Print Arts Fair 2006
I made it to the Third Annual Print Arts Fair at the Museum of Printing in North Andover, Massachusetts, last weekend. They had a pretty impressive collection of equipment, and I’m certainly going to make it a priority to get back there sometime when it’s not quite as hot and crowded and I can take some time to look at some of what they have.
They had a Linotype machine up and working, and I got my name cast in hot lead. I took some quick video on my digital camera of the process, but I should probably edit it together and rotate it before I post it. This is what three finished lines of Linotype looks like:
The exhibitors included some people whose cards I’ve seen and admired at Bob Slate, including B Designs and Jesse Marsolais (the name of whose press escapes me, and is not mentioned on his card (Update: it’s Smudge Ink; see the comment below)). I also talked to Ed Rayher from Swamp Press, who does monotype casting; I think I may actually have bought some of his Christmas borders at Letterpress Things last year. I bought a really beautiful little book of haiku that he had printed on translucent paper.
I also bought some silver ink from someone who was selling gear. I really wanted some of this for the beer mats I did for The Hyphens earlier this year: I thought their logo would really have looked good metallic ink. I guess I still have the cut, so I can see.
It seemed like there were a lot of people from Somerville walking around. Heck, a few days earlier I picked up a flyer for this event at the Someday Cafe. Maybe I should join up with the Cambridge-based Letterpress Guild of New England?
Also giving demonstrations (and also Somerville-based) were Muskat Studios who do lithography.
June 26th, 2006 at 8:07 am
Sounds fantastic. I wish I could just leap over the oceans and be there. Beer mats are a great idea for letterpress! I’ve been wondering how to play with my little tabletop press, and there’s a start. Australians love beer coasters.
Silver ink is also fantastic. I use it quite a lot, but mostly to mix into other colours to give them a nice metallic sheen.
July 26th, 2006 at 9:17 am
Hey, that’s me! The name of the press is Smudge Ink, of which I cannot claim even partial ownership. I’m their printer, and you must have stopped by when only my business cards remained. We’re up in Charlestown. Thanks for the mention. Maybe next year’s fair won’t be quite as sweltering. Perhaps we’ll even see a return of the sheep-shearing festival across the street.