Mike Houston and Martin Mazorra run the explosive Cannonball Press in Brooklyn, New York while working as independent artists. Once called “world kings of scruffy pirate black and white hillbilly printmaking” they are among the leaders of a recent revival of the woodcut medium.

Michael Barnes, NIU School of Art Associate Professor of printmaking notes: “Through their mammoth scale woodcuts and three-dimensional installations, often incorporating performance elements, Mike and Martin present an unabashed voice in their art. Their subject matter is steeped in down-home vernacular and popular culture, mixed with a little moonshine and rockabilly. They work with straight forward black and white imagery in woodcut and often shun the term “Fine Art” dealing with the print in its true democratic form - “For the People”. For their exhibition "ROOT HOG, OR DIE!", Cannonball Press will explore the boom and bust in the economy, sharing an early American settler’s philosophy of “work or die”. 

Cannonball’s Mission Statement is a simple recipe: 

Cannonball Print: A down-home dish that is tasty hot or cold. For low-fat version, substitute another printing press, ‘cause these things will put meat on yer bones! 1 lurking artist, 1 one-eyed master-printer, 1 idea, 5 cups backwater goo, 6 spoonfuls of jumpstart and holler, 9 lb. mess with yer face, bottle Tickle-My-Fancy, 6 smatterings kick-ass juice & 1 handful Fine Art. Preheat idea in Oven of Rock. Make sure color is OFF! Allow images to gestate and contort at will. When mysterious, funny or twisted, remove and slap on table. Add all ingredients, and beat and cut until smooth and hot. Do not add Fine Art at this point. Add master-printer, work him into a steady boil, edition. Throw Fine Art in trash. Sign and serve. 

Several prints created with this recipe and (maybe) a performance element will be on display beginning January 19 at the NIU Art Museum. Mike and Martin will present a lecture on January 19. The opening reception for the Spring Pop Culture Exhibition Suite is January 21.




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