These days, making things with paper and ink — the slow, messy, old fashioned way — is often relegated to a nostalgic niche. But recently we’ve seen some amazing projects, from art to publishing to performance, that take these old materials and use them in ways that are completely new.
Disperse/Displace by Shannon Rankin
Cartography as an art form seems to have died a few hundred years ago. Yet Shannon Rankin, an artist living and working in Maine, has reinvigorated the craft by deconstructing maps into vibrant collages that challenge preconceived notions of borders. Now Rankin is set to have her first solo show, Disperse/Displace, at the renowned Galerie Voss in Düsseldorf. —Mike
PAPER MACHINE: Muster Zine by Emilia Brock
Armed with just an old-school typewriter and her adorable dog Martin, artist Emilia Brock brings us “Muster” — a handmade zine filled with the spontaneously inspired writing and artwork of her friends. Each contributor is given a musical prompt with which to create a story, every word is then hand-typed by Emilia, and each copy is individually illustrated by a different artist. The result is a zine in which no two copies are alike. And did we mention Martin? —Cassie
Steamroller Print-Off by Pickwick Independent Press
What happens when a printing press participates in a community block party? It makes gigantic woodblock prints with a steamroller, of course! Pickwick Independent Press, a collaborative print studio in Portland, ME, is turning printing into performance art by pressing 4’ x 8’ woodblocks onto bed-sheet-sized canvases with a monster steamroller. Audiences at the event will get to watch the process unfold and even help make decisions along the way. Check it out here and get an event poster or even a giant print of your own. —Daniella
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