Bay View Printing Co. is a nearly 100-year-old neighborhood tradition, providing Milwaukee tradesmen and businesses with quality printed professional support materials. We’re a one-of-a-kind, locally owned business with long-standing relationships in the local business community and truly care about the satisfaction of our customers. Only now, this print shop has a new owner, and is ready for a new chapter.
I'm Ashley Town, a former professor at the Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design with a background in typography and printmaking. In addition to continuing to serve the local business community, I plan to make the shop’s resources available to Milwaukee’s art community, as well as its community community.
I’m raising funds to be able to offer classes, workshops and open studio time focused on the art of letterpress printing and to transform a portion of the current space into a community gallery. The vision is to transform this Bay View institution into a creative hub for artists, designers, writers and letterpress novices and enthusiasts.
The money we raise during this campaign will go toward light construction in the current space. It will also help us to purchase equipment needed for teaching. More importantly, it will help preserve the art of letterpress printing and make classes accessible to the local community. Classes will include, but are not limited to: Learning to use antique hand-operated presses; Operating a Vandercook large-format press; Greeting card workshops; Business card workshops; Hand-set type design and printing; Linoleum block carving; and more. I'll have more information and a full schedule of classes for the next few months on our website soon so please check it out – www.bayviewprintingco.com
The $11,500 we raise will help us to:
1. Purchase four additional small hand presses for use during workshops and classes – Estimated cost $1600
2. Reconfigure the space to be suitable for multi-use: commercial printing, teaching classes and displaying local art. This involves building walls, refinishing floors and moving equipment – Estimated cost $6000
3. Build a large table to host classes – Estimated cost $600
4. Build custom shelving for supplies, print drying, etc. – Estimated cost $800
5. Purchase chairs and lighting for the workshop space – Estimated cost $1200
6. Remodel the bathroom for public use – Estimated cost $1300
If we exceed our goal we will use the money to cover Indiegogo and Paypal fees. All remaining funds will be used to purchase materials for future workshops and classes (ex: paper, ink, brayers, more shelving, additional work surfaces).
Other ways you can help:
For those who cannot contribute financially, but believe this is a worthwhile project, please help us spread the word via email, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Be sure to link to our Indiegogo site so that people can read our story. Thank you!
