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Collective Techniques Book Project


Project Description
This project is meant as an introduction to letterpress fundamentals. Inspired by the 72 Japanese microseasons, you will each pick a 5-day time frame during the year and write a haiku based on seasonal shifts or changes taking place at that time. Perhaps these changes take place in a different or even fictitious location, or are based on the effects of climate change, or something that isn’t weather induced—but more personal or metaphorical. You will handset type for your haiku, and illustrate a pressure print background for it in a 5˝x 5˝ square format. We will print everyone’s season all together as a single sheet pamphlet snake book, and everyone will get a copy.

A Little Background on Japanese Microseasons
Leaning heavily on the Chinese almanac, Japan’s poetic year starts with risshun, the ‘birth of spring’ in early February and ends with daikan, or ‘greater cold’ in late January. With a level of precision far beyond anything we can imagine, the sub-seasons between are then divided into three micro-seasons, observing subtle shifts in the natural world with evocative names such as ‘fish emerge from the ice’, ‘wild geese return’ and ‘mist starts to linger’. Encouraging a close observation of the passing months, each ko lasts approximately five days, serving as a poetic, mindful journey through Japan’s ever-changing landscape. (taken from wearejapan.com)

See all of the Japanese microseasons here.

Haiku Guidelines
A haiku is a short, unrhymed poem that adheres to a specific three-line, seventeen-syllable (usually 5-7-5) format. Traditionally, a haiku depicts a tiny moment in time and includes a kireji (a “cutting word”) that creates a pause or sense of closure.Traditionally, haiku were often about nature and seasonal changes. Over time, poets began exploring other themes in haiku. In both traditional and modern haiku, it’s common for the poem to focus on a small moment and juxtapose distinct images for dramatic effect.

Traditionally, a haiku meets the following requirements:

  • It has three lines.
  • It has five syllables in the first and third lines.
  • It has seven syllables in the second line.
  • Its lines don’t rhyme.
  • It includes a kireji, or cutting word.
  • It includes a kigo, a seasonal reference.

What is a Pressure Print?
Pressure printing is a way of creating imagery with a proof, platen or etching press using a low-relief collage placed behind the printing sheet in combination with either a type-high printing surface or a monoprint block. The high relief areas of the collage create more pressure behind the printing paper and grab more ink than the lower relief areas. Areas that are cut out of the collage create ‘white’ areas, or the same color as the paper. As opposed to other relief processes, this technique produces a right-reading image which allows for the use of right-reading materials such as press-on letters.

Pressure Printing Guidelines
  • Use a 5 x 5 " piece of office paper for your collaged plate.
  • Keep in mind that we use transparent base in the ink for the pressure print layer, so it will be a soft background image behind your haiku text.
  • Use thin textured and flexible materials such as textured paper, doilies, thin embossed or die-cut plastic, cheesecloth, lace, fancy dress trimmings, dried leaves and other natural elements, vinyl stick on letters, self-adhesive papers, and sewing thread for your collage.
  • Adhere with PVA or UHU gluestick. Make sure leaves/flowers are pressed, and plants and glue are completely dry before printing!
  • Remember that the more layers you have, the more values you will have. Layered collages tend to be more interesting, and allows you to play with the X-ray quality of seeing through your layers.

See also Pressure Printing under Resources & Techniques

Other Edition Guidelines
  • Edition size: We'll be printing enough for at least 15
  • Paper: Green Kitikata (provided by instructor)
  • Paper size: 15 x 20
  • Panel size: You each will be working within a 5 x 5 square
  • Runs: 2 (pressure print background and handset haiku)

Grading
9 points:
3 Conceptual development, 3 Design, 3 Craftsmanship

Timeline
9.11/ All printing complete, assemble books in class.





Haiku & Pressure Print Examples

ASU | Herberger Institute School of Art | Printmaking | Book Arts
Heather Green: [email protected]
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Office: 45B |  Office hours: T 11:00–12:00 or by appointment

  • COURSE PAGES
  • LINKS/RESOURCES
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