Olde Tyme Book Making at Tight Squeek Press

Many years ago I heard a story about a boy who was beat up in school because he said his mother made his cookie at home. They said, "Cookies come from a story. Your mother can't make cookies."

Like baking cookies, or making salad dressings from scratch, we are accustomed to buying our books from a store, either brick and mortar or online. The idea of making a book ourselves is utterly foreign to most of us. Unless you are also an artist.

I've met all kinds of fascinating people through this blog and other social media. One of the most interesting is Spanish artist Pere Salinas, an artist book maker. You can see some of his work here. Book making is an art, one that requires a slower lifestyle to do it well.

So it was with interest that I read the invitation to attend a class on book making by John Hinkel of Tight Squeek Press. Classes begin this coming Monday for five weeks, from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m.  Participants will learn how to create a hand-made book of medieval structure (hand sewn signatures on real raised cords, hard-bound with leather spine and corners) from scratch.

Sounds way cool to me. For ages ten and up.

Tight Squeek Press is upstairs above Pineapple Arts at 128 West 1st Street. Hinkel is the proprietor of Tight Squeek Press, a small letterpress shop specializing in hand work. Products include limited edition prints, greeting cards and books. According to the literature, all projects generated by the press are original to the press itself, commonly involving hand composition of texts using lead type, multicolor block print illustration from hand-carved blocks, and hand binding with sewn signatures in paper, cloth or leather. Job printing and binding projects are also considered for acceptance.

Cost for the class is $85.

Pineapple Arts has all kinds of classes, though. Classes for kids include drawing, jewelry making and watercolor pastels. Todd Olson, locally well-known for his origami skills, will teach the art of paper folding to kids of all ages, up to age 99. There are also crochet workshops, watercolor painting classes, and figure drawing sessions.

Want to dabble, or get assistance in releasing your inner artist? Stop in an grab a schedule.

SAD NEWS DEPT.
I learned last night that Zimmy's in Hibbing has closed its doors. A couple weeks ago I was trying to contact the world famous restaurant to gather a few details about the contests they would be running for this year's Dylan Days Festival there. One of my great ambitions over the past six years or so was to have one of my own Dylan paintings hang on the walls there with all the other fabulous artwork.

People come from all over the world to meet, greet and eat at Zimmy's and to see the memorabilia there. I am hoping this is a temporary situation as I know how special the place is for many people. Evidently not enough locals to support it, however.

As news unfolds regarding Dylan Days events in Hibbing for this coming May, I will endeavor to keep you posted. Meantime, life goes on. Embrace it.