Words + Images
Broadsides from the Black Rock Press
All of the broadsides featured in Words + Images: Broadsides from the Black Rock Press, were produced at the Black Rock Press at the University of Nevada, Reno using the letterpress process with handset type and relief plates. The printing was done on a Vandercook cylinder proofing press.
Since it was founded by Kenneth J. Carpenter more that forty years ago, the Press has been dedicated to the practice and teaching of the arts and crafts associated with the creation of finely printed books. The Press now has a national reputation for its outstanding work and has become a living museum of traditional printing technology, housing a variety of cabinets filled with metal type, and a number of historically significant printing presses. Its centerpiece, a gilded 1837 super-royal Columbian iron handpress, is one of the finest examples of a nineteenth century iron handpress to be found anywhere in the country.
Letterpress broadsides are created for numerous reasons, frequently to honor a visiting writer at a campus event. The Press has produced broadsides to honor university residencies by U.S. Poets Laureate Robert Pinsky and Billy Collins. Several broadsides were printed in conjunction with a national poetry broadside competition held in the 1990s; winning poets received cash awards and had their poems printed as broadsides. In recent years, broadsides have been produced for the Robert Laxalt Distinguished Writers Award, presented annually by the university’s Reynolds School of Journalism. Those broadsides feature quotations from the writings of Robert Laxalt, one of Nevada’s finest writers.
Broadside writers include Marjorie Agosin, Willis Barnstone, Daniel Boorstin, Andre Codrescu, Billy Collins, Hayden Curruth, Carol V. Davis, John Dofflemyer, Joseph Duemer, Gretel Ehrlich, Martha Elizabeth, A. Bartlett Giamatti, Shaun T. Griffin, James W. Hulse, Linda Hussa, Donna Johnson, Robert Laxalt, Wally McRae, Joel Nelson, Steven Nightingale, Naomi Shahib Nye, Gailmarie Pahmeier, Robert Pinsky, Kirk Robertson, Gary Short, Kevin Stevens, Bill Stobb, Michael White, Terry Tempest Williams and Paul Zarzyski.
CURATED BY
Bob Blesse for the Nevada Arts Council
GALLERY NOTES BY
Harry Reese, Professor in the Department of Art, University of California, Santa Barbara
CONTENTS
34 framed broadsides
Introduction Panel and Wall Tags
Gallery Notes with essay by Harry Reese
RENTAL FEE
$150 per 8-week period (Nevada venues)
LINEAR FEET
Approximately 65 linear feet
AVAILABILITY
Ongoing
NTI Resources
NTI-Home Page – general program information
NTI-Exhibits – a list of current exhibits
NTI Schedule – dates of scheduled & available exhibits
NTI ASSISTANCE
Contact: Artist Services Specialist /Art Installer, Stephen Reid at 775.687.7108 or email.