As a precaution to help reduce the spread of COVID-19, the Adult Education Seminars Program’s Fall 2020 term will continue to be held virtually. Virtual seminars meet via Zoom video conference and use email and Google Drive folders to share resources and communicate with instructors and participants. For more information about the Newberry’s virtual seminars and these tools, including a Zoom tutorial, please see our Virtual Seminars FAQ page. If you have questions about online learning, please feel free to reach out to seminars@newberry.org.

For more information about the Newberry’s response to COVID-19 please visit www.newberry.org/covid19.

Seminar Description

Starshaped Press is a letterpress and design studio in Chicago’s Ravenswood neighborhood. While focused on creating modern-day print work for clients, libraries, and collectors, the studio uses materials that are decidedly mid-twentieth century, as well as techniques that have remained relatively unchanged over the last 400 years. In this seminar and virtual demonstration, Jen Farrell will showcase many of the studio’s materials, discuss how they were developed, and demonstrate letterpress printing in action. A small form of type will be set, locked into a Chicago-made press, then printed, and participants will receive a copy of the resulting print. Jen will also discuss designing and printing the broadside created for the Renaissance Invention: Stradanus's "Nova Reperta" exhibition using pieces from the Newberry’s collection as inspiration.

Please note: This seminar is also offered as part of the multi-session Renaissance Invention seminar. If you’d like to register for all four sessions, please register on the main Renaissance Invention seminar page.

One session. Registration – $30

Since 1999, Jennifer Farrell has operated Starshaped Press, with a focus on designing and letterpress printing custom commissions and limited edition prints and books. Studio work is focused on preserving the craft by printing with antique metal and wood type.

Materials List

Recommended:

• Renaissance Invention: Stradanus’s Nova Reperta, edited by Lia Markey. Northwestern University Press, 2020. ISBN: 978-0-8101-4202-2.

First Reading:

• There is no reading assignment for the first session of this seminar.

Registration Information

Online registration opens at 9 am (CST) on Tuesday, September 1st.

Please note: Due to COVID-19, the Adult Education Seminars staff is working remotely and will be unable to process registration over the phone. For more information about registration, including a guide to online registration, see our Registration Information page. Questions? Please contact seminars program staff via email at seminars@newberry.org.

We offer a 10% discount to members, seniors, and students.

This seminar has reached capacity. Please email seminars@newberry.org to be added to the wait list.

This seminar is part of the Newberry’s Adult Education Seminars Program. Learn more about registering for a seminar, program policies, or teaching a seminar.