A project commissioned by Home Live Art: www.homeliveart.com
& Festival of Thrift: www.festivalofthrift.co.uk for the Festival of Thrift 2014. Massive thanks for making the project possible! ABOUT ME:
I demonstrate Letterpress printing to visitors at Preston Park Museum, Stockton-on-tees. Carefully restoring and using the Museums collection of Printing equipment to pass on the knowledge of this
ancient method of reproducing words. (Take a look at some of the photos to see what we've been up to at the Museum in the past)
www.prestonparkmuseum.co.uk
This page has been set up to share with you a side project in which I will be constructing a printing press inspired by Gutenberg's famous design, however I will be using an old car jack within the design to create enough pressure to print. THE PRINTING PRESS...
The invention of the Printing Press is regarded as one of the most influential events in human history, revolutionising the way people conceive and describe the world they live in. The device applies pressure to a print medium that rests on an inked surface made of movable type, thereby transferring the ink. The invention is credited to a German printer named Johannes Guttenberg in 1450, who was influenced by a Roman screw press that was used to press wine grapes. Guttenberg adapted the press with a movable under table with a flat surface so the moveable type and printing blocks could be placed here. The idea of creating re-usable type and images made out of wood had been around since the 12th century but Guttenberg improved it with his gold smith skills, creating type out of lead. THE FESTIVAL OF THRIFT...
The Festival of Thrift was set up last year by Wayne Hemingway (red or dead)
The festival was to be all about demonstrating ways that this generation, and many generations to come, could enjoy life without spending and borrowing on the scale of the past decades. - See more at: www.festivalofthrift.co.uk
The whole process of printing by re-using type and printing blocks relates to the idea of re-using and re-cycling to save time, money and precious recourses. I am delighted to be part of this years festival and will get the chance to help people generate new ideas and printing solutions using scrap and recycled materials. The Festival runs for two days:
SATURDAY 27TH - SUNDAY 28TH SEPTEMBER. The Thrift Jack Press will be present both days so come along and operate the Thrift Jack Press yourself!
- Learn the basics of letterpress printing using moveable type.
- Bring along an old t'shirt, tote bag or other scrap material to print on.
- Create printing blocks to be used in the Thrift Jack Press.
- Help us create a brand new thrifty font for everyone to use.
- Share your own thrifty printing techniques with us! I look forward to seeing you there! Festival of Thrift. September 27th - 28th 2014
Lingfield Point, Darlington
