Bon à Tirer, or more commonly seen written as “B.A.T.” on a fine art print, is a French term meaning good to pull. Dating back to the late 1800s, a French master printmaking atelier (studio) required a signature and the initials B.A.T. from the artist for whom the atelier was creating an edition, usually a lithograph or etching. An artist was required to sign B.A.T. along with their signature on the print as an indication of the artist’s approval for the atelier to proceed with producing an edition of prints.

For the purpose of this exhibition, the curators are metaphorically using the term for curatorial authority that references their discretion to qualify a print good to pull or pull out of MoCNAs permanent collection for exhibition. Prints that were chosen have been created by a variety of artists who work in various contemporary media.  These works illustrate the artists’ determination to learn the challenging and technical aspects of printmaking for its unique aesthetics to best convey their conceptual statements. Artists include Norman Akers, Harry Fonseca, Keri Ataumbi, Duane Slick, C. Maxx Stevens, Marie Watt and Emmi Whitehorse.

Tatiana Lomahaftewa-Singer & Alex J. Peña, Curators