GORDON FLUKE

1954 - 2023

GORDON FLUKE
NOVEMBER 11, 1954 - JANUARY 24, 2023
Longtime artist, educator and activist Gordon Fluke passed away after an illness on January 24, 2023. He was 68.
Gordon was born outside of Philadelphia, PA, on November 11, 1954 to James Wayne Fluke and Eleanor Ridgeway Fluke (Grahame). After spending his freshman year of college at Hofstra University on Long Island, NY, Gordon graduated from Temple University with a B.S. Ed. Art Education, Cum Laude in 1981. A decade later, he received an M.F.A. in printmaking from Arizona State University.
His artwork has been exhibited and is held in collections around the world. He was known for his expertise in letterpress, papermaking and book arts. A talented artist, Gordon was the owner of J.D. Grahame Cracker Press, a small private press focused on working with hand-set type and hand-bound works of art. He earned recognition for his art–such as inclusion in The Best of Printmaking, an International Collection–and became a familiar name in the letterpress and book arts worlds. In 2007, Gordon was one of nine artists from around the world invited to participate in the first International Printmaking Workshop at the Xi'an Academy of Fine Arts in Xi'an, China.
Well-loved by his students, Gordon taught at College of Santa Fe, Institute of American Indian Arts, University of New Mexico and Santa Fe Community College. He also worked as a printer at The Press at the Palace of the Governors and as Director of Continuing Education at Santa Fe Community College. In addition, he found time to volunteer with Listening Horse Therapeutic Riding and was on the board of the Santa Fe Book Arts Group. Gordon is survived by his husband of 37 years, Jeffrey Atwell; his brother and sister Wayne and Pamela Fluke of Philadelphia; father-in-law, Kenneth Atwell; mother-in-law, Sally (Cooky) Hastings and sister-in-law, Lori Spencer.
A public memorial is not planned. Please commemorate Gordon in a way that is most meaningful to you.