A LETTER FROM THE PRESS
November 17th, 2020
Hello Dear Friends and Collaborators,
As we find ourselves living through a tremendous fire season, a pandemic, racial injustices and a momentous election, we understand that the uncertainty in the air has everyone questioning what is relevant, what is necessary, and what is valuable. What will we create for the future? How do we show up for each other, and how do we maintain our own healthy state of being? Many things have fallen by the wayside in these trying times, and we apologize that our communication with you, our community, has been one of those things.
For us at the print shop, as artists and writers, we are often working through these questions within our craft, at a micro level. In letterpress a galley is a metal tray with three closed sides, which is used to store our type forms and to facilitate getting them on and off of the press bed. Occasionally a galley will have a form in various states of completion, resting for weeks while we ruminate on changes we need to make, but eventually things are just right, and then... we print!
Our galleys are like our subconscious; full of messy thoughts and promising ideas, waiting to be organized into something new, something valuable and something we can share with others. Who knows what will happen? But we are in this together, and that makes us hopeful!
As an establishment considered 'non-essential' in California, we closed our doors in March, and it wasn't until June that we reopened on a limited basis. We have taken every precaution according to the public health safety guidelines, which means that only three of us at time can work in the shop, we sanitize the equipment and surfaces, wear masks, and do temperature checks at the door. While this has allowed the resumption of printing and work in the shop, we miss the camaraderie and general merry-making associated with our group. We also miss our interactions with the public, as all events and workshops have been set aside at this time. However, we are looking to other ways we can reconnect with you - our community - and share what we are working on, until we are able to gather in person once again.
In addition to the shutdown, our printing community suffered another shock in March. Almost on the same day as the COVID shutdown, our dear friend and fellow printer Rod Buchignani died of cancer. Rod was a real gem of a person. His interests were wide-ranging, his conversation lively and warm, and he enjoyed printing so much it was a joy to share the shop with him. He was working hard on a book of family recipes at the time his health faltered ...it was never finished, but it is close enough that someday we may be able to help his family complete it. The COVID crisis meant that we had no way to gather in grief, nor could his family hold a public memorial. Consequently it feels as if his memory has faded too swiftly. Below are some photos of Rod and his printing. Rod, you are missed.
Warm Wishes from,
North Bay Letterpress Arts