CREATE something!

Today was the class at The Arm. After a long day of Craft Fairing and Brooklyn Lagers yesterday, I was not feeling as chipper as I'd wished. Once I got there, I was in awe of the space and thrilled to be there. Dan started us off by giving a quick history of the printing press and demonstrated printing from a photopolymer plate on the Vandercook. Then we broke off into groups. Alexis and I started working on one of their 2 Vandercook SP-15 . The Arm has an amazing assortment of wood and lead type. We chose a tray with two different point sizes of wood type. We printed "For the Love of Type", Alexis's business name "Lotus Prints", and "Keep Calm & Carry On".
We broke for Lunch and my new friend Alexis and I hit the Street fair on the corner for some chow. I was really excited about this, I call the Street Fairs in New York Fried Food Fests. I love a good funnel cake and fried veggies! We took our artery clogging lunch to McCarren and sat in the shade for a while. We discussed our businesses. She is setting up an online invitation business and shopping for offset printers, but would like to offer letterpress as a option too. It was nice to chat in person with a fellow lover of print. She's created over 700 designs of her own creation in the last 2 years. Quite amazing really, and she works full time.

After watching Soak the Bloak while Alexis got a Pina Coloda, we returned to the studio. Dan showed us how to use their C&P Pilot Press. I was most excited about this, since it is very similar to mine. He set up the type, "The street fair is killing me!" I thought about my nasty lunch and laughed.

It was really great being in a studio with all the correct equipment. At home, I have limited spacing and furniture. At the Arm, you can afford to be very precise and lock everything up nice and tight. I asked about the roller gauge and Dan showed me how to use it to measure. Also, he suggested a tympan supplier. I'm going to upgrade from butcher paper from the Brother's deli and order some stat. I also learned that I haven't been storing my pholypolymer place in the most optimal way. They should be stored flat. Good thing I have lots of big coffee table books, hopefully they can flatten a few out that have started to curl.
I'm so glad I went and learned so much. It sparked a bit of creativity. I met a lot of really cool, creative people, but sadly I didn't trade contact information with anyone. I wasn't really sure how to do it without seeming too pushy. I regret not asking for theirs. I am excited to go back and print larger plate creations soon! It's a lovely place to print for the day. Create on.