I walked into the Lowercase Print Shop for the first time, struck by the atmosphere. Art pieces lined each wall, and every corner overflowed with paper, tools and stacks of cases filled with type-blocks and engravings. It gave me the same feeling as walking into an antique shop: there were so many interesting things to look at that my eyes constantly moved, but I was afraid to touch anything. I didn’t have many expectations going into that first class, but I certainly didn’t anticipate leaving as alive and inspired as I did.
I admit that the only reason I registered for the Letterpress Printing class was because I needed art credits. Fitting in classes for both of my majors and tackling core requirements seemed like a Herculean task last year, so I resigned myself to taking whatever art class would fit into my schedule. Letterpress printing came at the recommendation of my advisor. She — and other people I talked to — only had good things to say, so I didn’t bother doing any further research.
I came in as a blank page, and the more I learned, the more I was eager to do. I had vaguely heard the term “Gutenberg Bible” thrown around before, but besides that I was completely unfamiliar with the topic.
Letterpress printing is artwork dating back to the invention of the first printing press by Johannes Gutenberg in Germany. Metal and wood type-blocks are covered in ink and pressed to create words and designs on paper.
My professor, Jocelyn Webb Pedersen, took time to explain the history of letterpress printing at Oxy. According to her, Occidental has several alumni who are notable in the printing world including Lawrence Clark Powell (Class of 1928) and Fay Shoemaker Powell (Class of 1932). It is their endowment that funds the entirety of the book arts program at Oxy. A photograph of them hangs on a wall in the studio, and two presses are named after them: Fay and Larry.
But it isn’t just the history that has made me fall in love. The class gave me the opportunity to work with my hands.
On the first day, we printed a quote by John Cage, a composer and music theorist: “Begin Anywhere.” Our assignment was to “activate” our prints, and come back with something different. I cut out images from my magazine from the Hollywood Bowl, and pasted them into a collage piece. All I had in my dorm room was nail glue from an old press-on kit, so that was what I used to paste my images onto the paper.
Nothing compared to the satisfaction I felt when I watched my vision come to life. Something about making my own art unlocked a thread of power and creativity within me: if I try I can create new and interesting artwork, and express myself in a way that I am not used to.
I realized that I hadn’t taken an art class since middle school. In my rush to figure out my life, I completely neglected an entire sphere that was so integral to shaping my childhood. This revelation was shocking, but it also made me appreciate the class so much more.
Engaging with the class is my gateway into engaging with art more. Though I have always loved to admire the work of others, this class has opened it up to me in a way that feels far more personal. I too have joined the small (but mighty) ranks of Oxy students who gush about Professor Pedersen and how much they love the class.
Although Oxy has a couple of other printing focused art classes, ARTS 227 is the only one dedicated to letterpress printing specifically and is the only one that works out of the Lowercase Print Shop. It’s difficult to get a spot in the class, so the demand is clearly there, which is why it makes no sense to me that such a unique and interesting program is so limited.
In the past, there have been more advanced classes dedicated to collaborative book-making and paper-making. The studio has copies of the final projects made by the students of these classes, and flipping through the culmination of their creative work was an experience like no other. I saw examples of what even more time spent in the studio could look like and learned about the creative processes behind their final projects. If those classes were offered again, I know that I would take them in a heartbeat.
The program has potential outside of classes too. Last spring, Pedersen collaborated with OXY Arts to lead a class on printing with natural dyes and inks. In October, she’s going to have a table at the annual Los Angeles Printers Fair. In Special Collections, there are works from her, students, other printers and even projects from students at other colleges. Letterpress printing is interdisciplinary and diverse, and there is so much potential for it, both within the college and out in the LA community.
Though I can’t guarantee that every student will experience the same artistic awakening I did, I think the college would benefit greatly from expanding the program. There is so much untapped potential that can be utilized to immerse more students in history and art that they’ve probably never considered before.
Contact Wura Ogunnaike at ogunnaike@oxy.edu
