Letterpress was just something I tried in junior high when my shop teacher had each student do a small printing project. I thought it was fun, but never imagined that I would pursue it any further. Jump ahead 25 years and a trip to New York set the wheels in motion.
My mother-in-law and I traveled to New York City to visit her nephew, a collage artist who was exhibiting his work at the Pavel Zoubok Gallery. I was intrigued by his work, a mixture of old fashioned items, ephemera, and fun. Entitled "Return to Angelica", I could see family and remembrances of my small town through his eyes. From the gallery we visited his circle of friends, much like family, and his neighborhood which felt like a small town in the big city. Our travels that weekend took us to the South Street Seaport Museum where he works as master printer in a working letterpress office. Operating a Golding Jobber, he and his staff produce and collect beautiful stationary, books, and paper fancies. There at the museum, I fell in love with the look and feel of letterpress print. Letterpress print allows you to feel the texture of a word.
After that weekend, my interest in letterpress continued. The problem was my remote location would make it difficult to utilize letterpress resources without considerable travel. So this past summer I decided to find a letterpress of my own. I mentioned this to a local second-hand dealer and he said that he would keep an eye out for a press. In November he informed me of an auction that would be held 15 minutes from my home. To my surprise, the auction was full of treasures. I purchased a Golding Pearl and 4 cabinets of type. Now all I needed was ink, paper, and time.
Your website is absolutely amazing =] Your dog is adorable too... and I think that it looks really good Aunt Mary, this certainly looks like just the place for Angelica Ink =]
ReplyDeletelove you
Hi, MJ!
ReplyDeleteI LOVE your page, as well as the work that you are doing. The physical nature of the printing press is so much a part of the process...and I truly understand and appreciate your observation that "letterpress print allows you to feel the texture of a word." The world is filled with a wealth of textures (visual, olfactory, auditory, and tactile) that lend a richness to our everyday existence. We frequently overlook and/or bypass those textures in favor of the ease and expediency that have ingrained themselves into the very fibers of our modern existence. I can almost sense the textures of your press and paper, ink and letters, as you describe your love of the creativity in the process.
Thanks for sharing! When will you post some of your work?
PTJ (No Relation!)
Fantastic! I was pleasantly surprised with your new venture, and you have an outlet for one of your many talents. I'm looking forward to your website being up and ready for orders.
ReplyDeleteMJ: Great Blog!! I loved reading about your inspiration and feel I got a true sense of your connection to your craft and art. This site will be a great venue for your work and the development of Angelica Ink. I look forward to following you in the blogosphere.
ReplyDelete--lj