Facility and Faculty

Facility

Zea Mays is located in a beautiful, bright, 1,000 sq. ft. studio in the prominent Arts and Industry Building in Florence, Massachusetts. The Arts and Industry Building houses over 100 artists’ studios and small businesses and has a regional reputation as the workspace of some of the area’s most creative people.

Zea Mays is a state-of-the-art printmaking studio. We have a 32"x60" Takach-Garfield etching press, UV plate maker, airbrush booth, full plate processing facilities, a large workspace and library. Zea Mays can accommodate up to six printmakers at any given time.

Zea Mays is situated in the picturesque Pioneer Valley in western Massachusetts. The cosmopolitan town of Northampton (home to Smith College) is three miles from the studio and has been rated one of the "ten best small art towns in America" for several years running. Northampton is a lively center for the arts, good food and live music.

Out of town visitors to Zea Mays will enjoy exploring this wonderful area, just 2 hours from Boston, 3+ from New York, and 1 from Hartford, Worcester or Albany. If you’re interested in coming for a workshop and are seeking lodging click here for some great options.

Directions to Zea Mays:
From Highway 91 going North: exit in Northampton at exit 19 (Rt. 9). Turn left onto Rt. 9 - west towards Northampton. Drive through the center of Northampton and stay on Rt. 9 west approximately 3 miles to Florence Center. Turn left on North Maple St. Turn right on Pine St. Look for the big white building on the right at 221 Pine St. (The Arts and Industry Building). We're in the west wing of the building, third floor, studio 3G4.

From Highway 91 going South: exit in Northampton at exit 20 (North King St.) go straight on King Street to the center of Northampton. Turn right on Main Street (Rt. 9) and proceed west on Rt. 9 approximately 3 miles to Florence Center. Turn left on North Maple St. Turn right on Pine St. Look for the big white building on the right at 221 Pine St. (The Arts and Industry Building). We're in the west wing of the building, third floor, studio 3G4.

Faculty

Liz Chalfin is founder and director of Zea Mays Printmaking. Liz has been involved in printmaking for the past 20 years. Liz teaches classes and workshops at Zea Mays Printmaking and takes the message of safer printmaking on the road to venues all over the country. She received a B.A. (1980) and M.F.A. (1985) in printmaking, with an emphasis on mixed-media printmaking and papermaking. Liz taught printmaking at Whittier College, California for nine years and converted the traditional studio there into a non-toxic facility. In addition to college teaching, Liz worked as a teaching artist and educator at several national museums. Her prints, drawings and installations are exhibited and collected nationally.

Martha Ebner received her BFA in painting with a concentration in printmaking from Boston University. She has been teaching printmaking and drawing for the past nine years and has been experimenting with monotypes since she made her first one in 1988. She has exhibited her work in the Pacific Northwest and in New England.

Anita S. Hunt is a printmaker with over 20 years of experience who has a special love for monotype. She studied art at Antioch College in Ohio and at the School of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. Her work has been exhibited in more than 50 shows around New England and has also been shown in national exhibits such as the Parkside National Small Print Exhibition and the Silvermine National Print Biennial. Anita is President of the Monotype Guild of New England and an avid gardener.

Bobette Waddle McCarthy is a printmaker and respected member of the book community. She is currently involved in the production of fine arts books. Bobette cut her first woodblock in 1966 and has been involved in printmaking ever since. She has exhibited nationally at such venues as the Indianapolis Museum of Art, the McLean County Museum in Bloomington, IL and the National Cowgirl Museum in TX. She has produced several award winning books for children.

Peter Pettengill is a master printer with over twenty years of experience in the field of intaglio printmaking. He trained and worked at Crown Point Press in California, from 1978 - 1985. He went on to establish Wingate Studio in New Hampshire where he continues to print and publish etchings by contemporary artists. Wingate has produced prints by Sol LeWitt, Robert Ryman, John Cage and many others, including "local" artists Gregory Gillespie, John Gibson and Richard Ryan. He has served as adjunct printmaking instructor at Smith College and acted as master printer for print workshops at Smith, Hartford Art School, and Boston University.

Mark Zunino is a Printmaker/Painter who has been working as the Technical Assistant for the Smith College Studio Art Department for five years. He received his BFA from the University of Hartford's Hartford Art School, where he served on the adjunct faculty teaching Printmaking and drawing for two years, and his MFA in Printmaking from the University of Massachusetts. Mark has exhibited his prints and paintings in many national exhibitions and is currently represented by Sherry French Gallery in New York City and Wm. Baczek Fine Arts Gallery in Northampton MA. Mark is an innovator in his field and has presented printmaking demonstrations at the Southern Graphics Council, Tamarind Institute of Lithography, and Hartford Art School.

Zea Mays is committed to sharing the latest developments in safer printmaking with its users. Guest artists who are specialists in their fields will soon be offering additional classes and workshops at Zea Mays. Check back frequently to see who's new on the roster!