Founded in 2021 by artists Ben Muñoz and Hugo Juarez, Familia Printshop serves as a printmaking hub for the Dallas-Fort Worth area. From monthly meetups to weekend workshops, the community print shop provides resources and equipment for artists with all different levels of experience.
Richie Peña at Familia Printshop in Dallas, photo courtesy of Familia Printshop
Richie Peña joined Familia as their master printer in 2023, introducing an editioning wing to the organization. A few months ago, Peña took over the role of Executive Director, replacing co-founder Muñoz. Since then, Familia has relocated spaces and launched a new series of workshops.
Peña recently shared about the shop and its programming as well as his new role and future goals for the organization.
Caleb Bell (CB): It is my understanding that you joined Familia about a year ago or so to start a publishing aspect of the print shop. What was your motivation for entering that role and starting it up?
Richie Peña (RP): Yes, I wanted to bring my experience as a collaborative printmaker to add something new to the Familia Printshop and work with artists again. There are a lot of amazing Dallas-Fort Worth artists, and having another resource, like the print shop, would help develop their artwork by working through a collaborative project. It is something that I felt would benefit the area greatly.
CB: When you are inviting artists to collaborate with you on an edition, what are you looking for in their work?
RP: The first thing I do is look up the artist’s work. This could be from their website, Instagram, or in-person at art shows or even studio visits. I am looking for artists willing to experiment and go beyond the medium they work in. I want them to push themselves to discover a mode of creating within printmaking.
Arely Morales working on an edition at Familia Printshop. Photo courtesy of Familia Printshop
CB: Speaking of encouraging artists to explore printmaking, I know that you have been an adjunct printmaking professor at the University of North Texas. What classes have you taught? Are you teaching again this fall?
RP: Spring 2024 was my first semester teaching printmaking at UNT. I taught beginning printmaking for relief and screen printing. It was an amazing experience, and I enjoyed working with my students and faculty there. I am teaching the same courses for Fall 2024 and looking forward to it.
CB: When you are teaching, what is one major piece of advice you share with young printmakers?
RP: I like this question a lot because I want my students to know right from the beginning — we are going to make bad prints and that is okay because right now, we are learning a new process with a lot of necessary steps. By the end of the semester, they all will see a big change in growth from where we started to now.
CB: Have you found that being in an academic printmaking setting has changed the way you approach the print shop at all? And if so, in what ways?
RP: I think it is the other way around. Collaborating with artists has made me a better teacher. Some artists that I work with are not familiar with the various printmaking processes and some are. When you collaborate with the artists, you gauge their understanding of the process to develop and guide learning the printmaking process, whether it be something known or new to them. There is patience, guidance, and a level of understanding of the individual or group when working with them. I carry every aspect that I gain from my years of working with artists to my students.
CB: Education seems to be a large part of Familia’s programming including workshops. When you are looking at presenting workshops, what types of programs do you like to bring in for the community?
RP: Yes, one of the foundations that I want Familia Printshop to be known for is a place for artists, students, and the community to learn printmaking. A lot of the workshops I teach are designed for entry-level with aspects of learning an advanced technique, much like the upcoming etching workshop. Students taking the workshop will learn how to make a line etch into a copper plate. To add another element, I will show them how to chine collé, which will add color to the image by using a piece of paper, like Kozo, cut down to the size of the plate. I want students to take something from the workshops that they can use later on in future workshops or their own practice.
CB: I know that you all also have a monthly meetup for the community. Can you share a little about it and how one gets involved?
RP: Familia Printshop hosts Thoughts & Brayers every last Sunday of the month. It is open to the community and provides an opportunity to check out the print shop and talk with printmakers. The presses are open at that time for demos or individuals needing press time. I also allow members to share interests or opportunities they want to get from being a part of the print shop.
Last month, members expressed they wanted to see demos, so I will be offering Look & Learn on various printmaking processes. We also planned for a group critique for another upcoming Thoughts and Brayers. Individuals who want to get involved are welcome to join us or reach out to me by email.
Familia Printshop’s new studio space at 2043 Empire Central Drive in Dallas. Photo courtesy of Familia Printshop
CB: After taking over the role of Executive Director, the print shop moved into a new space. What prompted that move and how has the transition been?
RP: Various situations arose when deciding to relocate the print shop. As the Executive Director, I felt it was in the organization’s best interest to downsize the space and work towards having a bigger space later in the years to come.
My major goal for the print shop is to be a space dedicated to having various types of presses, studio spaces for artists, and a gallery. That is what is driving me to keep building and working towards that goal. Another resource and facility for artists and the community to learn, create, and have a press in the DFW area!
CB: Also, how has the transition into your new position been? What have you found most interesting about the change?
RP: This question is personal to me. I have found a lot of change within myself. I never thought I would be running a print shop or being able to work with artists, and I am thankful for the previous Executive Director and Co-Founder of Familia Printshop, Ben Muñoz. I have seen my abilities grow and a confidence that I knew was inside me but just needed to find it, and that is what Familia Printshop has given me. It has led to many amazing opportunities like the Ft. Worth Art Fair, collaborations with artists such as Michael Reeder, Arely Morales, Mariell Guzman, and Anna Redman, teaching at UNT, and reaching out to Oak Cliff Cultural Center and Talley Dunn Gallery.
CB: As you are looking forward, what do you hope for Familia’s future?
RP: My hope for Familia Printshop is that individuals seeking a print shop will know they have a second or third home to come to for printmaking, or just be a part of the Familia!
This interview has been lightly edited for length and clarity.
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