I am going to try and sum up my entire for weeks at Wells in this one post. We pretty much had the same agenda everyday. By the end of the four weeks I felt like I was at camp. We had breakfast from 8-9am, class 9:15am-5:30pm (with breaks and lunch in between), 5:30-6:30pm we usually swam in the lake, 6:30-7:30pm dinner, and then the rest of the night we worked in the studio and sometimes had a few cocktails. One of the wonderful aspects of this internship was having 24hr access to the studio.
Print Shop
Print Shop
Print Shop
1st Class: I took a class called Tradition Typography/book design with Ron Gordon. I am not formally trained in graphic design so this was a great/eye opening experience. I will never be able to look at design or type the same because of this class.
This is how I felt after my first class!!!
2nd Class: I assisted/took the wire binding class with the amazing Daniel Kelm. This man is a walking encyclopedia at least when it comes to any topic relating to chemistry or bookbinding. I not only learned how to do wire binding but I walked away with so much other useful tips and information.
Class binding away
Daniel hard at work
Daniel showing us some chemistry!!!
Wire binding!
3rd Class: Learning how to cast lead monotype from the Bixlers. In the beginning this class was the only reason I had any interest to apply for this internship. IT WAS AMAZING! The bixlers are the most generous people ever and taught me so much. I learned how to cast entire fonts and I also key padded, casted, and printed one of my brother’s poems. Printing from fresh virgin type is the best!
The casting room!
Key padding my brothers poem
The melted lead!
My virgin type hot off the caster!
Mr. Bixler and I
Basically I ended up having one of the best learning experiences of my life during my internship at Wells. They have wonderful facilities and even better faculty.
JENNA RODRIGUEZ 