Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Printing!

About the event

On the night of July 4th, 1776, John Dunlap, set the type and printed the first copies of the Declaration of Independence. Through this act of reproductive art, the Declaration of Independence was made available to all people.

Celebrate the foundation of democracy and equitable access to information through the art of relief printmaking at Main Library!

Join Super G Print Lab for Declaration Prints: A Relief Print Workshop and learn to create a relief print inspired by the Declaration of Independence. Participants will develop a design, carve it into a printing block, then ink and hand-print their image. No prior printmaking experience is necessary—all materials and instruction are provided. This program is for adults and registration is required. Please cancel your registration if you are unable to attend. Saturday August 22nd starting at 10:30 a.m. and will last about 2 1/2 hours in the Main Library auditorium.

You are never too young to print! Stop by the MakerLab for Ink, Stamp, Create! a special children’s printmaking program. Long before printers and computers important documents like the Declaration of Independence were reproduced by hand-operated printing presses, a type of relief printing, which allowed everyone across the country to read them. Discover how to make multiple copies of an image as you experiment with exciting relief printmaking techniques and create your own masterpiece!

This is a drop in event for children with an adult guardian. Saturday August 22nd starting at 10:30 am and running until about 11:30 am in the Main Library MakerLab located on the first floor.

Questions? Email Megan at mkoslofsky@dconc.gov

Super G Print Lab is an anchor of the printmaking community in North Carolina. We provide education, resources, equipment, and space to printmakers of all levels. As the only printmaking studio dedicated to teaching in the region, we offer beginner to advanced classes in screen printing, relief printmaking, and Risograph printing. We reach the surrounding community through live printing events and teaching on site at public places, schools, and businesses. Inviting in new printmakers and sustaining artists—spreading the gospel of ink—is our core mission. Super G was founded by Bill Fick over a decade ago and operates as a cooperative team of artists and teachers. Our current home is east of Downtown Durham and adjacent to Golden Belt Arts. 933 E. Main St, Durham, NC 27701.

Parking is available in the library parking lot or at the North Queen Street Garage located at 115 North Queen Street which is behind the apartments directly across the street from the library.

Image description: A Common press of the type John Dunlap would have used to print the first copies of the Declaration of Independance.