Finally! Printing!
Posted on Tuesday, 29 March
After an intense week behind an enormous computer screen, working on design files, my designer Katie helped me knock everything out and send it away. Today was my first day in the shop, printing with Niko and Joe.
sneak peak
setting the (wood) type
This is the film we are using to create polymer plates
Polymer Allan Street house
Joe Landry and Barbara Lounder of the Letterpress Gang
mixing ink
inking the rollers
sneak peak
Print Loud
Posted on Tuesday, 29 March
Thanks for Former Roommates and Crosss for playing the show.
Pals in the gall
Crosss
Former Roommates
print out loud house party
Posted on Wednesday, 23 March
Thursday March 24
10:00 pm
Eyelevel Gallery
A new poem by Alicia Fordham
Posted on Wednesday, 23 March
Generation Yes
Stories and songs, they come. Paintings too, and the meals we make together. I can’t force these because they arise unfathomably from space, and I call out. Maybe if I had gone to art school, and cultivated some talent, I could crank out more. Instead, I stood outside, until my skin was raw.
From the obscurity of history we’re spelling out our lives, which are fresh like Helvetica, but secretly ornate. At home to roam in big time country, open untouched space, we’re of the tangled city too, embroidered with stories of Paris painted clowns. But bits and pieces they build our days, and minds that flutter, grasping for sensation. Let’s enjoy each other, and the morning tilted sun. Soon we’ll have to stop, stepping out for daybreak, uncloaked, unplugged, un-wanting.
I’ve read your stories, and they are our voice, which rises through the nightmare of time, the ashes of distracted minds. We are so confused, either sitting wrapped in boredom, or strung out on caffeine, we ignore the day, and fuck off in the night. It’s okay. Colour is our wealth, running our hands along our things, we glow with such inexhaustible flames. Thanks to the ones who have some dirt. We’re not angry, but on fire with love. We know of wise hearts and steady hands. Death-bed Grandmother, and fathers baking bread. We’re punching through the poster of insane.
thinkin’
Posted on Tuesday, 15 March
Tonight I’m meeting with letterpress gang member Katie Tower, who is the designer assigned to me for the project. Katie’s agreed to help keep me down to earth with the project to ensure the work gets completed.There are just so many possibilities for design, and I’m really smitten with certain color.
Maybe the Allan Street image would look great filled with color like this?
Looking back
Posted on Monday, 14 March
Some old photos of Richard Light reading at Allan Street in the summer of 2010. Rich read his parody letter “From a father to a son”, a letter to his future, unborn, unconsummated child.)
Alumni Ben Stephenson looks on with well-loved guest Yusef Dennis. Caroline captures a snap of Richy.
Jess Walker finds a spot by the suitcases.
Rich’s letter will be one of many works recorded in the limited edition fiction anthology created this month in the Print Out Loud! residency.
Day 2
Posted on Friday, 11 March
I’ve been thinking about assurance in creativity. Initially when I started writing I would say “I’ve developed the audacity to believe I have something interesting to say.” I think there is a lot to be unsure about in writing and art. Whether it’s self doubt about the importance of personal work, or the invisible barriers that keep people isolated from a creative community. I’m rarely sure about my own writing but I am sure about curating atmospheres. If I tell someone how long to read for, and what time to show up, it makes it easy for them to just focus on the work. It removes a barrier for a bit I guess. I have a confidence in inviting people to spend time with me, with each other, how to set up the furniture and how the light should look. And I guess that’s what this residency is about— curating creativity.
On day 2 we hung the banner. Kerri Mclellan made this, she lives on Allan Street too.
After some office hours and a visit to the printer for posters I went back to the Dawson Print Shop, stopping along the way to buy a handful of chocolate covered cashews. I sat in on Niko’s class and learned how to set type.
We chose fonts in the basement and compiled our test sentences in the composition stick. I worked on one of my favorite lines from a poem by Allan Street alumni, Laura Dawe.
Originally I placed my type the wrong way. I chose to work in one of the small back rooms away from the rest of the class. It was very peaceful and dusty. Two hours passed. I barely noticed. My galley is waiting in the print shop for me to print on my next visit.
Today we are getting ready for the potluck in the gallery at 6:00 pm. Michael hung some lights and Matt brought a record player. It sounds good in here.
See you tonight.
Can you spot me in the window?
