Proof Letterpress Podcast

Amelia Hugill-Fontinell is a curator at the RIT Cary Graphic Arts Collection, a renowned library that collects on design, typography, and the book arts. We talk about the Cary Collection including her work with "the forgotten grandmother of all presses" typographic history, and the importance of printing history collections.

Kyle Durrie heads up a team of badass lady printers at Power and Light Press- a ship-shape print shop built to handle all of life's messy emotions. She started the business in 2009, and it's grown into a busy, bustling, fully equipped letterpress shop.

Kyle and I talk about how and why she makes what she makes, her shifting roles and challenges as the business has grown, and how her need to engage in the tactile aspects of her industry has sparked a new era for her side project- the type truck.

Wood engraving is a relief image making process that was developed in the mid 1800's to accompany the printed word.

Jim Horton fell in love with wood engraving before he even knew how it was crafted. He tells the story of his discovery, and where it has lead him. We talk about the Wood Engraver's Network and teaching the craft, about the value of the process and shifts culture, and about his newest project.

Laura Baisden is the artist and printer behind Camp Nevernice, a letterpress studio in East Nashville. She prints custom posters and illustrations using type and linocut imagery.

This is the second half of my conversation with Laura. We talk shop about equipment, troubleshooting issues, her image making and work process, and some shifts in her business. We begin the conversation talking about her Vandercook 4, her main press.

To see Laura's work, go to @campnevernice on Instagram, or www.campnevernice.com

Laura Baisden is the artist and printer behind Camp Nevernice, a letterpress studio in East Nashville. She prints custom posters and illustrations using type and linocut imagery.

In this first half of the interview, Laura talks about how she found letterpress, her 5 years at Hatch Show Print, and the inception of Camp Nevernice.

Amos Paul Kennedy Jr. prints! He prints varying size posters using handset wood and metal type and linocut carvings. He prints onto chipboard (and sometimes maps), often with layers and layers of ink in a style that's recognizably his own. He draws inspiration from proverbs, sayings, and quotes to craft work that offers social and political commentary to express his perspective.

Amos and I talk about his shop practices and habits, how his style developed, his process, and the universal movement of the school of bad printing. Throughout, he offers kind, honest, encouragement and reflection.

Amos has a way of crafting big concepts and advice into succinct, accessible clips. The last one is just one of my favorites... "Always make stuff, because you just get better at making stuff" - Amos, thank you so much for helping me make this.

If you don't already, go follow Amos on Instagram- @kennedyprints. If you want to see the documentary about him, you can find a link in the show notes, where you can also find a few examples of his signature style.

Letterpress is an art and an industry with its own stories to tell.

To start the podcast, host Sarah Brown tells you her story and intentions for this show.