Open Studio: Letterpress, Screen printing, Bookbinding, Papermaking, Paper Beater

$50 ($45 members) for the full six hour session
Experience and training required

Letterpress:
Set type, make polymer plates, print on MCBA’s presses and enjoy the fellowship of other artists. Reservations are first-come-first-served, and participants must have completed an introductory course on the press they are reserving (Vandercook, platen, sign). Fee covers inks and solvents; supply your own paper.

Screen printing:
Prep screens, expose and print in MCBA’s darkroom and printing studio, and enjoy the fellowship of other artists. Fee covers screen use and emulsions; supply your own inks and paper.

Bookbinding:
Open Studio provides access to binding tools, cutting equipment, and fellowship! Work on your own projects in the company of other artists in a friendly and supportive environment. Fee covers tool use plus some consumables (thread and PVA); supply your own bookboard, cloth, paper and other needs.

Papermaking and Paper Beater:
Bring your own prepared paper fiber for sheet-forming. The paper studio has a variety of western-style and eastern-style moulds and deckles for making sheets, two hydraulic presses, plenty of vats and felts with air-drying racks and restraint dryers. Attendees should schedule a time to pick up their paper the following day.

You can also beat fiber for paper for future sheet-forming. The studio’s two Valley beaters can each hold approximately .75lb.(dry) of fiber (rag or half-stuff), and the Reina beater can hold up to 2lb.(dry) of fiber (half-stuff only). When you register, please specify which beater you’d like to reserve. Pre-weigh and pre-soak all fibers to be beaten. If you have taken a papermaking course but are not familiar with our paper beaters, Paper Beater trainings are offered every month. Through hands-on training you will learn the capabilities of each of MCBA’s paper beaters, and how to use them correctly and safely. Completion of this training will allow you to rent this equipment and use it independently.