Kathy Caraccio, born in 1947 and raised in the Bronx, developed her expertise in printmaking throughout the 1970s and early ‘80s. She honed her skills in color etching, Japanese woodblock printing, and papermaking, including training in Japan, and spent four years apprenticing at Robert Blackburn’s Printmaking Workshop. In 1977, Caraccio established the K. Caraccio Printing Studio in New York City. She has since taught printmaking at numerous institutions across the city. As a master printer, Caraccio has editioned works for renowned artists such as Romare Bearden, Ed Clark, Emma Amos, and Blackburn.
In this excerpt, she reflects on the collaborative atmosphere of Blackburn’s workshop – where artists exchanged materials, advice, and even snacks – and how Blackburn fostered opportunities for artists, both in editioning and teaching outside the studio. She also recounts her experience creating an edition with Blackburn himself.
