The 2022 artist-in-residence for the Mancos Common Press will feature visual artist Saba from July 5 to July 11.
Saba is a Diné artist from northern New Mexico, and specializes in murals, screen printing and painting.
During his residency at the Common Press, Saba will combine screen printing and letterpress to create a series of prints using the historic presses and type. He also will host opportunities for the community to learn more about his work and participate in live screenprinting.
On July 8 at 7 p.m., he will give a talk at the Mancos Community Center, 130 Grand Ave.
On July 9 from 2-7 p.m. there will be a community open house at the Common Press, 135 Grand Ave. Saba will do a live mural painting at 4 p.m. People are invited to print their own T-shirt using Saba’s designs. Bring a T-shirt to print.
Saba released a YouTube video of him creating a “Water is Life” mural.
Nine artists working on an installation at the Fort Garland Museum & Cultural Center visited the Press in June to learn about incorporating historical letterpress printing into the exhibit.
Led by photographer and muralist Chip Thomas, the artists are exploring a broader history of the Buffalo Soldiers’ time at Fort Garland during the Western expansion of the United States. Letterpress was the medium during that time.
Press shop manager Rosie Carter is one of the artists involved in the project. Printers Annie Seder and Matt Neff assisted with the group. The artists plan to collaborate at the Press over the next year. The show will open at Fort Garland in June 2023.
Carter, a local artist and printmaker, recently joined the Press as the new shop manager. She and Jamie Karolich were artists-in-residence in 2021.
Carter has been digging deep into letterpress world, learning new skills and teaching classes along the way. She’ll work at the Press on Wednesdays and Thursdays, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., coordinating programming and community opportunities as well as keeping things organized and running smoothly.
The Press shared plans for the Mancos Commons project and received input from the community at a well-attended meeting last week.
The Mancos Commons is a mixed-use development in the lot adjacent to the Press building. It is envisioned as a two-story building including three or four attainable housing units, large workshop space for the Mancos Common Press and community usage, and both retail and office space. For information about the project, contact type@mancoscommonpress.com.
