Hidden in the old wing of Occidental’s Mary Norton Clapp Library lies Occidental’s Letterpress, The Lowercase Printshop, a studio decorated floor to ceiling with creative and colorful prints. The Lowercase is home to two 150-year-old Vandercook printing presses, affectionately named “Larry” and “Fay,” after Lawrence Clark Powell ’28 and Fay Shoemaker Powell ’32, who left an endowment to promote the book arts at the college. Buttressed by the Letterpress and Book Arts Club, The Lowercase hosts a yearly “No-Sap Valentines” event where students print their very own valentines by hand. This year, the event took place Feb. 12.
Shop technician Lou Alpert (senior) said the No-Sap Valentine event was inspired by a postcard set that Coordinator of Book Arts Program Jocelyn Pedersen created in the past called “Prints Charming.” In the digital age, Alpert said it feels different to receive something handmade.
“It’s nice to know that […] you’ve come in and you’ve made something analog that took you time to do,” Alpert said. “If you don’t have a honey, maybe you’re a secret admirer […] now’s the time to shoot your shot.”
Alpert said Pedersen teaches Introduction to Letterpress Printing, a two-credit printing class in the core department. Alpert said Pedersen’s skill in the book arts is impressive, and that she has a wonderful and creative personality.
“I think [Pedersen] might be a fairy or a mermaid, perhaps,” Alpert said. “Letterpress professor by day, mermaid or fairy by night.”
After the event, Pedersen said the No-Sap Valentines went smoothly and had a good turnout, thanks to organization and support from the recently founded Letterpress and Book Arts Club.
“The word got out more than usual, and now that we have a letterpress and book arts student club, I think the word’s getting out even more,” Pedersen said. “I’d call it a great success.”
Pedersen said the haptic experience that printing allows is particularly important for students now, who spend so much time online.
“[Students] resonate with coming here and handling 150-year-old wooden type, old engravings, and learning to set type by hand,” Pedersen said. “We’re doing it no differently than they were doing [it] 450 years ago when the Gutenberg Bible was printed.”
Pedersen said students feel a sense of belonging at the Letterpress, something she has striven to foster. Pedersen said that these values are exemplified by the pledge of the Lowercase: a paper housed among shuffled papers beneath a desk in the studio.
“The Lowercase Print Shop, a place to engage our students’ heads, hands and hearts, to amplify their voices and deepen their sense of belonging,” Pedersen said. “Where words matter, creativity flourishes, and community is built.”
Pedersen said The Lowercase is a place where things come together, where ink and text meet on the page; material and place join through the inks that students learn to make with acorns from the quad and insects from cacti on Mount Fiji.
“[It’s] a magic alchemy,” Pedersen said.
Letterpress Club co-leader Amare Askerneese (senior) said the club, a new organization, runs most of the events and organizational logistics for The Lowercase.
“[We started the] club so that we can get more people into the space,” Askerneese said.
Askerneese said the creativity offered by his Media Arts and Culture (MAC) major is juxtaposed by the creativity found in The Lowercase.
“It’s the difference between spending a lot of time in front of a computer editing […] and smelling […] and feeling the ink on my hands,” Askerneese said.
Askerneese said the Letterpress Club fosters a space that he is passionate about and is excited to share with others. Askerneese said the best part of a niche interest like printing is being able to introduce it to others who might like it as much as he does.
“[Being a club leader] is being able to unapologetically share what you’re interested about,” said Askerneese.
Askerneese said art can be a counter to fascism, and he’s grateful to have letterpress as a way to express himself.
“Having Letterpress now is so much more important than it has ever been,” Askerneese said.
Pedersen said belonging and self-expression exemplify the importance of letterpress, and making The Lowercase accessible to students is a priority for her. Pedersen said through ink-making workshops, the semesterly course and events like the No-Sap Valentines, The Lowercase Printshop is welcoming as many students as they can.
“I’m always trying to figure out ways to allow more students to experience this, like today’s event,” Pedersen said.
Contact Amelia Darling at adarling@oxy.edu
