When used by collectors, the term ephemera describes materials, often paper, that have little value beyond their intended use, but with age have gathered a fine patina, even desireability. In the hands of printers and book artists, ephemera offers that sweet spot between mass-produced greeting cards and complex limited edition books where form and content work together to elevate both. Inspired by vintage ephemera, we’ll master several simple structures with potential (matchbook, Victorian puzzle purse, alphabet block, twist fold) plus look at examples of other structures designed specifically in response to content. Students will pair these structures with content, then devise a plan to create a small edition. We’ll spend class time especially focusing on strategies for editioning efficiencies including printing multiple copies (inkjet or letterpress) plus binding jigs and streamlining production. This class is ideal for artists ready to explore the creation of small editions, and for those who may have some nugget of an idea that needs to take form. 

Materials to Bring: Bone folder, ruler, X-acto or similar, glue brush.

Workshop + Materials Fee: $500.00

Date & Time: Friday-Sunday, June 3-5, 2016 :: 9:30am-5:30pm

Location: 375 Rhode Island St, San Francisco, CA 94103

Note: Please read over the SFCB Registration Policies before signing up for a class

REGISTRATION WILL CLOSE 3 DAYS PRIOR TO THE START DATE OF THIS WORKSHOP.

About the Instructor | Jessica Spring

Proprietor Jessica Spring started setting cold type on a Compugraphic Editwriter 7300 phototypesetting machine (a huge console with a big green screen) in 1982 as an undergraduate English major, beginning a lifelong interest in typography. She learned to set real metal type in 1989 and has been a letterpress printer ever since. Her work at Springtide Press—artist books, broadsides and ephemera—is included in collections around the country and abroad. Collaborations are an important part of her work, either printing for other artists or teaching students traditional letterpress printing, typography and book arts. She has an MFA from Columbia College Chicago Centre for Book & Paper.