By Shelly Smith, reprinted from UNM Today

Almost any lithography workshop anywhere around the world will have a dog-eared copy of “The Tamarind Book of Lithography: Art & Techniques.” This book has been considered the bible of lithography since its publication in 1971.

Now the Tamarind Institute announces the release of its new book, “Tamarind Techniques for Fine Art Lithography.” This exhaustive technical resource is written by Tamarind Director Marjorie Devon with Master Printer Bill Lagattuta and Education Director Rodney Hamon. Everything a printer or print collector needs to know is contained within the 301 pages published by Harry Abrams, one of the most important publishers of fine art books in the country.

“Tamarind Techniques for Fine Art Lithography” is a technical manual, but with a visual feast of color reproductions of Tamarind lithographs and color images depicting the often complicated processes of lithography. In addition to step-by-step directions for all processes used at Tamarind, the book includes guidance for establishing a print studio and advice about maintaining quality, documenting editions and caring for works of art on paper.

For the Tamarind enthusiast, a special edition of the book is available. One hundred books have been specially packaged in a cloth slipcase and signed by the authors. The special edition includes a hand-printed lithograph by Jim Dine depicting lithographic tools. For a limited time the special edition is available for $1,500.

“Tamarind Techniques for Fine Art Lithography” can be purchased at the Tamarind Institute for $85. The Tamarind Institute is located at 110 Cornell Dr. SE and is open 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Monday-Friday.

Tamarind Institute is a world renowned fine art lithography workshop and gallery and is a division of the UNM College of Fine Arts. For more information, visit tamarind.unm.edu or call 277-3901.