Printing in the Present: An evolving print practice in the time of coronavirus and Black Lives Matter
Video presentation is allowed to be used for educational purposes.
COVID-19, social distancing, and the surge in the Black Lives Matter movement have created a new environment in which our very existence has been challenged. We love letterpress because it’s hands-on, tactile, and immediate. But contrast this with the best practices during a global pandemic—including keeping your hands to yourself and staying six feet apart—and one has to wonder how we can continue to teach and share the magic of letterpress printing given today’s current climate.
During this time, I’ve found that the message is what matters most. Letterpress can still be a powerful tool even if we can’t participate in the process in person because it is a medium for connection and self-expression, and can demonstrate empathy, solidarity, and shared values.
This presentation shares an inside look at a studio that is actively engaged in connecting with people during a time of physical distancing and isolation. I’ll share how my letterpress and design practice have changed and grown in this challenging time through an innovative approach to distance-learning workshops, an expanded studio practice, and content that responds directly to current events. I hope you’ll join me—no mask required.
Ben Blount is a Detroit-born graphic designer and letterpress printer. He loves books, type, and putting ink on paper. His work often explores questions of race and identity and the stories we tell ourselves about living in America. A believer in the power of the printed word, Ben aims to create work that has impact beyond the printed page. He learned a lot about design at Washington University in St. Louis, a lot about printing at Columbia College Chicago, and filled in the gaps with mentors and lots of practice. He prints out of MAKE, his storefront studio in Evanston, Illinois.
