Letterpress Weekly with Dede Cummings

May 15 th-June 19 th, 2008
Thursdays, 5:30-7:30pm
6 sessions for only $ 150!

This informative, hands on workshop will introduce and explain the art of letterpress. Through discussions and histories of typography, design and techniques, participants will gain a well-rounded knowledge and established practice in the use of the letterpress. Whether creating a broadside, small edition prints, a book, even unique invitations or announcements, Dede will assist in all aspects of design and implementation using Great River Arts’ flat bed Vandercook letterpress. This proves to be an exciting and informative opportunity complete with guest lectures, slide presentations and group critiques.

For more information, group rates, and to register, contact alexis@greatriverarts.org
802-463-3330

faculty

Dede Cummings, a Brattleboro-based book designer, began her printing career at Copper Canyon Press in Port Townsend, Washington, as an apprentice under Sam Hammill and Tree Swenson, moving next to The Seal Press in Seattle as a printer. She then got an internship at the Boston publisher, David R. Godine, and printed small jobs at Godine’s letterpress in Milton, Massachusetts. Following her work at Godine, she relocated to Western Massachusetts and printed for Michael McCurdy’s Penmaen Press. The book she printed, Mundo a Solas (World Alone) was the first English edition by the late Spanish Nobel Prize-winning poet [1977], this bilingual edition is illustrated with original wood engravings by Michael McCurdy. Cummings printed a two-color edition of 1,000 copies and the book won the New England Book Award’s Best of Show prize for design, typography, and printing. Cummings prints private, limited edition poetry broadsides at the Great River Arts Institute’s letterpress in Bellows Falls where she also teaches Book Arts. Cummings and Brattleboro-based artist, Myles Danaher, along with Great River Arts, are offering the Hayden Carruth poem “The Cows at Night” ,12 of 20 prints, signed and available for $100 by Carruth on May 4 th at 3:00 after the poet’s reading at Whittmore Theater at Marlboro College.