Master printer, book maker and founder of Greentree Press, Jack Stauffacher is a American National Treasure. Today he came in wearing a suite of camel linen,a silk scarf and bowtie. When I thanked him for wearing the fresh flower in his lapel he said, 'It really does make the difference.' At 94 he is still thriving and working everyday in his space, full of ephemera, antique wood block lettering and his own type faces he designed in the 50's. He is working with his team to archive his materials to eventually go to Berkeley. The day I moved my studio into the building I poked into his space to introduce myself. He not only showed me around his space but he out of the blue gave me an original print from his show at MOMA and signed it, as a welcome to the building. It is a treasure to me and I keep it up on my board where it serves as an inspiration.
Currently I am working on a set of letters to be worn around the neck. Lord knows there are tons of versions of letter necklaces but I am inspired by Jack's work and I am making them in the spirit of a time before digital fonts, a time when letters were hand drawn and hand cut. I am looking to create a grain, a hand, imperfections not unlike the antique wood cut letters from antiquity. The first few letters I have made are in the traditional and clean Gill Sans. They are off to the caster and I cannot wait to get them back next week.
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