The historical Rosenbach Museum & Library is participating in Philagrafika 2010 as an Out of Print site utilizing their historic collection in collaboration with a contemporary artist. In this case, they have invited the artist and provocateur Enrique Chagoya to create a work inspired by their collection. But the print is just the beginning read their press release (after the jump) to see all the great events planned and read more about their collaboration. I was lucky enough to see Chagoya speak at last years SGC conference, if that was any indicator these events are going to be smart, lively and more than just a bit transgressive.

The Rosenbach Museum & Library invites the public to view and explore The Head Ache, an original work by 19th century populist artist George Cruikshank, and the print reinterpretation of the same name created by controversial 21st century artist Enrique Chagoya. ..Over three days of discourse and hands-on creative expression, the Rosenbach will offer a series of lectures and programs exploring Cruikshank and Chagoya’s work and the ways in which the two printmakers employ satire to address important social issues, from Thursday, February 18 – Saturday, February 20. The museum will offer free admission from February 18 – February 20 for the Philagrafika 2010: Out of Print public program. The Rosenbach Museum & Library is located at 2008-2010 Delancey Place in Philadelphia and is open Tuesday through Sunday. For more information, please call (215) 732-1600 or visit www.rosenbach.org.

George Cruikshank’s The Head Ache depicts a weary man, suffering an excruciating headache, surrounded by six demonic figures that are shown using tools and instruments to intensify and worsen the man’s pain. For Chagoya, the plight of the ailing figure was reminiscent of President Barack Obama’s healthcare “headache” which he has depicted in his reinterpretation of the caricature, titled in full The Head Ache, a print after George Cruikshank. For the Philagrafika 2010 program, the Rosenbach has transformed a museum room into an intimate space much like a print study room. During the three-day program, the room will feature original work available for study to walk-in visitors. .. In a second room, visitors will have the unique opportunity to participate in a hand-coloring workshop and personalize a reproduction of Chagoya’s print. The Rosenbach will also feature an Artist Talk with Enrique Chagoya (Thursday, February 18, 6pm – 7 pm), and the lecture Print Makers as Political Provocateurs (Friday, February 19, 4pm – 5pm), an informal discussion with Robert Brand, CEO of Solutions for Progress, print collector and founder of Philagrafika.