Wayzgoose 2008: A CELEBRATION OF PRINTING AND BOOKS

The Books Arts Association of Newfoundland and Labrador (formerly known as the Letterpress Association) will be holding its second biennial celebration of printing October 14-19, 2008. This six-day series of workshops and talks is designed to bring attention to the art and design of books, and cultivate an appreciation for the history and process of printing.

Traditionally, a wayzgoose was the feast a master printer held for his journeymen to mark the time when they moved to working by candlelight. Contemporarily, a wayzgoose is a gathering at which printers share knowledge and display their work to each other and the community at large. Our plans include a variety of events designed to appeal to both those involved in printing and the book arts and to the general public.

The Writers' Alliance of Newfoundland and Labrador is collaborating with the Book Arts Association this year, as a co-sponsor of our invited guests, Crispin and Jan Elsted. Crispin and Jan are the proprietors of Barbarian Press—one of the country’s most acclaimed fine presses. The Elsteds began printing in England in the late 70s, where they learned from Graham Williams, a master printer. When they returned to Canada, they established their own press, which has set the standard for fine press book production in Canada ever since. Jan Elsted is a master printer, with a particular gift for printing wood engravings; she has worked with engravers from across North America and Europe and is highly regarded internationally for her abilities. Crispin is typographer, book designer, poet, essayist, musician and actor. While in St. John’s, he will be giving a public reading of his poetry, as one of WANL’s Canada Council readers for 2008; he will also be reading in Corner Brook, following the Wayzgoose festival.

Schedule of Events

Tuesday, October 14
 
* Papermaking with Natural Fibres 
Participants will learn step by step the process in pulling a sheet of paper. We will also take an artistic approach to papermaking and experiement with how natural fibres (flowers, grass, leaves, corn husk, pineapple tops, onion and garlic skins...) can be transformed into works of art. Participants will learn fibre preparation, make various pulp baths and pull sheets of unique papers. Participants are urged to bring inclusions of wall paper, pressed plants and flowers, feathers, string, lace, fabrics etc. (flat thin objects that won't be damaged by water) as well as any fibrous plants they would like to try. No previous experience is required.

Instructor Anita Singh is a painter, printer and book-artist, who frequently offers workshops in relief printing and papermaking.

Time: 10am-4pm

Location: Anna Templeton Centre

Limited to 10 students, fee $60.

* A Celebration of Johnny Burke  
Join us for an intimate evening of words and songs in celebration of St. John's printer, poet and song-maker Johnny Burke. Folklorist Philip Hiscock will offer an informal talk about Burke's life and work, followed by a performance by Ron Hynes. Renowned for such songs as "The Kelligrews Soiree" and "Old Brown's Daughter," Johnny Burke chronicled and satirized life in St. John's at the beginning of the twentieth century. A poet, playwright and songwriter, Burke printed his songs as broadsheets that were sold for pennies on the street. Several of his songs continue as standards in the Newfoundland repertoire. Philip Hiscock has written about Burke's importance for Newfoundland musical and popular culture. A Newfoundland musical icon in his own right, multi-award winning singer/songwriter Ron Hynes originated the role of Burke in the Mummers' Troupe's acclaimed production "The Bard of Prescott Street."

Doors open 7:30; start time 8:00.

The Crow's Nest Officers' Club

SOLD OUT !

Wednesday, October 15
 
* Printing Wood Engravings
I will bring books which I have printed with wood engravings to show a range of styles and to discuss variables involved, as well a successive proofs of blocks from Pericles and from Gerard Brender a Brandis's 'Robin & Hawthorn' block, and a journal of notes with illustrations of the process of printing blocks that presented various difficulties. Principles covered will include:

• ink (preparation of; consistency; sources), papers (those suitable for wood engraving; printing dry versus damp),
• blocks (boxwood; hardwoods; resingrave; Corex),
• impression versus inking, underlay, make-ready, and presses (Chandler & Price-- vertical platen; Vandercook--horizontal cylinder proofing press; Albion--flat-bed hand press: different approaches required, and the advantages and disadvantages of each).

Demonstrations on Vandercook and/or hand press will show preparation of block/blocks (underlay), proofing and make-ready, and printing of block/blocks.

NOTE: Participants should bring blocks of their own to proof if possible. I will also bring a range of blocks for us to work on.

Instructor Jan Elsted is a master printer and co-proprietor of Barbarian Press (Mission, BC). Her books have won design awards, and been shown, nationally and internationally.

10am-4pm (time to be confirmed)

Location: Running the Goat Press

Limited to 5 students; $75.

* Public reading by Crispin Elsted, co-sponsored by the Writers’ Alliance of Newfoundland and Labrador and the Canada Council for the Arts

7:30 pm
Eastern Edge Gallery, 72 Harbour Drive, St. John's
Admission is free.

Thursday, October 16
 
Join us in the Map Room on the ground floor of the QEII Library, Memorial University, for two Wayzgoose events:

* 'The Private Press and the Roots of the Book'

Poet and printer Crispin Elsted will give a lively and informative public talk on the private press movement of the 19th and 20th centuries., that will bring attention to some of the treasures in Memorial's Library. His talk will grow out of his extensive knowledge of both the historical movement and his contemporary experience. Co-proprietor, with his wife and partner Jan, of Barbarian Press, one of the country's finest private presses, Elsted has making beautiful books for over 30 years; the Elsteds' work has won awards, and been featured in exhibitions, nationally and internationally. Formerly the one of the editors of Parenthesis, the journal of the international Fine Press Book Association, Elsted is currently at work on a history of the private press movement in Canada.

Time: 3 pm

* 'The Gauntlet Press of Richard Outram and Barbara Howard':
    A Digital Exhibition

Please join us for the launch of this digital exhibition, organized though Memorial's Digital Archives Initiative. The launch will feature short talks by poet and scholar Amanda Jernigan, on the history of the Gauntlet Press, and by Humanities Librarian Martin Howley, on Special Collections at Memorial, and on the significance of the Gauntlet Press emblems; also a brief press-demonstration by printer and photographer John Haney. The event will be hosted by Map Librarian Dan Duda. An excellent opportunity not only to launch the digital exhibition, but to see the actual printed works of the Gauntlet Press, many of which will be on display in the Map Room. [photo: Monarch in Autumn from LOCUS (Gauntlet Press 1974), photo by John Haney. Copyright Literary/Artistic Estates of Richard Outram and Barbara Howard].

Time 5 pm

Both events are free and open to the public. Coffee and snacks will be served in the Library Conference Room (adjacent to the Map Room) from 4-5 pm, between the two events.

Co-sponsored by the Faculty of Arts, Memorial University, the QEII Library, and the Book Arts Association of Newfoundland and Labrador,
with the kind support of the Newfoundland and Labrador Arts Coucil.

Friday, October 17
 
* 'The useful with the beautiful': The work of Barbarian Press

Crispin and Jan Elsted, co-proprietors of Barbarian Press, will give an informal talk about their work. With a mandate to create books that are both useful and beautiful, the Elsteds have been printing remarkable books for over thirty years. They give new life to classic texts (currently a new edition Shakespeare's Pericles, with original wood engravings by Simon Brett, is in production) and publish new works by fine contemporary poets. Their ongoing series devoted to the work of international wood engravers includes books featuring the work of Peter Lazarov and Abigal Rorer, among others. Presented with the kind support of the College of the North Atlantic.

Time: 7:30 pm

Location: Eastern Edge Gallery

Admission is free; all are welcome.

Saturday, October 18
 
* The Right Type in the Right Order

Crispin Elsted's knowledge of typography and design is wide ranging. He'll offer insight into the relationship between typography and design, and their impact on legibility and literacy. Elsted's workshop will be of interest to writers, printers, graphic designers and the general public.

Time: 9:00-11:30

Location: Eastern Edge Gallery

Limited to 20 people; fee $40

* Workshop with Duncan Major on letterpress CD-sleeve design and printing, offered in conjunction with St. Michael’s Printshop.

12 pm - 4 pm

Homemade CD Cases
Choosing from several different designs, cut, score, fold, glue a cd case then make your own design to print on it. Information will be provided on making one-of-a-kind and multiple edition cd cases. Materials provided -- bring a cd and some ideas!

Limited to 12 students, fee $25.

Sunday, October 19
 
* Printers’ Fair at the Anna Templeton Centre

12 noon to 5 pm

An afternoon of demonstrations, displays, music and readings. Come print your own keepsake, look at the work of local book artists and printers, and see the work of printers from Canada, the United States, Mexico and England. Readings by Monica Kidd, Mary Dalton, Robin McGrath and Crispin Elsted, starting at 2 pm. With a musical performance by Sandy Morris and Graham Wells at 2:30.

Admission is free, but there will be books for sale!

The fair will also preview Dog's Breakfast, a collection of letterpress recipe cards by local writers, artists, musicians, book artists, and foodies, published by the Book Arts Association of Newfoundland and Labrador. The collection will be available for purchase in early December.

Click here to find out what's cooking!

Printers, print-makers and book artists displaying at the fair will include:

Anchorage Press (Sackville, NB)
Anita Singh (St. John's, NL)
Barbarian Press (Mission, BC)
Caroline Clarke (St. John's, NL)
College of the North Atlantic -- Graphic Production and Printing
(St. John's, NL)
Daubers Press (St. John's, NL)
Ed Hutchins (New York, New York)
Gaspereau Press (Kentville, NS)
Incline Press (Oldham, England)
Littoral Press (West Oakland, California)
Joyce Majiski (Whitehorse, Yukon)
Pick Me Up Press (St. John's, NL)
Porcupine's Quill (Erin, ON)
Riddle Fence (St. John's, NL)
Running the Goat, Books & Broadsides (St. John's, NL)
St. Michael's Print Shop (St. John's, NL)
Stone Cold Press (Goose Bay, NL)
Taller Lenateros (San Cristobal de las Casas, Chiapas, Mexico)
walking bird press (Flatrock, NL)
Walpurgis Press (St. John's, NL)

Ongoing

* THE BARD OF PRESCOTT STREET:
a display of works written and/or printed by Johnny Burke, and materials from the Mummers' Troupe's play "The Bard of Prescott Street" which celebrated Burke's life and art; works are taken from the Centre for Newfoundland Studies, the MUN Archives, and a private collection.

Monday, October 6 - Monday, October 20, 2008,
in the Centre for Newfoundland Studies on the 2nd floor of the QEII Library, Memorial University, St. John's

For more information, contact Debby Andrews in the CNS (737-4858).

A poet, playwright and songwriter, Burke printed his songs as broadsheets that were sold for pennies on the street, and produced songbooks that brought together his songs and other standards. The display includes an original broadside and several original songbooks, as well as the program Burke printed for the 1921 Regatta. Materials from the Mummers' Troupe archives include photographs from the original production and broadsides used to promote the play, as well as director Chris Brooke's annotated script.

* SELECTED WORKS OF THE GAUNTLET PRESS:
a display of letterpress-printed items from the Special Collections of
the QEII Library;
Monday, October 6 - Monday, October 20, 2008,
in the Map Room on the ground floor of the QEII Library,
Memorial University, St. John's.
For more information, contact Dan Duda, Map Librarian (737-3198)
or Martin Howley, Humanities Librarian (737-8514).

The Gauntlet Press was, for more than forty years, the principle
publishing outlet for the remarkable poetic and artistic partnership
between Canadian poet Richard Outram and artist Barbara Howard: "From
almost the first days of our coming together, in London, we glimpsed
the possibility of our managing to achieve, as best we might in our
entwined vocations, some true marriage of word and image. One that
might come in time, however inadequately, to reflect our astounded
delight in our own discovered mutuality of body, mind and Spirit. This
insight led us in time to found The Gauntlet Press, with all that went
out into the world thereafter under its imprint...." — Richard Outram

These displays are presented by the QEII Library in collaboration with
the Faculty of Arts, Memorial University, and the Book Arts
Association of Newfoundland and Labrador. Thanks, as well, to Jean Hewson and Chris Brookes.

Wayzgoose 2008 is presented with the kind support of the Newfoundland and Labrador Arts Council, the Canada Council for the Arts, the Faculty of Arts/Memorial University, and the College of the North Atlantic.
.

For more information about the Wayzgoose or the Book Arts Association, please contact Marnie Parsons, Running the Goat Books & Broadsides; for more information about Crispin Elsted’s WANL readings in St. John’s and Corner Brook, please contact Kelly-Anne Meadus, WANL Executive Assistant (739-5215).

Information about our about our previous Wayzgoose: 2006

______________________________________________________
Barbarian Press image taken from a wood engraving by Simon Brett.