Making a book...

Lately I've been spending my time on restocking the Zine Machine, and getting back in in contact with our faithful zine makers. I've been thinking about the purpose of stocking a vending machine with zines, too, and the implications of even taking the time to make zines, and to encourage others to do the same. I've found this explanation from Booklyn:

"Reading a book educates. Making a book is an education.

Through the development of skills such as verbal and visual storytelling, problem solving, original thinking, and hand-eye coordination, bookmaking promotes literacy, creativity, self-expression, and self-esteem. As a medium and a message, bookmaking encourages the development of the voice, the ability to articulate it, and the means to make it heard."

Sometimes it's nice to have a reminder for why I do the things I do.

("Booklyn's mission is to promote artist books as an art form and an educational resource, to provide the general public and educational institutions with services and programming involving contemporary artist books, and to assist artists in exhibiting, distributing and publishing artist books." They are amazing.)

Linotype University VI

My head is swimming with all the information I learned from Linotype University, even though I could only make it for 3 short days (the entire workshop lasts for 7 days). We worked mainly on 3 Merganthaler Model 31 Linotypes, but we also learned how to cast type with a Ludlow, how to cast new composition rollers, and finally printed our cast type on a few various presses. I had a great time and will put this new knowledge to work at the Homestead Historic Print Shop, at least until it gets too cold to work in the barn. While I sort through all this information, you can see the photos here.


Linotype University is held each fall in Denmark, Iowa, at the Working Linotype Museum. I highly recommend it.

If you're not sure what a linotype is or how one works, Metal Type has posted this instructional documentary filmed in 1960 (shown in two parts).

While you're at my Picasa site, you're welcome to browse other albums ("Studio at the Vine" has photos of my new Kelsey 5x8).

"Never Mind The Bears" Art Show

I'll be having an opening reception for "Never Mind the Bears", an exhibit of new and old mixed media work, during the Iowa City Gallery Walk tomorrow night. The details:

Friday October 3, 2008
5-8pm
at the Soap Opera, 119 East College St., on the Pedmall, Iowa City

If you can't make it for the opening, don't worry - the show will be up for at least a month, maybe two.


Sorry about the late notice, but I've been out of town at Linotype University and refurbishing a new (well, to me, at least) Kelsey 5x8 letterpress. More details, and photos, about both of those coming soon!