Finding the Press — First Year: Assistantship & Introduction
I joined the IU Type Shop as a graduate assistant during my first year in the MFA program, supporting classes and maintaining the studio space. It was my first real dive into the behind-the-scenes rhythm of an academic print studio—organizing type, prepping demos, cleaning rollers, troubleshooting presses, and helping students pull their first impressions.
That year taught me as much about community as it did about printing: the value of keeping a shared space running and the joy of watching students fall in love with letterpress for the first time.
Supporting the Shop
Over my time working in and supporting the Type Shop, I contributed to a few small projects that helped keep the space running smoothly and welcoming for students. From building a cabinet for backroom supplies to collaborating with classmates on an A-frame sign and designing notebooks for workshops, each project added to the shared sense of belonging that makes the shop feel like home.
Supporting Learning & Access — Workshops, Visitors, and Prep Work
Over the following semesters, I continued to support the shop as a teaching assistant for multiple letterpress sections—helping organize materials, assisting students during print sessions, and prepping type for visiting groups like library science students exploring the history of print culture.
I also helped host visiting artists and printmakers, assisting during their workshops and documenting their demos for the school archive and social media.
Brad Vetter | 2023
Stephanie Carpenter | Hamilton Wood Type & Printing Museum | 2024
Celene Aubrey | Hatch Show Print | 2025
Brad Vetter's visit in 2023 | On press demo and workshop
Brad Vetter's visit in 2023
Brad Vetter's visit in 2023 | Prints covering the table during class lecture
Stephanie Carpenter visit in 2024 | Workshop and demo
Stephanie Carpenter visit in 2024 | Student Evelynn Gray pulls a print
Stephanie Carpenter visit in 2024 | Final poster from workshop.
Hatch Show Print — Workshop & Lecture with Celene Aubry
When Celene Aubry and Hatch Show Print visited IU, I had the chance to assist with their workshop and document the visit. Since I was enrolled in Letterpress that semester, Ellie Prisbrey (GA) and I helped set up presses, coordinate materials, and work closely with Celene throughout the sessions.
When Celene Aubry and Hatch Show Print visited IU, I had the chance to assist with their workshop and document the visit. Since I was enrolled in Letterpress that semester, Ellie Prisbrey (GA) and I helped set up presses, coordinate materials, and work closely with Celene throughout the sessions.
I also photographed the visit and managed social media coverage for the Type Shop, sharing posts that captured the workshop, open studio, and Celene’s campus-wide lecture. The theme of the week was Sweet Relief—a playful invitation to print with unexpected materials. We pulled impressions from bread, Vans shoes, crushed cans, moss, denim, and more.
Celene Aubrey visit in 2025 | Class lecture
Celene Aubrey visit in 2025 | Workshop intro and demo
Celene Aubrey visit in 2025 | Workshop with students in the Letterpress class
Celene Aubrey visit in 2025 | Workshop intro and demo
Celene Aubrey visit in 2025 | Workshop with students in the Letterpress class
Celene Aubrey visit in 2025 | Lecture about Hatch Show Print
Community & Communication — Open Studios and Outreach
Beyond the classroom, I’ve helped coordinate and photograph community events like Open Studios, where the Type Shop opens its doors to the public. I continue to manage the @iuletterpressstudio Instagram account, sharing student work, process photos, and shop specific documentation.
The account has become both an archive and an outreach tool connecting our small letterpress community with alumni, visiting artists, and print enthusiasts beyond campus.
Links to some of my favorite posts
More Than A Workspace — Reflection
The Type Shop has been more than a workspace—it’s been a classroom, a community hub, and a creative home. Supporting it has deepened my understanding of what it means to sustain shared creative spaces: keeping the presses rolling, the cabinets organized, and the community connected.
The Type Shop is a space built on generosity and ink, and I’m grateful to play a small part in its story and history.
