\n\tBy CHUCK STARESINIC<\/p>\n
\n\tIt\u2019s safe to say that the University community includes more than a few history buffs, lovers of the printed word and steadfast believers in the power of the press. On Sept. 18, all visitors to the Text and conText Lab, located in 310 Hillman Library, will have the opportunity to experiment with letterpress printing on the lab\u2019s working 19th-century presses during a drop-in open house running from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.<\/p>\n
\n\tThe date (9\/18) is a playful nod to \u201ctype high,\u201d which refers to the 0.918-inch standard height to which all metal and wood type is cast, allowing type from different foundries, eras and presses to work interchangeably. It\u2019s that bit of printing-history trivia that gives Type High Day its name and its Sept. 18 date.<\/p>\n
\n\tVisitors may print a Pitt-themed keepsake on one of the Lab\u2019s antique letterpresses, take on a typesetting challenge that ranks participants from \u201cprinter\u2019s devil\u201d to \u201cjourneyman,\u201d vote for their favorite typeface, and potentially win a gift card. No experience, registration or special background is required. Faculty, staff, students and visitors can drop in as their schedule allows.<\/p>\n
\n\tIn addition to being a fun way to produce a little art and learn history, the event serves as an informal introduction to a valuable teaching space available to the Pitt community. The Text and conText Lab\u2019s letterpresses and related equipment are available for faculty to incorporate into their courses, offering a tactile, hands-on complement to coursework in typography, book and text arts, printmaking, creative writing and other disciplines.<\/p>\n
\n\t\u201cType High Day is really a low-stakes, informal, and fun way for faculty and staff to experience the space and equipment firsthand,\u201d said Erik Schuckers, interim co-director and manager of communications and programming at Pitt\u2019s Center for Creativity.<\/p>\n
\n\t\u201cA number of instructors have been incorporating the lab into their courses, and the response has been overwhelmingly positive,\u201d Schuckers added.<\/p>\n
\n\tChuck Staresinic is interim editor of the University Times. Reach him at chuck.s@pitt.edu<\/a>.<\/p>\n \n\t\u00a0<\/p>\n \n\tHave a story idea or news to share? Share<\/a> it with the University Times.<\/p>\n