Summer is on its way but before taking a well-deserved holiday, we had an interesting activity to look forward to: a three-day workshop for 11 students from Kalamazoo Book Arts Center who came from Michigan under the supervision of Jeff Abshear. The workshop, taught by Thomas Gravemaker and yours truly, took place at the printing department of the Museum of Industry in Ghent, equipped with proofing presses and a large collection of wood and metal type.
For most of the students, this is their first trip outside the US where Ghent is their first stop. Then the group will continue their journey to Mainz to visit the Guttenberg museum, to Basel to make paper at the Basel Paper Mill and make reduction linocuts at the studio Druckwerk before heading to Venice to print dry point.
After discussing the programme with Jeff Abshear we decided that during their stay in Gent the students would design and print haiku booklets and wrapper. Where the interior will be typeset in metal type and printed in one colour and the cover, typeset in wood type and ornaments, printed in two colours. The theme was 'Expectations'. What do they expect from their journey, what would they discover while working in the various workshops across Europe, will it change them as artists and would it leave mark on their future life?
While the students were battling jetlag, Thomas and I spent the whole day at the museum making sure that everything is ready before the students arrive: We cut paper, lubricated the presses, got the typecases in order and made an example of a haiku book with folded cover.
On Saturday 11 students and their teacher, Jeff Abshear arrived at 10 am eager to start the day. We gathered everyone around the table where everybody could introduce themselves and then we explained the assignment. The group was split in two smaller groups and set to work. Six students started setting their haiku's (which they had written upon arrival to Ghent), the others started working on a wrapper and used wood type. By the end of the afternoon, the haiku's had been proofed and corrected and were locked up on the FAG proof press. The Korrex press had been used to print the first colour for the wrapper.
Group 1 got on the FAG press and printed their text pages while group 2 worked with me on the Korrex press and finished their wrapper. After dissing and cleaning it was time for lunch in the restaurant of the Museum of Industry. After lunch the groups changed place and Thomas started working with group 2 on their haiku's. By the end of the afternoon, we had the forme of their pages on the press and proofed. And I managed to print the first colour of the second wrapper with group 1.
Drawing by Grant Overbeek
As the printing progressed well the first two days, we could take it a bit easier. The second sheet was printed, with 5 more haiku's. While on the Korrex press, under my guidance, the second colour of the wrapper was printed. The students did an excellent job! And we even had time for a coffee break in the garden of the Museum of Industry. Everything was ready in the afternoon, so the students had time to make collages from the misprints found at the museum. Sitting down after a long day and having fun. These were wonderful days, filled with creativity and laughter. We wish the students a smooth journey and look forward to seeing their creations!
more picture here
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Born in Armenia, grew up between Russia and the Netherlands and now living in Belgium chasing my graphical madness