Pursuing passion through printing

Sean Kuhnke trashed the bathroom located in the basement of his parents’ house back in high school. This was not a result of Kuhnke’s hard-partying ways; it was where he started making screen printed T-shirts-a passion he still pursues today as a senior graphic design major.

Kuhnke’s T-shirt’s – which he designs with his photography major friend Bryan Jabs – are consigned to Need Supply Co. in Carytown.

Kuhnke and Jabs design on American Apparel T-shirts they buy at wholesale price. They must be extremely careful during the production stage because a mistake means substantial money out the window.

Kuhnke said screen printing T-shirts is a way to get his ideas out in a popular manner.

“People feel comfortable buying a shirt, whereas a lot of people don’t buy art as much,” Kuhnke said.

Kuhnke and Jabs try to ensure their T-shirt designs are unique.

“The limitations in which we produce them kind of make it so they’re a little bit different,” Kuhnke said. “We don’t do more than three colors in a shirt just because of that reason.”

Although Jabs has never seen anyone on the street wearing their T-shirt designs, he has seen people wear them on Facebook.

“It’s nice to know that people appreciate what we’re doing,” Jabs said.

Kuhnke said it was interesting how people perceive a design based on the format it comes in. He said he received a comment about how “T-shirts don’t belong in an art gallery,” when he had a show at the University Student Commons’ art gallery where he displayed his T-shirts alongside paper prints and a tepee installation.

“The same prints on the T-shirts were the same prints on paper,” Kuhnke said. “(It’s) interesting that it can be that much of a problem.”

Jabs said he shares the same philosophy that T-shirts can be considered art.

“It’s just bull . (that paper is the desired media) of what’s printed,” Jabs said. “Shirts are taken as fashion rather than a piece of art.”

Besides designing T-shirts, Kuhnke also creates band posters in his spare time with other friends. He said he not only enjoys supporting his friends’ bands, but also believes people take pleasure from saving an object as a keepsake.

“As technology kind of grows, so much of what we interact with is kind of beyond our understanding,” Kuhnke said. “Things that have more of a tangible feel, like a screen print, are becoming more valuable.”

Kunkhe said he would like to continue designing T-shirts for the rest of his career, even if it ends up being on a smaller scale.

“It’s a good way to always have something kind of out there, especially in graphic design,” Kuhnke said. “I can tell clients or employers, ‘Hey, I know this side of the industry. I have a registered business. I’ve dealt with that sort of situation.’ ”

Each week, the Spectrum Section selects a talented student from the School of the Arts (music, dance, theater and visual) and showcases his or her achievements both in and around the VCU community. Do you want your name and work in The CT? E-mail Spectrum@Commonwealthtimes.com for consideration.