The Book Art and Letterpress Lab supports on campus letterpress printing, experimental printing, paper techniques, binding and bookery.

WHAT IS AN ARTIST’S BOOK?

A book is done for its own sake and not for the information it contains. That is: it doesn’t contain a lot of works, like a book of poems. It is a work. Its design and format reflect its content — they intermerge, interpenetrate. It might be any art: an artist’s book could be music, photography, graphics, intermedial literature. The experience of reading it, viewing it, framing it — that is what the artist stresses in making it.” Wrote Dick Higgins, in A Preface, for Artists Books, by Joan Lyons.

Image Credit: Ernesto Leon de la Rosa-Carrillo, Bits.&.Pieces.[de]translated (2014).

THE Book art & letterpress LAB

The Book Art & Letterpress Lab hosts workshops and visiting artists including, Francois Deschamps, Karen Hanmer, Keith Smith, Joyn Lyons, Scott McCarney, Julie Chen, Clifton Meador, Barb Tetenbaum, Inge Bruggeman, Amos Kennedy, Jessica Spring, Springtide Press, Jen Farrell, Starshaped Press and Bruce Licher, just to name a few recent visitors.

The Sonoran Review and other student clubs meet in the space. Both Graduate and Undergraduate classes convene here throughout the year for classes and workshops. The lab is also the home to the student group The Book Art Collective. This student club is actively involved in the lab, producing artwork, meeting, and planning events centered on the book.

Both Graduate and Undergraduate classes convene here throughout the year.

THE LOCATION

The Letterpress and Book Art Lab is located at 1231 N. Fremont, in the UA School of Art Graduate Studios, view map.

THE EQUIPMENT

The lab is fortunate to house four (4) Vandercooks (Universal 1, Universal 1AB, SP-15, No. 2, 219 OS), Pilot Presses, and Chandler Price 8×12 OS and 12×15, Adana and more. There is an extensive collection of metal and wood type as well as ornaments and cuts. There are three (3) board shears, paper cutters, two (2) book presses, and two (2) guillotines, wire-o-binder and an industrial sewing machine. As well as an Epilog Zing CO2 24×12″ Laser Cutter and access to an Anderson Vreeland photopolymer plate maker and digital studios.

View a video feature on the Book Art & Letterpress Lab.

For more information about the facility, please contact: Karen Zimmermann