TYPESETTING + BOOKMAKING
On my last visit to the city, I went to meet Ryan Mah of Unison Letterpress. I was designing a website for Brixx Letterpress at the time, and wanted to get some first hand inspiration… it had been a long time since I had spent any time in printmaking workshops.
I would love to have a letterpress, type collection, guillotine cutter and several book presses in my studio one day, so this trip was also an adventure into the sea of questions in my mind regarding HOW. How does one small person move a 1200 pound piece of steel? Where do you find these presses? Do I miss printmaking as much as I think I do? Turns out the answer to this last question is an overwhelming YES… remembering working late in the print shop until I got the googly eyes but had a very beautiful print… loud music, sometimes quieter music. Perfecting a print by hand is indeed something I miss very much. (Sigh.)
After peppering Ryan with as many questions about letterpress as I could think of at the time, I also learned that he is a bookbinder, and very talented photographer. It was an inspiring day – to be in the company of someone else who would be excited at the thought of a century old piece of equipment. To learn more about Unison Press visit unisonpress.com. Long live all things handmade.