This weekend I will be walking and officially receive my MFA in Interdisciplinary Book and Paper Arts. It was a long and fast three years. (if that makes sense) Looking back I feel the time has flown by but during these three years I remember feeling the end of the tunnel was soooo far away. Now I am trying to figure out the question everyone in the past couple months has been asking me… “What is next?” As of now I am hoping and praying for a job in the near future!!! The search mission is beginning. I currently have THREE part-time jobs (I produce the Journal of Artists Books (JAB), teach art at two public schools in Chicago, and the not so fun job of waiting tables). My goal is to find ONE full time job. Oh how lovely that would be. Well that is it for now. Enjoy some pics from my thesis show!
JENNA RODRIGUEZ
Letterpress Printer / Interdisciplinary Artist / Book Artist / Educator / Printmaker / Chicago
Category Archives: Columbia College
JAB33 Release Party!
JAB33 is finally complete! We are having a release party and reading this Friday, April 5th @ 6:00pm on the 2nd floor in 1104 South Wabash. Come join us. For those of you wondering what JAB is let me fill you in…
JAB (Journal of Artists’ Books) “provides a platform for both theoretical and creative expression, a forum for the study of artists books.” For the past two years I have had the honor of being the print production fellow for JAB where I work closely with Brad Freeman the editor.
If you would like to subscribe or learn more about JAB visit the websitehttp://www.journalofartistsbooks.org/index.php
Johanna Drucker at Center for Book and Paper Arts Chicago
The Center for Book and Paper Arts at Columbia College Chicago currently has a solo exhibition of Johanna Drucker’s work on display called Druckworks: 40 years of Books and Projects. If you have not seen it yet it is a must and is up until December 7th on the second floor in 1104 South Wabash. Last night I had the honor to listen to a lecture she gave here. Her talk revolved around Writing by Design. Throughout Johanna’s work she continues to consider and think about the space of the page, the book format, and ways to enhance the text. One can quickly view her book and appreciate the visual aspect of it and a understand a basic narrative but to truly have a full experience with her books one will need to spend a lot of time with them because there are many layers in her books and lots of decoding. She said letterpress printing changed her capacity and thinking for writing. When she held the physical type, lead, and furniture it opened up a whole new world of design for her.
Lessons I’ve Learned From Rap Songs
If in Chicago stop by 1104 South Wabash. Adjunct Professor Claire Sammons and I have our undergraduate student’s work on display on the first floor. Last semester both undergraduate intro to letterpress classes collaborated for a wood type project. As a group they voted on the theme Lessons I’ve Learned From Rap Songs. Here are some images of the work.
APHA (American Printing History Association) Conference
This past weekend The Center for Book and Paper Arts at Columbia College hosted the American Printing History Association Conference. Chicago was the perfect location for the conference this year. The Center’s building is located in the heart of Printer’s Row. In the late nineteenth century this area was the heart of Chicago’s printing and publishing industry. The remnants of printing businesses are still visible in the area through the architecture and signage.
Printer’s Square Building
It was a two day conference which kicked off with a mini book fair. There were wonderful artists and books at the fair. There was a good variety of books that ranged from type specimen books, books on printing history, to artist books. Then Saturday was panel talk after panel talk that range from french street signage, designing typefaces, this history of printing presses, and much more.
Books by Firebrand Press
“Circus Watcher” by Ken Botnick
Dave Peat’s Gothic Sectional typeface
Lastly, there was a pop-up student gallery for students who attended the conference. This was my first APHA conference and it will not be my last.
Student Gallery works by Katie Kotan and Crane Giamo
Student Gallery works by Claire Sammons and boo Gilder
Student Gallery works by Kathi Beste and Caroline Anderson
Opening Reception Tomorrow Night!
Opening Reception Tomorrow night from 5-8 @ the Arcade Gallery, 618 South Michigan
Come to the Arcade Gallery and check out our work! Fill out a Chicago She-Mads. At the end of the exhibition we are send all the Chicago She-Mads to Rahm Emanuel. Let your voice be heard!
our installation
Close up view. Come fill out a Chicago She-Mad and let your voice be heard!
Chicago Zine Fest Today!!!!!!
Today at Columbia College was the Chicago Zine Fest! I hope everyone made it out. It was amazballs and totally worth it. For those of you who don’t know about it there is always next year.
“The Chicago Zine Fest is an independent event creating an outlet for small press and independent publishers to showcase their work. Our goal is to make DIY zine-making accessible, highlight the talents of self-published artists, and give independent artists a chance to interact, and swap skills through tabling, community events, and workshops.”
http://chicagozinefest.org
I wanted to purchase everything but I did walk away with a few amazing zines. There was a letterpress and bookbinding demo as well. One artist had an old postage stamp vending machine where you could receive your fortune. You had the option to choose a insult, compliment or advice. I chose advice and so did my roommate and this is was they said…
Our fortunes
Here are some more photos!
Guy carrying his zines around to sell
The infamous fortune teller machine
Louise Dana and I with our completed print
Work created by the MFA Interdisciplinary Book and Paper Students at Columbia College
Rar Rar Press postcards
Artist David Alvarado was at the zine fest and I purchased one of his Zines called "Wanderlust." It is super amazing and makes me smile every time I look at it. He has a cartoon/comic drawing style. Check out him out on his blog.
http://bodegadavid.blogspot.com/
First Generation: A Revolution of Thought Opening Reception: March 15th
First Generation: A Revolution of Thought
Opening Reception: March 15th at 5pm @ Arcade Gallery 618 S Michigan Ave
Come out to see this show! A collaborative project I was apart of is on exhibit from March 8th-April 20th. Michelle Grave and Kate Morgan also worked on this piece. The idea and creation of this project was developed through inspiration from a workshop we participated in with the Guerrilla Girls. To learn more about our project visit our page
http://chicagoshe-mads.tumblr.com/
The three variations of “She-Mads” madlibs will be exhibited in First Generation: A Revolution of Thought. Come to the gallery to fill one out yourself! After the exhibition, we will be mailing the letters to Rahm Emmanuel, Mayor of Chicago, as a form of petition and evidence that the Chicago art community is a vibrant and positive outlet for public and political concern. Therefore, the Chicago art community requires better support!
Exhibition Dates: March 8 – April 20, 2012 Opening Reception: March 15, 5-PM
Teaching Undergraduate Letterpress
This semester was my first time teaching undergraduate students! Since I can remember this has be one of my top professional goals! It is soooo satisfying to see my goals come to life. It was also as satisfying as I thought it would be to teach the undergraduate intro letterpress class. I have had such a wonderful time with my students and as they were learning from me all semester little do they know I was learning from them. I hope there is a lot more of me teaching in the near future!! I loveeee being able to share the art I love sooo much to people in the world!
So another colleague and I put together a display case of all six undergraduate classes from the Center of Book and Paper at Columbia College. We off three different classes for undergraduates: 2 Intro to Letterpress, 2 Bookbinding, & 2 Papermaking. If you are in the Chicago area come down to 1104 S. Wabash and on the 2nd floor you will find the display cases or check these pics out!
End of semester Craziness!
OK Hello everyone! Sorry it took me so long to fill you in with Dafi’s visit and Wayzgoose. The end of the semester is here and I am trying to wrap up all my final projects.
First, Dafi’s workshop. It was wonderful to work with someone who has a design background and not print background. It definitely gave me a different perspective to printing which will hopefully enhance my work. I am officially able to operate the laser cutter which is super exciting. I want to go laser cut crazy! Check out some of the pics from the workshop.
Second, Wayzgooseeee! This was a wonderful getaway from the city. Two Rivers, Wisconsin is a wonderful and welcoming town to all of us. With lots of wood type and letterpress lovers! Hamilton Museum It was a weekend full of printing, calligraphy demos, letter design, and panel talks. Check out these pics as well. If you ever have a chance to go to Hamilton you must go to the ice cream shop where the first ice cream sundae was created! There are wonderful antique shops in the next town as well!!
My design being cut out of wood on the laser cutter
The wood cut from the laser cutter on the bed of the press all inked up and ready to be printed
WAYZGOOSE!
Hamilton Museum and Lots of beautiful wood type!
Matthew Carter giving his panel discussion
