37th Annual Wayzgoose

It's finally spring and Wayzgoose time again!! The weather forecast says it will be nice out so go for a nice drive and come visit the Grimsby 'Goose! This year it is the 37th Wayzgoose. I've been doing them for over 25 years now...WHAT?!?! How old am I? 

My first Wayzgoose was when I was in 2nd year printmaking at OCA. My relief instructor, the wonderful Bill Poole, was the man behind the Grimsby 'Goose and the one who encouraged me to go. I remember cramming myself into George Walkers little Bug with Michelle, Frederica Tomas of Utility Grade and David Keyes for the drive to Grimsby. Was it really that long ago?

Pics!

A-ha!
Here are some photos from the paper making workshop several weeks ago, as well as from the book binding and letterpress workshops that are ongoing... I had to get people to remind me to take photos!
Next week we start sewing our text blocks together in the book binding workshop and on Tuesday everyone (fingers crossed) in the ABCs of Letterpress class will be printing their one colour broadside on the Vandercook SP15 and learning how that press works.

A freshly pulled sheet of white cotton.

Andrew is adding some found suburban detritus to his pulp before making his sheets.

Andrew's sheet with suburban detritus inclusions (Oo! that sounds  so pretentious!)

Dan peeling his sheets off the felts after pressing. He pulled such nice thin white sheets of
paper that he found using some newsprint pressed onto the damp sheet was helpful in pulling it off the felts for drying.

Andrew laying his cover on his accordion book while Sophie watches.

Cori looking happy with her wee accordion book.

The beginning of Dana's broadside.

Checking out the wood type and metal type before composing broadsides.

Sheila is going to try to set some rules on angles!!

Kerning the wood type.

Wayzgoose 2010

Fuzzy Heart Album with satin ties and sun milagro.

Journal covered in brass with raised letters on cover.

Wayzgoose in Grimsby has come and gone for another year. I had a wonderful time seeing people I haven't seen for a couple of years, meeting new people and checking out all the really amazing books, broadsides, and assorted book arts and print related ephemera that they have been creating.

The weather was beautiful and, as always, dinner was a perfect end to our day.

WAYZGOOSE Time!

It's that time of year again! Wayzgoose is happening in Grimsby, Ontario on Saturday April 24th from 10 am - 5 pm. There is no admission fee and you'll get to look at some amazing book arts works! Most of the exhibitors have things for sale, also! I always spend too much!

I was absent last year because of the death of our son, but I'll definitely be there this year. Hope some of you can make it out!!

WAYZGOOSE '08

This year we celebrated the Thirtieth Anniversary of the Grimsby Wayzgoose! Bill Poole, my instuctor from O.C.A., founded this Wayzgoose in his hometown of Grimsby thirty years ago to try and make people aware of the art and craft of fine printing. Originally, in 1978, it was only supposed to be a one time event! Oh well! I'm glad it asn't!

When I was an art school student 20-ish years ago, Bill Poole encouraged his class to participate in the Wayzgoose Anthology and attend the event. I have been attending almost every year since then (I missed three years when I was apprenticing in Japan!). A lot of faces have changed in the last 20 years, but happily, many of the faces have also stayed the same. A small handfull of people even date back to that first Wayzgoose Bill Poole organized!

I think we all travel the distance to Grimsby because it is the one event of the year where we are really understood and appreciated by the public that attend. They don't ask us why we print using lead type or why we still bind books the old fashioned way with a needle, thread and fine materials or why we MAKE paper. They "get it" and they love it! It is also great to be gathered with everyone in one place. We sell, we admire, we spend, we chat and then, once the publlic is gone, we relax, have a nice dinner and celebrate!

Bill Poole has been gone several years now. I know he'd be thrilled to know that the Grimsby Wayzgoose is still going strong thanks to all the work of the staff at the Grimsby Public Art Gallery.

My Daughter and I chatting to a guest.

N. Kennedy (standing) and T. Dannenburg (seated) talking shop.

K. Wrigglesworth and a table full of stuff from Don Black Linecasting. Now the rest of it is back at KOZO Studio.

My friend, printmaker F. Tomas of Utility Grade.

Wood engraver, author, teacher G. Walker talking to Don Black of Don Black Linecasting fame.