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Platemark is a podcast dedicated to the world of prints and printmaking. Platemark goes beyond the "white-cube" gallery to meet the people who make, sell, study, and collect these affordable beauties. Whether you are a seasoned connoisseur or a curious newcomer, we’re here to show you why the printed image remains the most exciting medium today.

How to Listen:

  • Series One: An insider’s look at how prints fit into museums, the market, and the modern art ecosystem.
  • Series Two: A deep-dive history of prints and printmaking in the West.
  • Series Three: Raw, insightful interviews with the "village" of the print world—the artists, gallerists, curators, and scholars who bring these works to life.

Hosted by Ann Shafer—a veteran curator (formerly of the Baltimore Museum of Art and the National Gallery of Art) and organizer of the Brooklyn Fine Art Print Fair—Platemark is more than a podcast. It’s a collective for anyone who believes that art should be accessible, technical, and deeply human.

s3e115 creativity and freedom with cultural strategist Laura Raicovich
115
Sept. 1, 2026

s3e115 creativity and freedom with cultural strategist Laura Raicovich

Host Ann Shafer talks with Laura Raicovich about creativity, resistance, and alternative cultural spaces.
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s3e114 Live from the McNay Print Fair: James Stroud and the Art of Collaboration
114
Aug. 25, 2026

s3e114 Live from the McNay Print Fair: James Stroud and the Art of Collaboration

Platemark records our first-ever live episode at the 30th anniversary of the McNay Print Fair as host Ann Shafer speaks with master printer James Stroud (Center Street Studio) exploring the fascinating, high-stakes world of print publishing.
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s3e113 Parasol Press deep dive with curator Rachel Vogel
113
Aug. 11, 2026

s3e113 Parasol Press deep dive with curator Rachel Vogel

What happens when a visionary publisher collaborates with minimalist and conceptual giants like Chuck Close, Agnes Martin, and Dorothea Rockburne? In this episode, host Ann Shafer sits down with Rachel Vogel, Assistant Curator at the Addison Gallery of American Art, to explore the monumental legacy of Parasol Press. Rachel shares the behind-the-scenes stories of curating the exhibition Parasol Press: Breaking New Ground, diving into the innovative vision of founder Bob Feldman, the intricate tec
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s3e112 the business and heart of Lower East Side Printshop with Executive Director Marie Tennyson
112
July 28, 2026

s3e112 the business and heart of Lower East Side Printshop with Executive Director Marie Tennyson

In this episode of Platemark, host Ann Shafer sits down with Marie Tennyson, Executive Director of the Lower East Side Printshop.
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s3e111 history, art, and social change with Jenny Schmid
111
July 14, 2026

s3e111 history, art, and social change with Jenny Schmid

In this episode of Platemark, we sit down with exceptional artist, printmaker, animator, and educator Jenny Schmid for a thought-provoking discussion on the intersections of history, art, and activism. We explore how historical figures like Käthe Kollwitz and José Posada influence Jenny's contemporary practice, delve into her fascinating project "Disembodied Reembodied," and celebrate the vital role of the Minnesota printmaking community in resisting oppressive systems. Jenny also shares a glimp
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s3e110 engraving currency and stamps with Tom Hipschen
110
June 30, 2026

s3e110 engraving currency and stamps with Tom Hipschen

Ever wonder about the incredible artistry hiding in your wallet? In this episode, Ann sits down with Tom Hipschen, a former master engraver at the Bureau of Engraving and Printing who spent nearly four decades crafting the very banknotes and postage stamps we handle every day. Tom takes us behind the scenes of his extraordinary career—from his grueling decade-long apprenticeship and serving as the lead picture engraver for the $20 bill, to engraving over 130 US postage stamps. We delve into the
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Recent Blog Posts

Show Notes: s3e114 James Stroud
Aug. 25, 2026

Show Notes: s3e114 James Stroud

Celebrate a milestone with Platemark as we record our first-ever live episode at the 30th anniversary of the McNay Print Fair. Host Ann Shafer is joined by master printer James Stroud (Center Street Studio) to explore the fascinating, high-stakes wo…
Read the Blog Post
Show Notes: s3e116 Thoren Vadala
Aug. 19, 2026

Show Notes: s3e116 Thoren Vadala

In this episode of Platemark, Ann Shafer sits down with master framer Thoren Vadala of Make-A-Frame Atlantic to explore the meticulous, often overlooked world of picture framing. From the technical realities of custom woodworking versus manufactured…
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Show Notes: s3e114 Rachel Vogel
Aug. 11, 2026

Show Notes: s3e114 Rachel Vogel

What happens when a visionary publisher collaborates with minimalist and conceptual giants like Chuck Close, Agnes Martin, and Dorothea Rockburne? In this episode, host Ann Shafer sits down with Rachel Vogel, Assistant Curator at the Addison Gallery…
Read the Blog Post
View all posts

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Reviews

A wonderful deep dive!

"This is a lovely conversation between two people who clearly love working with each other, about their deeply loved topic: Prints. Every episode has me chuckling, thinking, and going to the website …"

Ren MacNary | Feb. 3, 2022

Authentic and informative

"This podcast is equal parts serious art discussion and fun conversation. It meets the needs of the professional artist and historian while also being accessible to mere mortals interested in art."

Stacy Kincaid | Feb. 3, 2022

Better late than never...

"I am old, so new fangled ideas like podcasts are not always easy to navigate. But, visiting the Baltimore Print Fair, seeing and hearing so many new (to Me ) artists and images led me to Ann Shafer a…"

Scip Barnhart | Aug. 19, 2023

Best printmaking pod-cast!

"Every time I hear this pod cast I am exposed to a new perspective or information about printmaking. Such interesting selections from the printmaking eco-system."

Robert | Aug. 21, 2023

Always grand and informative interviews

"I saved a few weeks of interviews to help take me across country on a drive from Massachusetts to western Kansas for an artists residency. They helped keep driving sane. Ann leads a discussion with i…"

Steven C Daiber | Oct. 5, 2023
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