Fat and Fast Futura, collaborative poster, Chicago, IL

On view April 29- June 29
^{Opening reception May 10th, 5:00-7:30, open to the public
The Letterpress will be set-up for Visitors to make & take-away an original letterpress print.}

For those who delight in the printed letter, Homegrown Alphabets is an exhibition not to be missed. Juried by local artist and letterpress printer Eleanor Annand, the show promises to be a celebration of the ascenders, descenders and serifs that compose our written language. Artists across the country have submitted work that uses letterpress and printmaking processes to showcase the beauty and versatility of typography in the tradition of print graphics. The result is a clever and varied pool of work featuring original alphabets and fresh uses of existing type, from which Annand will curate the show. Visitors to Asheville BookWorks are invited to explore the studio and revel in the playful ingenuity of these typographical works of art.

Eleanor Annand has a background in printmaking that spans 14 years and has brought her to the 7 Ton Letterpress Collective

Gutenberg Remix, Jamie Mahoney, VA, printed from type made on a 3-D printer.

of West Asheville. Her experiences with typography extend to a variety of mediums, and she hopes to represent a range of aesthetics and processes in curating Homegrown Alphabets. She will also look for artistic care and intention in submitted work.  “You know how you can tell when a meal is made with love,” says Annand. “I want that feeling except with type.”

August 24 – 25, 2013
Saturday and Sunday, 10-5

Instructor: Steve Prince
Cost: $312 (not including a $35-$45 materials fee )

Description: What do you get when you mix a steamroller and imagination? A giant, expressive, Avant Garde, 3’ foot x 35’ foot Woodcut Print! In this intense two-weekend hands-on workshop participants will go on a printmaking journey and create original woodcut prints. Students will learn how to construct thematic works and use multiple transfer techniques to place images on the substrate. Use of traditional Japanese woodcutting tools and non-traditional Rotary Power tools will be utilized in this workshop to enable participants of all ages and skill-levels to engage this communal workshop. Students will learn proper carving techniques, how to print with or without a press, delve into mixed media applications, learn reductive processes, explore multi-block techniques, and create print editions. The culminating event of the workshop will involve the collective creation of a New Orleans Jazz inspired Steamroller Print. Each participant will create a portion of the massive print that will surely take the city of Asheville by storm with its expressive, improvisational, and intuitive marks and forms drawn together to be printed on giant printmaking paper. There will be daily demonstrations, technical assistance, and conceptual feedback will be offered by the instructor.

Students should bring the following items to the class.

• Woodcut set:
  3.0 mm Knife
  4.5 mm U Gouge
  12.0 mm U Gouge
  1.5 mm V Gouge
  4.5 mm V Gouge
• Journal for note taking
• Tracing Paper
• #2 Pencils
• Graphite Sticks
• Sharpie Markers, Fine, Medium, and Broad Chisel Tip
• Various black and white Photocopies of Plants, textures, people faces 8.5” x 11” (Various sizes)
• Apron
• Nitrile Gloves
• Watercolor set
• Watercolor brushes
• 5 sheets of Printmaking Papers 22” x 30” or larger (Arches, BFK Rives, Folio, Stonehenge, or Somerset)
• (optional) Rotary Tool with #108, and #199 tips, (Rounded Burring Tip and Saw Blade)

September 21 – 22, 2013
Saturday & Sunday, 10 – 5 PM

Instructors: Laurie Corral and Philip Bell
Cost: $252 (includes a $35 studio and materials fee)

Description: Printing from photopolymer plates is an ideal blend of old and new technology for letterpress printing. The printer is free to let their creativity run wild by converting any image they like into a letterpress ready plate. You can also make a strong impression when printing from polymer, without the worry of crushing valuable lead or wood type. Impressive!

We’ll start by making a hand generated negative. From there you’ll learn to prepare digital files for making photopolymer plates. Although we won’t get into how to use design software, you will be shown how to prepare digital files for making negatives.

You’ll learn the platemaking process starting with exposing the photopolymer material and finish with printing your plates in relief on the Vandercook letterpresses.

This class is part of the Letterpress Series offered at Asheville BookWorks and facilitates students interested in being certified to use the studio for independent work.

October 19 & 20, 2013
Saturday and Sunday, 10 AM – 5 PM

Instructor: Lauren Faulkenberry
Cost: $247 (including a $30 materials fee)

Description: Part writing workshop and part printing workshop, this course invites students to produce print projects that center on their own writing. We will start by generating text and discussing how to draw the reader in. We’ll look at ways to craft language and hone our storytelling abilities to make our words resonate with readers. We’ll move on to image making, and experiment with creating visual layers on a single page. Demos will include pressure printing, colographs, and linoleum block printing. We’ll look at ways to create texture and depth in our images, and experiment with creating images that compliment the text. We’ll examine the interplay between elements on the page, and consider composition and movement. Lastly, we’ll combine these elements to create a simple book structure that is printed as a single sheet, adding a bit of complexity to our designs.

Basic fundamentals of printing will be covered, as well as techniques that will help students achieve the best printing results. We’ll look at how to achieve even inking and impression, and how to choose papers suitable for different low-relief methods of printing. Students will leave with an understanding of how to combine text and image in a way that creates a dynamic narrative, and leave with techniques that will combat writer’s block and spark future writing endeavors. While some knowledge of printing is beneficial, students of all skill levels are welcome.

Materials fee includes:

• paper for pressure prints (for making printing plates–cardstock, etc)
• paper like Ingres and Bugra for experimental printing
• formica blocks for sandragraph
• canvas, pva, etc to build sandragraph blocks
• one mounted linoleum block

Students should bring:

• 2 ideas for a mini-book project (about 200 words or less, multiple copies of the text to share with other students)
• any papers they may want to use
• any pre-carved linoleum blocks, wood blocks, or other type-high relief blocks they plan to use
• pens/pencils and a sketchbook
• any decorative papers to use for chine-colle
• carving tools (if carving blocks)
• any low-relief objects of interest, used for making printing plates (leaves, lace, twine, etc)
• **if possible, students could purchase mohawk papers to use for these projects

August 2 – 4, 2013
Friday – Sunday,  9 – 5 with 1 hour for lunch

Instructor: Hollis Fouts
Cost:  $394 (includes a materials fee of $72)

Description: Metal etching is not just for intaglio printing! Explore the wonders of working with metal as an alternative material and design element for book arts. We’ll start with simple tank construction and etching technology options. We’ll learn many forms of image transfer methods and resists. Whether you want to draw, use copyright free images, or computer generate your design, it can be etched in metal! We will then use primary finishing and cold connection techniques as part of our design process. We will use a beautiful 2 color coptic stitch to bind at least one book and you’ll have many more pieces to continue your work. Learning will include how to replicate your experience in your home studio. No previous metalsmithing, etching or bookbinding experience is required.

Materials and Supplies:

For your convenience, virtually everything you need is included in the materials fee. Fee includes:

• 2 sets 4 x 6 covers
• metal variety pack for smaller books, samples, testing and future work
• etching tank, materials, resists and solutions
• paper for text blocks
• adhesives, sealants, finishes, patinas
• waxed linen thread
• metalsmithing, shop, filing, annealing and sanding tools
• pre-printed images and copyright free designs
• and any other stuff needed for a great class

Students to bring:

• basic bookbinding materials: awl, needles, Xacto knife and scissors, metal ruler, bonefolder, Japanese punch if you have one, small cutting mat, etc.
• endpapers as desired
• apron or smock
• gloves - multiple pairs of disposable
  paper mask if you are sensitive to sanding dust