Ambitious Projects

“Until one is committed, there is hesitancy, the chance to draw back, always ineffectiveness. Concerning all acts of initiative (and creation) there is one elementary truth, the ignorance of which kills countless ideas and splendid plans: that the moment one definitely commits oneself, then Providence moves too. All sorts of things occur to help one that would never otherwise have occurred. A whole stream of events issues from the decision, raising in one’s favor all manner of unforeseen incidents and meetings and material assistance, which no man could have dreamed would have come his way. Whatever you can do, or dream you can do, begin it. Boldness has genius, power, and magic in it. Begin it now.”

This passage is often attributed to Goethe. I originally read it as being by W. H. Murray in The Scottish Himalaya Expedition, 1951. The Goethe Society of North America cleared it up for me in this post http://www.goethesociety.org/pages/quotescom.html establishing my first reading of it to be the true citation.

Recently I was awarded a DownStreet Art space for the summer. DownStreet Art is a public art project designed to revitalize downtown North Adams. I will be moving my 2500lbs Vandercook Universal III Letterpress to one of the storefronts. Three different exhibitions will open during the run of the summer and I will be printing type, linocuts, polymer plates and pressure. Workshops, discussions and art jams will be offered. Some for free, some for a small fee.

Since I’ve made the mental commitment to this process, all sorts of things have started to occur to help me along the path to realizing it, including help from various friends with naming this venture. Thanks to Jodi Joseph! She came up with the clean and simple PRESS. The official title:

PRESS: Letterpress as a public art project

More updates and details coming soon! Watch this space.