Damn, I'm so grateful.
It would seem that when a person just keeps on grindin’ it out day after day, putting in the work, people start to notice. It’s cool because the folks over at the Literary Arts Institute at the College of Saint Benedict have let me in a bit. Sometimes I feel like the cheese that stands alone in these parts, not like a winey cry baby cheese that stands alone but like a sharp cheddar that sort does not belong. It is nice to belong, and sometimes, now and again, I get that sense.
I have been given the opportunity to print broadsides every once in a while for visiting writers and poets that are brought to CSB/SJU. It is a thrill to get to design and print for someone using only their words. It gives me creative freedom but also gives me a glimpse into fascinating people. This broadside project was in collaboration with Chris Abani, who has been through some serious shit and come out smelling like roses. I did a little recon about the guy before I began the project, ya know, the usual… google, wikipedia, the Facebook. I listened to his Ted Talks and was super stoked that I would get to meet him.
“Chris Abani's first novel, published when he was 16, was Masters of the Board, a political thriller about a foiled Nigerian coup. The story was convincing enough that the Nigerian government threw him in jail for inciting a coincidentally timed real-life coup. Imprisoned and tortured twice more, he channeled the experience into searing poetry.” (from the Ted.com page)
More about Chris on his website: https://www.chrisabani.com/
10” X !3” four color reduction linoleum block print with hand set lead type.
With creative control, which is my favorite way to begin, I thought about Chris’s words about beauty and wanted to mirror that back. I found many wonderful african inspired patterns and colors and decided to do what I do best, a reduction block print. With the help of my awesome interns, we hand set all of the type and printed the text. I then went back to the 100 prints with my reduction process and with each passing color I fell deeper in love with the print.
Honestly, completing a project like this brings me such a sense of accomplishment but the real honest to goodness best part is the casual dinner party we plan when the visiting writer/poet get to town. I host at the print shop so that folks can see where the magic happens. I made my signature kickass chili while Matt, Rachel and Rachel brought dessert and wine. The only way I know how to begin to get to know someone is to cut to the chase: “Tell us some stories” I said to him and he did. He was warm and funny, super easy to talk to, he did not shy away from any of our questions. He even swore, not like a crazy person, but with the proper amounts of swears, which tends to endear me to people.
Chris loved the print and I got to explain the process to him, I could tell he was impressed. We continued to talk, laugh and share stories until it got really late. I went off on several tangents, including the recent story of me getting tased at my “cop school” and as we left we were all hugs and love.
I’m tellin’ ya, at the end of the night this cheese was not alone and felt like the world has plans and paths that reach all the way to little ol’ St. Joseph, Minnesota.
