Letterpressed Website

Just been looking at the other FMP blogs and they're looking great! That reminds me, need to get a move on...this week has gone so quick! After helping David B with the D&AD submissions for two days, and then fiddling with bits and pieces for the other two the week's gone poooff! The drawing up of a bit of a time table looks a good idea.
But can't just wait for an idea to hit me...emailed Nigel R about going in next week to play with letterpress...however also I'm really interested to see all the resources in the library that might be lurking in corner, the workshops i never knew existed till recently.

Til then i've been pondering about letterpress and its possibley lucrative relationship with the digitial world...Alan Kitching's work for example is often digitzed so that it may appear in a newspaper for example...the potential for letterpress is so much more if it is embraced and not just replaced by newer technologies. These are some stills from a company website www.pointedpress.com > Setting aside the work they do the actual website imagery still retains the feel of letterpress....

Getting focussed...

Haven't posted this week since I've been trying to get my last project out of the way which has been sorted now, thankfully. Geoff wants a review of all work done over these Easter holidays so no slacking I'm afraid!

Last Monday attended a friends committee meeting which further involved and enlightened me as to the situation of the Library itself.


Present: Paul Bambury (Treasurer), Ruth Oxford, Ben Reading (web & UltraBold),
Me, Nigel, Rob Reading (Chairman)


Library hoping to raise 7 million - applied for grant for 50%, employing an American to raise 25% and the library itself has raised about 8% of the last quarter of the money. In 11 months the library will be moved elsewhere until construction complete where a limited service will be issued. Laura works for the foundation but is doing work that takes her away from fundraising, which is where my volunteer work comes in.

While it is great to be included in this this still leaves me with a final outcome problem...what's going to replace the exhibition idea? The next few days will be dedicated to this solution. In the meantime asking Nigel if I can play around with the type cases at the library might be a good idea, also getting in touch with Nigel from Uni so I can work at Graham's press also...maybe even ask Alan Kitching at some point however I think by that time I should have a good idea about what I am going to produce. Thinking caps on!

P.S. the ultrabold publication published by the library maybe a good vehicle for anything that I may produce or need coverage for...keep this mind, free publicity!

Alan Kitching Talk Review

As far as the Alan's talk went it was fascinating! The work in the modest exhibition was incredibly inspiring, really stretching the limits of the letterpress for a contemporary audience...anyone saying letterpress is dead obviously has hasn't seen his work! In fact its far more alive than about 90% of all digital work i see for sure. Of course, to deny digital advances and practicalities is rather backward, however the recent work of Kitching often involves a pressed original that is scanned into the computer to take full advantage of reproduction and the transference of information.

These pics were taken in a hurry, in poor lighting, behind glass so they don't come anywhere near to doing his work justice but it gives you a flavour nevertheless...



This print was scanned in after pressing and digitally printed on canvas...however Alan admits that the colour intensity was lacking so he had to re-paint the black areas to recapture its impact...digital has it's limitations too...



Using combinations of inks in one pressing...



One of my favourites, but the photo is a poor substitute for reality...



Work for a restaurant menu (extract)...




It seems while digital technology has opened wonderful possibilities to contemporary design it should be in addition to, rather than totally replacing, the skills and knowledge base accumulated over the past few hundred years. I can't help referring to the 'Grand Designs' programme on Channel 4 last week, a couple were restoring the remains of half a castle (...basically a ruin). They could have restored it to it's true form, or they could have knocked it flat and built something entirely new....but skillfully managed to combine old features with uber modern ones in such a way that made the resulting construction truly remarkable.

A far as my project is concern however, I've hit a bit of a bump. At the talk I met up with Rob and Laura who are keen to involve my with voluntary work with the library, more on this at the Monday meeting at 6pm (Might possibly need to email Laura when I'm free so bear this in mind (lauranewport@stbridefoundation.org) However I also managed to speak with Catherine (also tutor at CSM) who informed me that the exhibition space at st bride's is booked all summer. Plus she was thinking of doing something along similar lines but the type conference (May next year) is ALSO along similar lines so she's deferred it till May. Coincidence eh?

Anyhow, Catherine was really interested in the issue my exhibition circulated round, particularly the point of how students see the library and how to convince them to value the resource more. She also mentioned that there might not have been enough time to organise an exhibition in the time allotted, trying to get the work together in this time, plus insurance...it's a lot of hassle and Andy warned me not to get too caught up in curating while not producing anything myself.

Back to square one this may be, however barriers only make for a better project (as long as you don't get lazy Kim!) and I'm still incredibly interested in the ethos of the idea and can't wait to see where it leads me next. All ideas welcome!

Web morsels

Can across a few interesting web morsels: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Xg5O0l7ybY




Particularly interesting post on You Tube...however the comments are the most interesting.There seems to be alot of debate about how relevant traditional education in printing techniques is to today's designers. The 31 comments all portray very strong a differencing points of view...It would be great if I could capture this energy within my exhibition.(Till I can get you tube videos to post here, here's some screen shot)

David Carson has quite a few interesting mini-clips of moving type:





Other addresses about print processes:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w8mHwC36TK4&mode=related&search=
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AP6SEe_an_I&mode=related&search=


(Has quite a few pieces on YouTube to check out later)

Meeting Summary: Food for Thought

The meeting with Nigel brought up the following points:

- More ways to raise the cash than taking money at the door:
- Talks/Lectures?
- Refreshments
- Books/Poster Additions
-...so plenty to think about on that front...

- People to contact:

Catherine Dixon (mail@catherinedixon.co.uk) Deals with Space and Dates of Exhibition (I know there is an exhibition till the 14th June but perhaps after?)*Must email*

Kristina Niles (kristinaniles@stbridefoundation.org) For any general advice that I must consider when setting up a exhibition. *Must email also*

- Nigel also mentioned that the St Bride Foundation were considering at some point to hold a similar exhibition idea but no-one was available to organise it...here I can step in, but I feel that there will be plenty of support (hope anyways!) for what I'm trying to do.

- Trying to collect artwork to submit to the exhibition is going to be tricky to organise; approaching Alan Kitching is a possibility however Nigel did mention an Amercian designer that they held work for, that might be willing to submit. WTS (Matthew Carter)

- Lastly I must organise a time to look at the resources (other than the ones I know) that the library have to offer but I feel don't make so well known. They have a working press and a few type cases that I might be able to use at some point. Interesting!

I have my talk with Alan Kitching today so plan to go early to take a few photographs...had a quick peek yesterday and hid stuff is AMAZING, printing with the most interesting inks and finishes on all sorts of media, plus incredibly thoughtful and inventive compositions. Already go a number of questions...but I hope a don't get nervous because clamming up isn't going to be helpful here and if I can build up a good conversation his help could be invaluable.

Where to start?

This was the proposal made to Andy Stevens Last Thursday and his only real concern was that I don't get too tied up in curating the event and neglect this as an opputunity to show some of my own work. He suggested that I dig deep into the vaults of St Bride's and repurpose some of it within my own work. This sounds a fantastic idea and could mean that I won't have to go near a computer at all for my designs.

Thinking about it, if I managed to plan out the aestetic of the show and the curative information (which appears on the walls) early enough, this maybe a way to incorporate my own work in the show without seemingly comparing my own work to the likes of Alan Kitching (...very daunting thought!) Plus, this would solve any expensive printing costs as all would be pressed my hand.

Plus, if I could be cheeky enough to talk my way into several letterpress studios I could compare the results since different studios will have different resources and type cases to choose from.

Next step will be to draw up lists of people I intend to approach, but in the mean time have organised a meeting with Nigel Roche to ask if it is indeed possible to hold an exhibition at the Library at all. Will also ask to speak with the St Bride curator for advise about what I would need to consider if I was to untertake this. This meeting as it 2pm Wednesday (7th). PLUS, as a remarkable stroke of good luck, Alan Kitching (of who's work is currently showing at the library) will be holding extra talks this week at St Bride's...so have booked tickets for Thursday, 6.30pm.

The story so far...

The qualities and tactile nature of analogue print processes have become overlooked with the onset of the digital revolution. Perhaps this is why the St Bride Institute, based in Fleet Street, has become somewhat underfunded and neglected by contemporary print design. With 7 million pounds needed for the restoration of the building and its facilities, I propose a final outcome that both raises the profile of the Library and the general appreciation for the tangibility that printing has to offer.

Within a meeting with Nigel Roche from the St Bride Library, it was made clear that he is very keen to involve me within the funding of building work hopefully -commencing in 2008. Regarding this he appreciates that while I will work closely with the library that my actual project should be confined and restricted as little as possible, however my response must be in collaboration with how the library wishes to be represented. I propose using a graphic outcome that will capture the qualities of the analogue process; while raising funding for the library...be it a short addition of sellable books or posters, merchandise etc.

Finally, in the pursuit of funding the Library intends to set up an American branch of the 'Friends of St Brides'. Promotional material is needed here to encourage interest in its cause and Nigel is keen to involve me in this also.




Bullet Points for Thursday

- Begin stating my passion for tactile print in evermore digitized environment

- Explain that I want to hold an exhibition posing the question of the relevance/richness of tactile print in contrast with our evermore digitized environment.

-This exhibition will be held at the St Bride Institute, it's own plight of renovation or closure suggesting a general feel that analogue print processes have little to offer contemporary design.

- Spoke with Nigel Roche on Tuesday 20Th Feb, eager for me to be fully involved with committee; interested in incorporating American Branch of the "Friends of St Bride's" to provoke interest.

- Designers/enthusiasts will be approached to submit work/statements that best portray this and why they think the library is a valuable resource; They will be asked to offer work (perhaps inspired or researched using the libraries resources) and editorial that reflect their passion for analogue print. People such as: Alan Kitching, Derek Birdsall etc

- Promotional Material to be designed and 'printed' by myself for the event. Proceeds given to the libraries £7 million pound renovation project. Further promotions i.e newspapers, radio stations etc will be needed to generate interest. Separate online website is a possibility. Special blog site set up posing the question, 'Is the St Bride Library and what it stand for still relevant today?'

St Bride Library (Pre-Renovation)
AIGA Walker Art Center Brochure (Below)