The history of itinerant printers is as old as the history of printing itself; movable type being moved by peripatetic practitioners of the black art. In this talk, the nomadic lifestyle of journeymen printers is examined critically and comically, and careful consideration is given to the indispensable role tramps played in the dissemination of information, techniques, and knowledge.

The Itinerant Printer (aka, Chris Fritton) shares stories and images from his journeys on the road, along with an overview of the cities, shops, and institutions to come. Show and tell with the postcards and prints that have been made to date, with Q & A about techniques, challenges, and little victories.

Chris Fritton is the former Studio Director of the Western New York Book Arts Center. A poet, printer, and fine artist, Fritton has over a decade of experience writing, printing, and making his own books, in addition to collaborative efforts with other authors and artists. As a former designer and printer for Mohawk Press at the Western New York Book Arts Center, Fritton was lucky enough to create gig posters for dozens of bands, including Sleater-Kinney, Dead Kennedys, Deerhoof, of Montreal, & Wu Tang Clan.

Fritton has been working on a new project called The Itinerant Printer, where he’s visited over 160 letterpress print shops throughout North America in four years, covering over 65,000 miles and making over 20,000 prints on the road. He recently culminated the journey in an over-sized coffee table book featuring all the places, prints, and people from along the way.

The project intended to capture the spirit of the analog revival, send real samples of it into people’s mailboxes, and convey the ethos of the handmade to a broader audience via social media, and as a culmination, resulted in a coffee table book that features photos all of the people, prints, and places from the adventure.

About the Letterpress Depot

The Letterpress Depot - a living museum of letterpress printing, typography, design, poetry and art – a working vintage letterpress printshop, with space for exhibits, demonstrations, workshops, events and meetings, as well as typographic research and printing projects – to be a resource available to the community. The Depot is a nonprofit 501(c)3 organization in Englewood, Colorado.

Doors open at 6pm for the social hour. Light bites and NA beverages available.

Speaker presentation begins at 7pm. There is a parking lot near the Mary Harris auditorium, with overflow parking on RMCAD campus.

Ticket Prices:

Member $10, Non-Member $15, Friends of The Letterpress Depot $10, Students $5, RMCAD Students - free. If you are a friend of The Letterpress Depot or a RMCAD student, please email events@aigacolorado.org for your ticket discount code.