Letterpress I: Intro to Press Operation
Course Code: 25FLP100IB
This two-day in-person workshop takes place at CBA on Saturday and Sunday, December 6th and 7th, from 11:00 AM - 5:00 PM ET.
- Saturday, December 6th, 11AM to 5PM ET
- Sunday, December 7th, 11AM to 5PM ET
Please Note: Registration for this workshop closes on November 22nd at 11:59pm Eastern Time.
About the Workshop:
Letterpress is one of the oldest forms of printmaking and it is a versatile asset to the book artist in the production of editions, text, images, and more. In this workshop, students will learn the basics of how to set up and print on a Vandercook press, and how to properly clean up and maintain the press for consistent results. Students will learn the essentials of letterpress printing including lockup, packing, inking, registration, impression, paper selection, troubleshooting, and cleanup. This workshop is ideal for artists, aspiring publishers, and anyone who wants to get their hands dirty with a little history and fun. This workshop prepares the student for the next course in CBA’s letterpress learning track, Intro to Typography on Press (Letterpress 2).
Required Materials:
- Pencil and paper for taking notes
- Please wear closed-toed shoes and clothes that can get stained or dirty (CBA will provide aprons, but the ink used on press can stain)
All other materials will be provided by Center for Book Arts at no additional cost.
About the Instructor
Sarah Nicholls is an artist, printmaker, and writer whose work combines language, image, visual narrative, and time.
Her ongoing projects on climate change, urban ecology, and the history of science and technology include a series of letterpress pamphlets as well as participatory programs like guided urban/nature walks.
Nicholls’ limited edition artist’s books are in the collections of the Victoria & Albert Museum, the Brooklyn Museum, Columbia University, and Stanford, among others.
Her work has received support from the Lower Manhattan Cultural Council, the Brooklyn Arts Council, and the Puffin Foundation, and she has participated in residencies at BRIC House in Brooklyn, the Chicago Center for Book and Paper Arts, and Guttenberg Arts in New Jersey.
Nicholls teaches letterpress and book arts at Pratt Institute and Parsons School of Design in New York City.
All images courtesy of the instructor.