73. DENNIS Y. ICHIYAMA
“I thought it would be interesting to make myself my own client,” says Dennis Ichiyama. When he discovered the Hamilton Wood Type & Printing Museum, Ichiyama became fascinated by its artifacts. “They are beautiful objects, rare and fragile, but can still be used. I asked if I could print with them to document the wood type and create a piece of art.”

Ichiyama’s design students at Purdue University were enthusiastic participants. “They get their hands dirty, smell ink, and get to work with the press. Students get tired of the computer. When they’re frustrated with the computer, they just give up—when they’re frustrated with the press, there’s something to do,” he says. These type sets were chosen because it is so rare to find a complete alphabet. The originals were printed letterpress and then digitized, reduced, and printed offset in about a dozen complete sets, which Ichiyama sells, sending a percentage of the profits back to the museum. “We didn’t touch up the type at all,” he says. “This wood type has been here longer than we have. I don’t think it needs a makeover.” Laurel Saville