“An Other Story”

By Blount & Rollins College Students

2021

Leporello accordion book with letterpress & digital prints on French Speckletone paper and binders board. Closed dimensions 8 5/8” tall x 6” wide.

By Ben Blount &

Gaby Clark

Anastasia Dresden

Emma Jones

Emma Lostutter

Madisen Mendoza

Maddie Moreland

Claudia Prado

Melissa Rodriguez

Liv Sala

Sam Shelly

Rachel Simmons

Nana Takano

Haley Van Doren

This project originated from Blount’s powerful artists book “First Impressions” in which he asked participants to recount the first time they felt othered. Blount put the same question to students in Rachel Simmons’ book arts class in spring 2021. The students responded through personal writing & bold imagery, then designed and printed folios on their provisional presses using metal type and other relief printmaking materials. Their folios addressed a range of personal experiences with feeling demeaned and marginalized—culturally, physically, socially. They responded to the prompt with honesty and courage. For almost every student in class, this was their first time working with letterpress, and they were inspired to take on that challenge by Blount’s bold use of typography in his work. Blount designed & printed the striking covers and Simmons did the colophon and assisted with assembling the edition of 20. The book is now part of the Rollins Book Arts Collection.

This project was made possible by a grant from the Rollins College Thomas P. Johnson Visiting Artist & Scholar Program.