Daniel Mayer is the Director of Pyracantha Press in the School of Art that is the independent publishing imprint for collaborative creative research in book arts and printmaking. https://art.asu.edu/degree-programs/printmaking/pyracantha-press Mayer has been at ASU since 1986 and has designed and produced inter-disciplinary limited-edition books and fine art prints that reflect our cultural landscape. Each project is unique and experimental in form and content. Press publications are in 105 national and international public collections such as Columbia University, Library of Congress, The Getty, Klingspor-Stadt Museum, Letterform Archive, Wellesley, Yale, and among others. The Press is recognized as an Initiative in the School of Art for research and inquiry. https://art.asu.edu/faculty-research Daniel Mayer received his BFA in Printmaking in 1986 and MFA in Printmaking in 2006, both from ASU.
The Press houses several archives for study and research: "Print Collaborative Facility" (PCF) 1978-1984: "Visual Arts Research Studios" (VARS) 1984-1990; Regents Professor Mark Klett’s "Photo Collaborative Facility" (PCF) 1980-1990; Pyracantha Press book and print inventory 1982 to present; and over 500 student artists books and prints. The archives maintain artist correspondences, project prototypes, working proofs, technical and creative notes, and documentation. Artist projects in the archives include Elizabeth Catlett, Tony Delap, Rita Dove, Mary McCann, Alberto Rios, Fritz Scholder, Buzz Spector, Larry Sultan and Mike Mandel, James Turrell, Kurt Weiser, William Wegman, Ruth Weisburg, Beatrice Wood, and among others.
In 1996 and 2006, Mayer facilitated bringing in The Antonia and Adam Petko Type and Press Collection. The Collection includes 3000 cases of type (enough to fill three semi-trucks) and several ornate printing presses including an 1834 Columbian. ASU’s type collection is the largest at any institution of higher education in North America. The collection is named in honor Dr. Edward Petko’s parents.
Daniel Mayer’s private studio practice include artists books, experimental prints, and award-winning large-scale public art projects. Mayer received competitive public art commissions for glass murals (fabricated at Franz Mayer of Munich) and a terrazzo platform located at Terminal-4, Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport/PHX Sky Train; and a freeway bridge design at Happy Valley Rd. and I-17, north Phoenix, 2021. Mayer was a nominee for the 2016 Arizona Governor’s Arts Awards, individual artist category, and exhibits nationally and internationally with works archived in numerous private and public special collections including ArtPool: Artists Books Archives – Budapest, National Biblioteek of Netherlands, Wellesley Special Collections, Klingspor-Stadt Museum, and among others.