A Printmaking Journey with Gesher Human Services' Creative Expressions Program
Participating Artists: Chris Hundiak, Dorothy Harris Moy, Jo Banooni, Kenneth Rosenthal,Linda Gray, Mimi Sassoon and Sharon Glazer.
Signal-Return’s letterpress program in collaboration with Gesher Human Services served as anintroduction to typesetting, block carving and other printmaking techniques for those enrolled in Gesher’s Creative Expressions Program. Artists gained hands on knowledge through the use of our antique typography and plate collection, linoleum block archive, Vandercook newspaper proofing presses, platen and Provisional Presses.
Throughout the three month program, artists got in touch with Gesher’s Jewish roots by celebrating Rosh Hashanah and creating New Years prints, with the help of Lynne Avadenka and her Hebrew wood type collection. In addition to exploring the use of Hebrew typography, the class used Jewish traditions as inspiration to create their own Majse or Golem stories and Bintel Brief passages.
Each artist made their journey across the bridge and returned each week to create a suite of prints and ephemera and to enrich their own practice with a new perspective.
Gesher Human Services is a non-profit organization dedicated to helping people across metro Detroit lead more stable and fulfilling lives through career development, behavioral health and residential services that strengthen our community by strengthening the individual.
Gesher is the Hebrew word for bridge. The symbolism of the bridge represents progress, transition, and ultimately, safe passage. This name pays homage to our founding by Detroit’s Jewish community and embodies our work: Gesher is the bridge that gets you to where you want to be.