Happy Accidents

From Andy Warhols early printmaking method of applying ink to paper and then blotting while still wet to encourage smudges, to Robert Rauschenbergs random prints, the world of printmaking has always had reverence for the imperfections contained within a pulled off print. The screen printing mistakes collected in Happy Accidents - Art Without Intent stand in imprecise opposition to a modern world already over-saturated with cold, polished advertising statements. Chance strokes and uneven ink blotches are layered in unexpected ways in these one off pieces by master printers throughout the U.S., proving that the luck of the artistic process can result in masterpieces with a bolder, deeper, more colorful impact than originally envisioned. Many of the prints included in this book are an homage to iconic music producer John Cage, who often made musical decisions based on the throw of dice or a numbers draw. And all of these chaotic, ink-soaked prints are stunning testaments to the cause and effect of the artists hand on the finished paper - these pieces hold their own visual power in the face of cookie-cutter hegemonic image production.