#goldsmith press

[goldsmithpress]

My adventures will be taking me away from the Southeast and the gang at the Goldsmith Press, but everyone here has had a huge impact on the way I work with print. I've enjoyed teaching at APSU and have learned so much here.

[goldsmithpress]

Type as a tool for healing.

At the Goldsmith Press, we often work with members of the community to write and express their stories through moveable wooden type. When they've pulled their print(s), often you'll see an expression of awe and excitement on the faces of brand new printers. They're excited because they made this material expression with an unfamiliar tool and succeeded. They're excited because they've used that tool to tell a story about themselves. I suspect they might also be excited because the press was a public outlet to tell their stories when there might not have been one available previously. This can be incredibly empowering or cathartic.

Recently, in a blog article for Print Magazine, Ellen Shapiro wrote about the designer/typographer Oded Ezer. He has numerous accomplishments to his name, but a recent project really stood out to me. Shapiro wrote that Ezer is currently leading a research experiment at RISD regarding the curative or healing powers of type. . . or to "test one’s personality characteristics and emotional well-being."

I think it would be interesting to see the results of this experiment. There are many studies on how various design elements (color, pattern, the use of space, etc) impact health and moods. Packaging and advertising are designed to play on the emotions/moods of the consumer audience. The form/brush stroke style of traditional Chinese calligraphy is supposed to inform the reader of the emotional tone of the written content. We use type to enhance the meaning of our content. Why not design type to build or add to a balancing or healing environment? Or design it in a way to inspire particular responses that answer the desired questions about emotional well-being? Is it possible?

[goldsmithpress]

Nashville Print Crawl. We crashed at Platetone printshop.

[k2forma-blog]

2013 Nashville Print Crawl Recap

About a month or two ago, Jen Knowles (from Platetone and Brown Dog Bindery) and I got together with this idea.  We wanted to hold an event that brought all the amazing printers here in Nashville together.  We came up with the idea of doing a 'progressive' or scavenger hunt, where folks could print their own posters.  We sat down with our other printer friends and started really fleshing out this idea. 

After some fun chat and a few beers, we had all worked out the event.  The theme was cars/race cars.  We spent the next few weeks putting everything in place; building a web site, making a map, designing and printing the poster template, promoting it to our friends, and so on.

It all paid off.  Last Thursday night, several hundred eager printers came out to play with us.  Folks lined up at Sawtooth Printhouse to pick up their poster template and make their first print.

After that, it was a free-for-all.  There were stops to be made at Isle of Printing and Platetone Printmaking.  Goldsmith Press was also set up at Platetone, so people could hit 2 stops in 1!

From there, folks made their way over to our studio, another 2-for-1 stop, with Ryan Nole of Kangaroo Press for the event. 

keeping the screen clean so you can get a good print

Once they had hit us, then most people walked over to Fort Houston to pull their final print at Grand Palace with Drew & Bingham.

And after it was all over, we had a big group of happy friends who had made their very own poster...along with a group of happy (and tired) printers.  Thanks for everyone who helped make this happen!  It was so much fun.  Look for us to do it again next year!

finished poster

finished printers (L to R; Kelly Koeppel, Ryan Nole, Drew Binkly, Bryce McCloud)

A special 'Thanks' goes to the Metro Nashville Arts Commission. Our event was a "Pop Up" event and part of their Artober celebration.  If you have an idea for an event for Artober next year, there are several ways to make it happen.  Click here to learn how!

[goldsmithpress]

Where do we fit in?

The Goldsmith Press aims to: • Support the educational goals and curriculum of the APSU Department of Art • Record and promote community ideas using the Rare Type Collection • Develop verbal, written, and visual communication skills in the general public • Preserve the collection of wood type that defines the history of rural advertising

[goldsmithpress]

"Reflections & Renewal- the 9/11/12 Project" was originally printed last year as an effort between APSU and the surrounding community. It's final display format wasn't achieved until earlier this year. Please stop by and see it this week at the Clarksville- Montgomery County Public Library.

[goldsmithpress]

Friends of the Goldsmith Press

The Goldsmith Press & Rare Type Collection is a unique letterpress facility that includes thousands of hand-carved wood letters, antique printing presses, papermaking materials and bindery equipment. The wood type was created circa 1900 for Metropolitan Showprint, a New England advertising company. The Austin Peay State University Center of Excellence for the Creative Arts and the Department of Art purchased the Metropolitan collection in 1997. The refurbished letterpress studio was named for Arthur Goldsmith – retired librarian, book collector and longtime Clarksville resident. The Goldsmith Press was established to create an interdisciplinary self-publishing facility on the campus of Austin Peay for students, faculty, visiting artists and community members. 

Cindy Marsh is the fearless director and often the inspiration of students and alumni toiling for long hours at the press. The "Friends of the Goldsmith Press" originated as a group of alumni who desired to continue in their  aim of supporting the press. 

If you would like to participate or are interested in more information please contact Laura Golobish [[email protected]] or Cindy Marsh [[email protected]].