The Common Press

if only posters were made like this more often

2010-04-08T11:23:00.001-07:00

SOUTHERN GRAPHICS COUNCIL CONFERENCE 2010

2010-03-29T05:23:00.001-07:00

Last week was a gathering of print people in philly's favorite print places in honor of SGC2010.
Together Greg Pizzoli, from UArts, and Matt Neff, master of The Common Press, put on the Democratic Down N’ Dirty DIY Screen printing BYO-Tshirt event.

On Saturday afternoon, to close the conference, we turned our presses onto print mode and burned a few screens for an Open House! With both Vandercooks running, and four screen-printing stations we made posters (pic below) for you to take home!

HERE ARE SOME OF THE HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE CONFERENCE:

1. THE POMP, at thepompus.com.

Originally trained as a fine artist and tall-walker in West Philadelphia, Avery Lawrence, the proprietor, has relocated his experimental-production workshop to a used bookstore in Charlottesville, VA.

The Pomp offers an array of design services, in particular screen-printed rolls of paper towels and high quality t-shirts -- the shirts last longer.

2. OPEN STUDIO

A printmaking residency in Toronto, Ontario. The space looks beautiful..... lots of windows and light and kind faces.

3. Proyecto ACE

Printmaking residency in Argentina! Check it out!

2010-03-03T07:52:00.001-08:00

WOOD TYPE WOOD BLOCKS WOOD LINKS

In light of our recent acquisitions, see images below of both the extremely large quantity of large wood type and wood block patterning (made from old furniture from India) and the engravings of silver pots, cups, teapots, and other such silver things, see this link and you will want to pee yourself.

Heres some information and here's some more if I spark your interest: link. First you should know that the majority of wood type was made by the J. E. Hamilton Type Company. Wood Type became popular in America during the Civil War, when the lead was needed for gunning people down, then Hamilton came into the picture and revamped things a bit. He originally worked in a chair factory. Then he thought: why am I making all these chairs, people are going to get bored of sitting, gotta give 'em something to do while sitting, let's bring reading to the table!!!. Then you know what he did, he switched things up a bit, changed the way woodtype was made. Instead of using Maple, he made the letters of the more cost efficient Hollywood, like a true celebrity, which he then glued to Pine to make them type high.

ALSO:

On First Friday, March 5, from 6 to 8 p.m., the Wharton Esherick Museum will be having an opening: "Wharton Esherick -- Rustic Modernist." This is an exhibition of Esherick woodcut prints, printed by the Common Press. The opening is located with a car at the Phoenix Village Art Center, 207-209 Bridge Street in Phoenixville, PA.

2009-06-10T11:31:00.000-07:00

LETTERS FOR YOU

click here for a beautiful Grotesque Alphabet brought to you by BibliOdyssey

New Asshole Magazine

2009-05-28T04:34:00.000-07:00

New Asshole is an academic journal that strives for a critical dialogue surrounding the production of DIY art. It publishes writing concerned with the contextualization, theorization, and documentation of contemporary basement aesthetics. Each issue contains essays concerned with the nature of production, the placement of DIY art in the trajectory of history, the relationship with the institutional art space, and the manner in which art is received by the public. In addition to publications, New Asshole creates events such as lectures and panel discussions to further encourage public discourse.
(text taken from New Asshole website)

you can now purchase a subscription online at newasshole.com/subscribe.html

SPRING CLEANING~

2009-05-27T19:30:00.000-07:00

SPRING CLEANING-SPRING CLEANING-SPRING CLEANING-SPRING CLEANING-SPRING CLEANING-SPRING CLEANING-SPRING CLEANING-SPRING CLEANING-SPRING CLEANING-SPRING CLEANING-SPRING CLEANING-SPRING CLEANING-SPRING CLEANING
the wheatpaste wall has been reset

Want information?

2009-05-20T09:35:00.000-07:00

check out our new website!

Westchester New York: not your ordinary burbs!

2009-05-19T08:17:00.001-07:00

Westchester County has never been merely the country escape of ritzy Manhattanites. About an hour north of the fabulous city, the area is a haven for the arts ... where artists can find the space that NYC just can't offer.
The Lift Trucks Project (LTP) is a new space located in Croton Falls, NY, converted from a 1920's fork lift repair shop into studios and an exhibition space. Its roster includes the likes of Alex Katz and Robert Indiana.

Anyway if you find yourself in New York between June 7th and July 12th, check out their new exhibit: FROM A FACTORY FLOOR: Screen Print Collaborations. Screen print collaborations with prints by master screen printer Gary Lichtenstein.

Gary Panter

images from http://www.ltproject.com/LTP_upcoming.html

2 tidbits; can't get enuff letterpress!

2009-05-19T04:38:00.000-07:00

Check it out: how to set type and look good in flannel:

Thanks comberg!

And some more entertainment

thanks cva!

Remember always stand sturdy with feet slightly apart, and your elbows should always move freely!

Culpa Culpa

2009-05-13T13:14:00.000-07:00

YO YO YO... the COMMON PRESS is now apart of the College & University Letterpress Printers' Association (CULPA) !!

Established in 2006, CULPA is an international group. It's goal is to bring together educators and students in the letterpress community. OMG that's the same goals as us. phew!

Check em out: CULPA

and they've got some news, stay updated!

First Arabic Printing Press

2009-05-13T12:49:00.000-07:00

Back in the day, 1734, Mr. Al-Shamas Abdullah Zakher founded the first Arabic printing press. Located in Lebanon this little press ran happily until 1899. It was the fist Arabic script printing press in Lebanon. To learn more about this little guy and see some awesome pictures click here.

Oh how summer is near;

2009-04-30T14:57:00.000-07:00

In that limbo between finals and the end of classes, impulsive acts of exploration, due to the lack of scheduling, and kittens become common. It's not like we are on vacation, there is still a lot of work to do, but summer is setting in, and those who ventured down to the basement of morgan yesterday found themselves witness to the unveiling of truth and machinery, the railroads didn't build themselves you know?

So we tried it out, our newest family member: the offset baby, a multilith 1250. Like heros and vultures, the machine was set into motion. oh how monumental? how magnificent? paper trays and paper trails! 11 rollers parched for life, given breath! Macedonian fervor and daily sweater vests! This is Common Press.
Now truth be told, though we are incredibly grateful to southern men named Bud, and we couldn't have been any wiser, we didn't get quite get anything printed
BUT THIS IS HOW IT WILL RUN:

Please join us on Sunday!

2009-04-26T18:47:00.001-07:00

Hey guys,

Sorry it's been long. Just wanted to let you know that the Screenprinting and Relief Class are having a show this coming Sunday, May 3rd @4 pm. Please come! Schmooze a little!

ICA: follow up....

2009-03-11T09:22:00.000-07:00

ICA: first wednesday

2009-03-04T10:15:00.000-08:00

Once again the ICA has kindly invited the Common Press to help host the ICA PENN First Wednesday March 4th, 2009 (TODAY)!

7:30pm / Meet the artist: Joshua Mosley
8:30pm / Customize your very own RADical art totes with 4 unique silkscreen designs by local artists (and even a design by Common Press members Sofie and Manya).

As always, free coffee and dessert plus enter a raffle to win a free iPod.

Lip Smackers!

2009-03-03T18:51:00.000-08:00

KA-POW

2009-03-03T18:41:00.000-08:00

Finally a worthy addition (and subtraction) from our wheat paste wall:

My Valentine

2009-02-14T18:47:00.000-08:00

Chloe Hurley

HOLY TYPE!!!!!!!!

2008-12-19T10:03:00.000-08:00

The Big Apple bears gifts on the "sixth borough," check it:

COMMON PRESS HOLIDAY PARTY

2008-12-19T09:49:00.000-08:00

tagline: basement

Despite the lack of a tree, we rallied in the seasonal spirit Monday night with letter pressed holiday cards and screenprinted all night long!!!

THE SOUNDS:
Drums Like Machine Guns
Mincemeat or Tenspeed
Color is Luxury (Tylerfromsnowstorm + Charles Cohen)
Little Ocean

THE RESULTS:
(All photos taken from art in the age....the best blog on the internet!!)

YOU ARE INVITED:

2008-12-10T13:42:00.000-08:00

DECEMBER 15th 8PM

XXXLRG_RAINBOW!

2008-11-12T16:03:00.000-08:00

ICA: PENN FIRST WEDNESDAY

2008-11-06T11:18:00.000-08:00

NOVEMBER 5, 2008

The evening began with an informal meet the artists (Paul Swenbeck, Triston Lowe, Andrew Jeffrey Wright) on a tour through the galleries of R. Crumb's Underground.

Following, Professor Matt Neff spoke about Swipe File, a new book by Charles Burns printed by Neff himself.

Finally, after grabbing cupcakes and coffee, members of the Common Press screenprinted on free Radical Art tote bags...

Andrew Jeffrey Wright, on tote bag, on beautiful lady.

Joyce wears a Paul Swenbeck Radical Art original

Manya and Sofie's Bullrider!!!! Ride that RadICAl Art!

Andrew Jeffrey Wright: SNOOOOOPPPy dog

coffee and cupcakes

printing printing printing printing

printing printing printing

Kaegan drinking coffee, black.

Charles Burns

2008-10-27T12:35:00.000-07:00

Matt Neff entertaining Charles Burns at Penn

The Pod View

Philadelphia Open Studio Tours

2008-10-05T19:03:00.000-07:00

The Common Press participated in its first Philadelphia Open Studio Tours (POST) on October 4th, 2008!

For those who didn't make it out on Saturday, Mali was selling her limited edition PUCKFUCKER T-shirts.
Time is running out!!! Get your PUCKFUCKER T-shirt today, and wear it on election day (not to the polls though, cuz thats illegal....?). Just shoot us an email (thecommonpress@gmail.com) for more information.

Joanna Drucker Workshop

2008-10-04T11:32:00.000-07:00

Some highlights from last spring....

Binding, Bound, Restricted: Carolee Campbell Workshop

2007-10-04T09:24:00.000-07:00

Photos taken by Robin

"7-up on Ben:" The Common Press Innaguration

2006-01-17T09:41:00.000-08:00

Voices of celebration: Ben Franklin and Matt Neff.