Saturday, June 16th was a busy and bustling day for the Hamilton Wood Type & Printing Museum. Visitors from all over flocked to the museum to see all it has to offer. It was an opportunity for those of all ages and backgrounds to learn not only about the history of wood type and Hamilton, but to experience printing and wood type cutting demonstrations firsthand. There were guided tours by our knowledgeable volunteers, along with presentations of how wood type is created on a pantograph. In addition, visitors were given the opportunity to pull a print to take home as a keepsake.

Those attending the Open House could be seen enjoying popcorn, learning about the different collections at the museum, and having a hands-on experience.

Following the Open House was the gallery reception of the New Impressions  exhibition. This is the fourth year for this international, juried exhibition celebrating 44 artists from 9 countries, including the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Switzerland, Argentina, Austria, Norway, Brazil, and Italy. The reception was introduced by Jim Moran, the museum's director; Bill Moran, the artistic director; and Stephanie Carpenter, the assistant director. Hamilton was lucky enough to have artists that were in the exhibit come specifically for the opening- hailing from Texas, Virginia, and everywhere in between. New Impressions celebrates new and innovative ways letterpress is being incorporated into a modern artistic landscape. A big thanks to our jurors this year, Macy Chadwick, David Wolske, and Richard Zauft.

Congratulations to the award winners of this year's exhibition, Jennifer Farrell won the Aetna Award for The City Is My Religion; Ellie Mathews won the Directors Cut Award for Fig. 2; and George Walker won the People's Choice Award for Bee Hamlet.

Jen Farrell, The City Is My Religion, 11 x 17 inches, Letterpress, NFS

Ellie Mathews, Fig. 2, 10 x 13 inches, Six-color relief print, plus deboss with handset metal type, wood cut, photopolymer cut and antique cuts on Crane's Lettra, NFS

George Walker, Bee Hamlet, 7.25 x 15 in, Wood engraving, wood and metal type, $55

The show, along with pieces from the New Impressions 2016 & 2017 exhibits,  will be traveling to York College of Pennsylvania in the beginning of 2019. You can still purchase pieces from this show in the Hamilton Dry Goods store.