Xylon Québec,Woodcut Sensation -- Woodblock Printmaking Re-invented

In 1944, Xylos (Society of wood cutters) was established in Switzerland by artists or wood cutters, gathered at the Berne Kunsthalle. In 1953, it was renamed Xylon (Swiss section of the international society of wood engravers) in Zurich and was then definitely organized into a non-profit-making federation. Its headquarters, located at the Gewerbemuseum in Winterthur Switzerland from 1953 to 2000, was transferred in 2001 to the Saint-Louis Culture Department, in Alsace, France. Currently, the federation includes ten (10) countries: Canada, Belgium, Germany, Argentina, France, Italy, Poland, Sweden, Switzerland and Ukraine. All geographic sections form the network's infrastructure. The federation's active members all work in their respective country's section.

Its objective
Quite a challenge !

Its triple objective consists in : 1) assembling the world's artist-printmakers, practicing wood and relief printing;
2) encouraging optimal exchanges of informations and experiences between the sections of its infrastructure;
3) and promoting woodblock prints throughout the world.

Attained by means of international triennials !

With this end in view, Xylon International organizes international exhibitions (thirteen up to date) in the various institutions (museums, galleries and art centres) of its country members, sometimes extending beyond the limits of its federate infrastructure (ex.: Yugoslavia). The triennial is inaugurated at the federation's headquarters, once located in Switzerland and now transferred to France, every three years and it circulates for about the same period in various countries. The term XYLON always designates the triennial, to which an Arab number is added, indicating its chronological order. The triennial may be described as a periodical event, allowing to discover and compare woodcuts and relief engravings under their most various, strongest and original aspects, according to Michel Terrapon (XYLON 7 catalog). This exhibition is internationalized by travelling around Europe, North and South America, after its opening. Signs of openness of mind may be considered to reveal themselves through the facts that non-member printmakers are admitted to this event, with the purpose of spotting tendencies and developments, and a panel of judges, composed of section representatives, select the works. Québec prints were chosen for the 8th, 9th, 10th and 11th triennials. A catalog is published for each triennial which increases visibility of the event and exhibited works.

The sections !

While remaining autonomous, the different sections share the same above-mentioned objective of their parent establishment. Indeed, Xylon International is to the sections as the singular is to the multiple, that is to say the various member countries are somehow particular cultural expressions of the same phenomenon. This federate relief printmaking system allows the sections to organize and exchange exhibitions among themselves, independently from the triennials, and to share their knowledge and know-how.
The various individual activities of these sections are : studios, workshops, solo and group exhibitions, publishing portfolios, artist books, magazines and brochures.