Introducing Mohawk Press

The WNYBAC Print studio (newly named "Mohawk Press") is now available for custom letterpress design/printing work.

WNYBAC has printed wood type for the Grammy award winning Woody Guthrie Live Wire CD package, and innovative designers looking to break out of digital confines as well as limited edition letterpress work for Just Buffalo's Big Night event series posters, Elmwood Festival of the Arts, Neglia Ballet and individuals looking for truly unique calling cards. WNYBAC's work is the subject of an exhibit at the Hamilton Woodtype Museum in Two Rivers Wisconsin (Feb 1- Mar 15)

If you have a special exhibit, concert, or other event that needs a one-of-a-kind visual commemoration/promotion in the form of a limited edition poster or broadside, this is the place to go. In the tradition of Nashville’s Hatch Show Print, Mohawk Press uses regional historical printing materials to produce timeless and contemporary limited edition prints.

Unlike traditional designer/client/printer relationships, you leave the most of the design decisions to our designer-printers after your initial consultation of what you would like. We do strive to create unique, tactile and memorable work from a finite selection of options. We have hundreds of metal and dozens of wood type fonts plus thousands of image cuts. Rates are quoted on a per job basis.

If you would like to print your own work, the criteria is relatively simple: A. become a member of WNYBAC, and B. Take an intro to letterpress workshop (plus log in a number of hours shadowing/assisting an in-house printer to establish a crash course apprenticeship). If you already possess sufficient knowledge and skills to work in a letterpress shop, then all you have to do is become a member and sign up for time. A nominal charge for press time is required but setup and prep time carries no fees.

Mohawk Press continues the mission of WNYBAC by promoting the arts of hand printing and the aesthetic of historical materials put into contemporary use. All proceeds go to support the mission and education programs of the WNY Book Arts Center.

For more information on custom letterpress work from Mohawk Press email

Hero Exhibit at WNYBAC Jan 13-Feb 20 2010

Pulled to the Limit.
Hero Design Studio Retrospective Exhibition at WNY Book Arts Center
Wednesday Jan 13- Sat Feb 20, 2010
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In a relatively short time, Hero Design Studio has become a fixture in the Buffalo music and design scene. Hero is husband and wife team, Beth Manos and Mark Brickey. The screen printing, illustration and design duo have created hundreds of hand printed posters and art prints since starting as Hero in 2003 and expanded their presence via their Allentown studio/shop.

Pulled to the Limit at the Western New York Book Arts Center's gallery will feature the most comprehensive exhibit of Hero's silkscreened works to date. Along with limited edition prints and posters, the exhibit will feature one-of-a-kind prints, experimental work and works-in-progress that will help explain the creative and production process.

An artists' reception with live printing will be held mid-Exhibit on Friday, January 29, 2010

An additional Demo day, free and open to the public will be presented February 17th 6-8pm

For more details

The Way They See It

I took each of my three eight-year-old daughters out for a "camera adventure," looking for letters. Here's what we ended up with.

Winchell Factor +1

Artist, Poet, Canal Boat Pilot and WNYBAC member Chris Fritton has embarked upon a major woodtype project using the digital version of the Winchell font (a font digitized exclusively for WNYBAC members), shellac, maple wood and "lasers". This ambition project is documented in great detail on his blog

Last minute gift buying panic marketplace

Starts today!

At the main gallery, 1st floor of the Western New York Book Arts Center 468 Washington St at Mohawk in Downtown Buffalo
Friday Dec 11, 4-8pm
and
Saturday Dec 12 12-6pm
Free admission and open to the public
Artists, craftspeople, printers, & other handmade/self published/locally produced items. Perfect gifts for giving or hoarding.

This year's Vendors include:

• Elizabeth Leader
Paintings & Drawings
• Crowbiz
"...funk for the old soul..."
• Hero Design Studio
Screen Printed Posters & Cards
• Donald Trainor/ Shiny Object Media
• Where to Roam
Buffalo, NY themed wearables
• Amy Greenan
paintings, drawings, prints, collage, handmade books
• Rene Hoover
Letterpress cards, & coasters +handmade ornaments
• Jan Nagle
Upcycled and Vintage Jewelry
• SunnyOutside Press
Independent Small Press
• Queen City Gallery
Buffalo Books & original Photo Prints
• Buffalo Heritage
Books about Buffalo
• Amanda Maciuba
Intaglio & releif Prints
• The Hall Family Woodworkers
• Theresa Barnack
handmade jewelry & cards
• Dennis Piatkowski
Origami Man
• Kate Parzych
• UB Deprtment of Print Media
Prints, printed ephemera
• WNY Book Arts Center Shop and More!

Old Brother Hubbard

Elbert Hubbard and the Roycroft were highly influential and important in the American Arts & Crafts Movement and a fixture in WNY printing history. The Roycroft Press is what started the ball rolling for all other areas of activities at the Roycroft Campus in East Aurora. A new PBS documentary has recently premiered and can be seen online. No survey of WNY Book At History can be complete without a major chapter dedicated to the Roycroft.

Buffalo Type

Check out "Buffalo Type" on Flickr. With over 50 members, the image pool is a great place to discover and share the many typographic treasures found in and around Buffalo. Signs, posters, architectural details, tattoos and metal type photographed while locked in the Book Arts Building - there's a little bit of everything found in the 700+ image collection. Take a look. Think about adding a find of your own.