The storms last night disrupted some of the outdoor activity planned for the Wabash Arts Corridor Crawl, but inside at Anchor Graphics, things were humming. Anchor hosted an open house and print giveaway for the WAC Crawl event, and as visitors wandered through the facilities, the undergraduates working in their evening photogravure class provided lots of art making activity to watch.

The course is being taught by master printer Chris Flynn of Anchor, who has been teaching etching and printmaking classes for years to the Anchor community. This year, as Chris entered the InterArts MFA in Book and Paper program, he is also extending his guiding expertise to Columbia’s undergraduates in the weekly Wednesday night class.

Anchor’s Open House was visited by a steady stream of students, faculty, staff, and south loop neighbors, including Columbia’s President Kim. It also provided the perfect opportunity to announce the publication of a scholarly essay by Anchor’s David Jones in the California Society of Printmakers centennial book, California Society of Printmakers: One Hundred Years, 1913–2013. This 330 page book with more than 380 illustrations, has been designed by photographer/printmaker Joe Ramos. The volume has 7 essays ranging from a short one pager to over 75 pages, from personal reflections to documented history. The diversity of authors includes InterArts MFA candidate David R. Jones, who is the founder and Director of Anchor Graphics at Columbia. The book’s essays are followed by a catalog of current 250 CSP artist and honorary members; 8 appendices; and a glossary, bibliography, and index, making it a comprehensive resource for anyone interested in the history and present state of fine art printmaking and print media.

The book’s release date is scheduled for October 20, 2013, with a book signing and sales party in Oakland, California; an exhibition entitled “10 Decades” at the Commonwealth Club of California (Oct. 18, 2013-Jan 18, 2013), and a panel discussion and reception at the Book Club of California on Monday Oct. 21, 2013. A Vandercook letterpress-in-action event, exhibition, and book signing is scheduled for Nov. 7 at the San Francisco Center for the Book. The limited edition publication is available in both hard and softbound versions. Online ordering information will be available at the CSP website in October.

For more information on classes at Anchor Graphics, click here.