John Horn, a Master Printer, ran his own print shop for over 50 years. I wanted to know how he handled type and the presses, and how his creative process worked. His poster, “Souls Dwell in Printer’s Type,” speaks to this relationship.

Treating the workshop like a residency, I began a new project which I plan to continue.  Like most of my work, discovering the concept was not a linear process.  It involved writing everyday, looking through my journals and through my photographs I had taken. I tried to connect the writing to past projects but, in the end I began a piece about my Mother.

After finding a direction, I began setting and proofing type, drawing and transferring images to linoleum. I must have looked totally lost when I began setting up the bed of the press because John came over and got me started. Thank goodness he did because I would still be there staring at a blank press bed.

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I have thought of making additional versions of The Proposal. However, it’s too easy for me to get lost in the process of doing makeovers, so I will wait until work with the publisher begins.

Meanwhile in trying to paint a picture of what I envision for the Transforming Hate Project, I have expanded the project to include working collaboratively with “at risk” teenagers.

I did a bookmaking workshop with English teacher, Alice Owens and artist and poet, Kim Purser. When we were introduced to the students, they made it clear that they had no interest in making books.

However, at the end of 10 weeks, they proudly presented and discussed their books and their working process with visitors. The transformation that took place in their perception of themselves and in the way that others saw them made me realize how important it is to include working with young people, especially those who are having difficulty finding a direction.

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