual show has been well-received since its inception in 2021; the CAC has decided to continue offering online sales and auction of monoprints as well as the in-person exhibit.

Sales made through this auction will support the artists and CAC.

CAC patrons that attend the in-person opening at the Creede Repertory Theatre on May 24 from 10 am to 3 pm will be given the first option to purchase prints. Prints will be sold on a first come, first served basis. Therefore, some prints may be sold out before the online auction begins on May 25. The price at the opening will be the same as the buy now price online. We will put information about sold out prints on the auction site as soon as possible after the opening.

SILENT AUCTION FOR MONOPRINTS: In order to allow all to have a chance to purchase monoprints, CAC has traditionally held a drawing for monoprints or monotypes (When only one print is available for sale.) Since this is not possible with an online format, we will be using a silent auction for those prints. If only one bidder is interested, they will be able to purchase the print for the minimum bid price at the end of the show. However, other individuals will be able to bid on those prints if they desire during the run of the show. If purchasers want to insure that they get the print of their choice, they can purchase the print by paying the BUY NOW price.

BUY NOW FOR ALL OTHER PRINTS: If there is more than 1 print in an edition available at the beginning of the show, there will not be a silent auction for those prints. They are available to purchase at the buy now price until all of the available prints have sold.

TO LEARN MORE about printmaking techniques, please head to https://creedeartscouncil.com/national-small-print-show

JUDGE'S BIO:  Randall LaGro

Born in Toledo, Ohio, Randall LaGro spent his formative years in upstate New York. At an early age, LaGro knew instinctively of his artistic destiny after discovering a set of his father’s watercolors. With little guidance, he tried to learn the foundations of drawing and painting from books. He sensed the magnitude of the mystical language of art and felt a deep longing to represent nature, as well as the more abstract themes of life, in paint. Following graduation from high school, LaGro headed off to California to develop a spiritual core, travel, and nurture his nascent creative vision.  

It wasn’t until his mid-20s that he pursued formal art training. Following graduation from art school in San Francisco, LaGro ended up in the historic art colony of Taos, New Mexico. From 2000 to early 2016, LaGro worked out of the historic Joseph Sharp Studio in Taos, the former studio of one of the founding members of the Taos Society of Artists, where he developed his skills as a printmaker and painter.

Today, LaGro works out of his 2,200 square-foot studio on the Hondo Mesa just north of Taos, New Mexico. Like the vast high desert landscape surrounding his studio near the Rio Grande, the wondrous yet hauntingly familiar imagery found in his oil paintings and monotypes comes filtered through the landscape of the artist’s subconscious.

A recipient of numerous awards, LaGro’s work is exhibited in museums and major collections nationwide including, The Cincinnati Museum of Art, The Harwood Museum in Taos, NM, The State Capitol Collection, Santa Fe, NM, The State of Ohio, Toledo, OH as well as inclusion in several corporate and private collections. 

JUDGE'S STATEMENT from Randall LaGro: 
Submitting your artistic efforts to a juried show can be daunting. So I commend all those who entered their work, and are a part of this group, who are displaying the joy of printmaking.

These works were evaluated on their technical command of the mediums, as well as the originality and innovation of their artistry. Design principles were considered, including the use or restraint of color, composition, line, texture and relationships. 

Beyond form and structure, the Arts have a capacity where the end result outweighs the sum of the parts. Some have called it the "It" factor. I have called it, "Presence".

Whether the perceived artistic rules have been broken or bent, the work can evoke a pause, or mysteriously strike an unexpected chord within. Yet, this too, is subjective.

I therefore also considered the presentation and body of the work, attention to detailed choices, including papers, adding or subtracting to the finished piece or pieces.  Thus, choosing the award winners was difficult. On any given day most of the work in this show could be a valid choice for an award.

So I thank you all for entering, and I encourage you to keep creating and stretching your creative muscles.  Be your truest, authentic self and create with integrity and joy.   And this will be your best reward and gift to those who experience your Art.  
Sincerely,
Randall LaGro

The Creede Arts Council provides access to the arts for residents and visitors to this scenic, rural, mountain community.
The Creede Arts Council's mission is to cultivate the arts and humanities in our community through education, exhibition and performance, and to foster local artistic talent.
Providing opportunities for the creation of new works
Celebrating and preserving Creede’s heritage through the arts
Involving children and adults in the arts through educational programs
Creating a healthy, recognizable arts atmosphere in Creede
Exposing increased numbers of people to the arts and humanities
Promoting community development through the arts.
The Creede Arts Council is a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation.