More typesetting. Almost all done, except for the last bit on the timeline, which I need to do in a separate run, as I’m out of lowercase ‘i’s and number 1’s. Also the title and the colophon. This weekend I proofed what I had set, so that when I go on press I don’t have to spend two hours correcting my mistakes.
I like to spend an entire session correcting, adjusting, justifying, troubleshooting, editing, and then go home, eat, rest, come back to it later.
Things still to grapple with: where is my box of prints? Where is the tympan paper I ordered six weeks ago? (I shouldn’t go on press without it, the used stuff we’re making do with is a sad story.) Will I be able to register the linoleum block on the backside? Colors?
And then: what am I bringing to Rome when I leave on vacation next week? My good walking shoes are giving out on me.
I set most of the type for both sides of the pamphlet over the weekend; I ran into a few minor roadblocks, including a dearth of 8 point Grotesque #8 lowercase “i”s, but we’ll work it out.
It doesn’t really take all that long as people think to set type; its slow but soothing, and if you do it long enough you get quicker. I think what actually is going to take a long time with this one is setting up the timeline on the inside of the pamphlet in the bed of the press. I think it will take a while to get things lined up right.
This weekend I’ll proof and begin putting together the form for the inside.
I saw this yesterday and am blown away by the complexity of hand typesetting in Taiwan. Can you imagine?
Appleton, Wisconsin! I just spent four days on the campus of Lawrence University, surrounded by bacon, rabbits, and undergraduates, to start work on a newfangled informational pamphlet. Ben Rinehart, former resident of NYC and current Professor, started a visiting artist series called the Paper Fox Printmaking Workshop at Lawrence for his students, which invites local and national artists to campus to print an edition. I was invited to come visit and make prints alongside his students, and my friend and fellow visiting artist Emily Martin.
The pamphlet I designed is maybe a third done? Which is amazing for two days and a sign press. Yep, I printed 4 runs of a 100 without a motor. Who knew? I had the help of Ben’s students, Matt Cawley, Cori Lin, Deborah Levinson, and Eileen Rohaly, who helped make it happen.
second run.
I had some odd inking experiences on the second pass but there you go. This image goes down the middle of the front side of the edition; there’s a similar image on the backside which functions as a timeline. Both timelines are printed from reductive linoleum cuts, which I was worried about registering on an unfamiliar press, but which mostly worked out. There’s also an additional run of wood type that happened on top of this, but my camera died before recording it for you.
The pamphlet is about the life and times of Harry Houdini, who was a child in Appleton, before moving away to NYC and becoming famous for breaking out of straitjackets, handcuffs, and sealed milk cans. I’m working on finishing setting the type this weekend, and am anxiously awaiting the arrival of my half-finished pamphlets in the meantime.
Emily and Ben.
This is Emily Martin, my co-visiting artist, also in town to print and meet the students. She’s conferring here with Ben, our dapper host. She worked on an intaglio print and is here trying to figure out what’s happening in the middle there. Lovely company! Thanks guys!
I’m in Wisconsin, where I was told that if you buy a six pack of beer at the grocery store, you get a free block of cheese. This sounded like something they tell gullible visiting New Yorkers, but perhaps I’m just suspicious.
In any event, I am here at Lawrence University , and ink has been mixed, and wood type has been chosen, and linoleum blocks have been carved, and tomorrow I’m to start printing a new pamphlet. Bam!
This is a timeline representing the definition portion of the word of the day emails I’ve received so far in April 2012. It’s in progress. I hope to add the word of the day from the same time period in previous years as well, for comparisons sake. I really need to clean out my inbox.
Here’s some sketches of a new free informational pamphlet in progress. I’m going to Wisconsin in a few weeks to start it, and am looking forward to escaping. The theme’s a secret, even though it’s right here in front of you.
I’ve been working on this event for the past two month, and it’s almost here. This Wednesday, April 4th at 6pm is the Center for Book Arts Annual Benefit and Auction. There will be lovely food, lovely music, lovely company and lovely cocktails, as well as a rousing live auction and an after-party from 9 to 11 (with discounted tickets if you’re on a budget and like to stay out late).
If you’re in NYC, buy a ticket here! Tickets start at $100 for the main event.
If you’re farther afield, bid on work in our silent auction! Amazing works by amazing artists can be yours at affordable prices. All money raised goes to support our studio programs, artist residencies, exhibitions and public talks, lectures, performances and readings. Come celebrate bookmaking and help fund the work that we do.
(And if you’re wondering what I’m going to be doing for the next week, I made a short video of the preparations for last year’s benefit, which you can watch here. )
