Letterpress enthusiasts and those interested in bookmaking, typography, and art are invited to Scripps College’s 70th anniversary celebration and public exhibit Women Over 25: Printing Letterpress for over a Quarter of a Century.
The current Frederic W. Goudy Exhibit, “Women Over 25: Printing Letterpress for over a Quarter of a Century,” honors nearly 40 women whose books are collected in Scripps College’s Denison Library, and who have been printing by letterpress for at least 25 years and are still printing and/or teaching letterpress.
Letterpress printing involves locking movable type into the bed of a press, inking it, and rolling or pressing paper against it to form an impression.
“Viewing books made as an artistic, literary endeavor is an excellent way to observe a contemporary woman’s point of view on a variety of themes and issues,” said Kitty Maryatt, director of Scripps College Press. “The books were selected from the exceptional artist book collection at Denison Library and The Claremont College’s Honnold Library. The exhibit features a broad variety of works including many printed by traditional letterpress using metal type, as well as books that use photopolymer plates and laser cutting, and even digital printing. This collection demonstrates how women experiment with ways to present their message.”
Scripps College may boast the longest-running collegiate book arts program in the U.S., if not internationally. Founded by the Class of 1941, the Scripps College Press has its own typeface, Scripps College Old Style, the only private typeface in metal still in continuous usage. Designed by Frederic W. Goudy (of the Goudy Old Style typeface fame) for the College in 1941, the font was digitized by Sumner Stone in 1991. The Scripps College Press is one of very few undergraduate programs to publish, print by letterpress, bind by hand, and sell collaborative student work in limited edition book form. The College has done so continuously for the past 25 years.
Schedule of Events
Saturday, September 17
- 1:30 p.m.—Still covered with ink: Nuns, widows, mavericks & other passionate printers, Frederic W. Goudy Lecture presented by artist Kathleen Walkup, in Scripps College’s Humanities Auditorium, 981 N. Amherst Avenue, Claremont
- 2:30—”Crazy About Letterpress” panel discussion in Scripps College’s Humanities Auditorium
- 3:30— “Women Over 25” exhibit reception at Scripps College’s Clark Humanities Museum, 981 N. Amherst Avenue, Claremont
Sunday, September 18
- 10:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m—Frederic W. Goudy Workshop, “The Plate and the Print,” led by Sandra Reese, co-founder of Turkey Press, Scripps College Press, 241 E. 11th Street, Claremont. Cost: $75
Clark Humanities Museum and Denison Library Exhibition
Women Over 25: Printing Letterpress for over a Quarter of a Century
August 25, 2011-September 21, 2011
Books for the exhibition were selected by Professor Maryatt, aided by Librarian Judy Harvey Sahak, from the excellent artist book collection at Denison Library and Honnold Library.
Backgrounds
Kathleen Walkup is professor of Book Art and director of the Book Art Program at Mills College as well as Book Art director for the MFA in Book Art & Creative Writing, the first such program in the country. Her lecture will explore the women who have been involved with the craft and trade of printing since printing was invented, from the vernacular books set by the nuns of St. Jacobus de Ripoli to the witty Jane Grabhorn. The panel discussion following the lecture will include several women whose books will be shown in the Scripps College exhibit and will focus on the changing nature of letterpress books over the past 25 years.
Designer, printer, papermaker, and binder Sandra Reese is co-founder of Turkey Press and Edition Reese with husband, Harry. As publishers of poetry, prints, and artist books, they set type by hand, print with hand presses, and produce art projects that feature their own papermaking. Their work integrates traditional as well as digital printmaking, edition binding, innovative book structures, and collaborations with poets, artists, writers, and thinkers.