The Des Moines Art Center
5 points (extra credit)
Today I went to the Des Moines Art Center. There were two movies, but I was only able to make it to the Typeface Movie. The movie was about the Hamilton Wood Type Museum in Two Rivers, Wisconsin. This museum was a type factory where everything was needed for letterpress.
There was a variety of small letters, large letters, and different size presses. They showed a letter that was taller than a person at one point. Several years later the factory was turned into a museum. The factory was used to print advertisements and can still be used today.
This movie made me feel excited, but also sad. It was exciting because people were still using it today. I would really like to go there one day and make a print myself. Throughout the movie, it showed the process from cutting the letters out, to preparing the ink, and then printing. Some retired letter carvers still go to the factory because it is what they know and love. Many of these retired letter carvers are starting to get older and due to health issues, don't get to go back the factory as often. With the retired folk getting older, my only hope is that a younger person will start to learn the ways before the process is gone. It is sad to see that the letterpress museum is dwindling. I really hope to get out there to make some prints of my own.
Here are a few things I picked up at the Movie entrance:
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