Introduction to Printing on the Washington Hand Press (Fall 2021)
Event Info
This in-person workshop takes place in-person at CBA across two sessions Sundays, October 24 & November 7 from 1–4pm
- Sun, Oct, 24 1–4pm
- Sun, Nov 7, 1–4pm
About the Workshop:
This in-person workshop with CBA’s Founder & Instructor Richard Minsky is open to all experience levels—from those curious about the book arts, to library students who want to experience part of printing history, to artists who want to engage with CBA’s large iron handpress from the 1870’s, to anyone else willing to learn!
Over the course of two hours, workshop participants will work with Minsky to produce a broadside on the handpress using a printing method that has remained unchanged for 500 years. Every participant gets a copy of the broadside to take home.
Once participants have completed the workshop, they would be able to use this press in the future for their own projects such as unique prints or editions. The press can accommodate type, photoengravings, linoleum or woodblocks as long as everything is type high, and/or photopolymer plates. The press platen is 22″ x 30″ and the tympan will handle a sheet of paper of up to about 26″ x 34.”
Class size is limited to ensure an optimal student-to-teacher ratio. Register now before the remaining spots fill up!
Required Materials:
All staff, artists, students, and guests are required to show proof of vaccination upon entering CBA and must wear a mask covering the nose and mouth at all times. Please email info@centerforbookarts.org if you have any questions.
- Please wear closed-toed shoes and clothes that can get stained or dirty
All other materials and tools will be provided by CBA at no additional cost to the students.
About the Instructor
Richard Minsky is an American scholar of bookbinding and a book artist. He is the founder of the Center for Book Arts in New York City.
Minsky was born in New York City in 1947. In 1960, he obtained his first printing press at the age of 13. In 1968, he graduated cum laude in economics from Brooklyn College. Minsky was awarded a fellowship at Brown University, where he received his master’s degree in economics. He pursued a Ph.D. at The New School for Social Research, but left after two years to pursue bookbinding, art and music. He studied bookbinding while at Brown with the University’s master binder Daniel Gibson Knowlton.
He founded the Center for Book Arts in 1974 after fourteen years experience as both a bookbinder and printer. Minsky served as the Center’s Executive Director until 1977 and its President until 1978. He also served as the Director of Program Development and an instructor in hand bookbinding at the Center. Richard serves on the Book Art Theory subcommittee of the College Book Art Association. The Richard Minsky Archive is at Yale.
All images courtesy of the instructor.
Class size is limited to ensure an optimal student-to-teacher ratio. Register now before the remaining spots fill up!