Letterpress Workshops

There are a lot of ways to experience the museum. A hands-on letterpress workshop using vintage wood type is an unforgettable adventure for any participant. We start the day with a demonstration on typesetting, inking methods, and how to use a Showcard Press. Each participant in our workshops gets to use their own press all day, so everyone leaves with prints that are personal and unique.

We have a large collection of wood type, decorative borders, and image blocks in our classroom pressroom that are perfect for creating posters, art prints, or cards. The type starts small at 4 picas (about 1/2 an inch) and goes all the way up to 72 picas (a whole foot!). The styles range from simple Gothics to playful Antiques and many styles in-between.

All the materials are provided in our workshops, so you don't need to bring anything (other than ideas) with you. Each person gets 25 sheets of paper and often prints about 3-4 different designs. There is a lot of exploration and play on workshop days. Experienced printers and first-timers join us to create one-of-a-kind works of art. If you would like to sign up for an upcoming workshop check out our current calendar.

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