Cafe Royal 'Rubber Stamps' by Stephen Fowler

My Rubber Stamps book for Cafe Royal came out in the Summer. I'm over the moon with it.
Thanks to Craig Atkinson, the fantastic publisher and photographer.

Rubber Stamps
11cm x 8cm x 1.5cm
Hand made tray with lift off lid, both 1500 micron card.
Coated with Amethyst Wibalin Buckram
Foil blocked in flat black

edition of 50

Contents:
32pp zine, b/w digital
a selection of hand made prints and badges

each box contains different prints and badges. Some contain more of one and fewer of the other. Max two badges, min one badge.

The stamp impressions are all from the Minnesota Centre for Book Arts Scott Helmes and Picasso Gaglione Stamp Archive.

You can buy the book here.

The S.Helmes & W.Gaglione Stamp Archive is one of the largest repositories of rubber stamps and stamp-related materials in the world. Comprised of hundreds of commercial and one-of-a-kind boxed sets and over 70,000 individual stamps spanning a period of 120 years, the H/G Archive is both comprehensive and incredibly diverse. In addition to physical stamps, the collection includes original stamp art, artists’ books, limited-edition publications, journals, catalogs, reference materials, correspondence art, assemblings, design specifications, posters, and production materials.

30 Day Rubber Stamp Challenge

I came across the 30-day rubber stamp challenge on the excellent Facebook group 'Rubber Stamp Art'. The 30-day rubber stamp challenge consists of making a stamp a day for 30 days. 

I cheated a little bit, some days I didn't make a stamp, other days I made over 4 or 5 stamps. Once I got started it became very addictive, any free moment I made a stamp. 

Rather than making stamps which exploited the medium, such as images to be multiplied, flies, bricks, plant segments and fonts, I made stamps to be used in multiple contexts, like a chapbook printer and their collection of picture letterpress blocks.  

The first sheet of rubber stamp impressions








































The second set of stamp impressions 

The carved stamps for the 1st sheet of stamps

The second set of stamps for the second sheet

Passport Office Traveling to Malmö, Sweden

The Passport Office has been invited to take up residence at Malmö Artist’s Book Biennial. (MABB)
My Passport Officer shirt is being altered, (a new patch will be made) and a redesign for both the Passports and official rubber stamps has been requested. 22 stamps for all the participating stalls, publishers and book artists will be sourced from my collection, or especially carved. 
I'm very excited. 
It takes place on 20/21 April 2018. 
How will it be received ? Come along or watch this space and find out! 

http://www.mabb2018.se/  

MABB – Malmö Artists’ Books Biennial, will be a Swedish and International exhibi­tion and selling platform for art works that are inspired by the structural and conceptual properties of the book form.

MABB, arranged for the first time 2018, will invite both national and inter­national artists, publishers, booksellers and organizations to participate in the first International fair for artist’s books in Sweden – an art genre that is attracting more and more attention.

THE BALLAD OF CHETHAM’S LIBRARY: MUSIC AND PRINTING WORKSHOP

Desdemona McCannon invited me to collaborate with her on a marvellous Popular Print/Street Literature project workshop at Chetham Library, Manchester.

Chetham's Library was founded in 1653 and is the oldest public library in the English-speaking world.  http://library.chethams.com/

     



We worked alongside the inspiring Jennifer Reid, and the brilliant Graham Moss of Incline Press.

http://jenniferreid.weebly.com/    https://www.inclinepress.com/

Come and listen to ballad singer Jennifer Reid talk about her recent research trip to Bangladesh, where she explored Manchester and Lancashire song traditions, and how they relate to Bangladeshi songs of the same type. Jennifer will also perform a couple of folksongs from the Lancashire area similar to “Barbara Allen”, whose long and fascinating history will be described in depth during Vic Gammon’s Library Lecture later on in the day.

Again as an introduction to Vic Gammon’s talk, participants will be able to get a free letterpress version of “Barbara Allen” as produced by local printer Graham Moss from Incline Press in Oldham. There will be a chance to finish these copies with your own choice of illustrations by the hand of artist Desdemona McMannon and printer Stephen Fowler, who will provide a number of specially commissioned rubberstamps for this workshop.

We are making our collections of broadsides, ballads and single sheet material available online thanks to our ACE funded digitisation project “The Ballad of Chetham’s Library”. In addition to creating digital surrogates, we have put together a whole programme of activities aimed at providing a better understanding of the world of street literature from the 16th to the 19th century. This is our first event. There will be more events as part of “The Ballad of Chetham’s Library” project later on in the year. Follow us on Twitter #bballadschet to keep up to date.

Here are a few photographs of the event. 

Des's Rubber Stamps.
http://www.art.mmu.ac.uk/profile/dmccannon
All photographs taken by Desdemona Mccannon 

Rubber Stamp Artist in Residence at MCBA Minnesota Centre for Book Arts July 2017

The Minnesota Centre for Book Arts has recently acquired the rubber stamp archive of two leading lights from the history of rubber stamp art; Scott Helmes and William “Picasso” Gaglione.

SCOTT HELMES  

Scott Helmes is a visual poet who began collecting rubber stamp sets in 1974. His poetry stretches the limits of language, explores the multifaceted concepts of meaning, and encompasses all manners of reading. His work also investigates typographic concepts, printing methods, and alternative letter forms within the modern meaning of communication. Helmes’ poetry is realized through a variety of techniques and materials such as rubber stamps, stencils, and collage. He has exhibited internationally and his work is in the collections of some of the world’s leading institutions, including Minneapolis’ Walker Art Center, New York’s Museum of Modern Art, London’s Victoria & Albert Museum, Paris’ Bibliotheque Nationale de France, and Frankfurt’s Museum für Kunsthandwerk.

WILLIAM “PICASSO” GAGLIONE

An avid collector of all things, William “Picasso” Gaglione was the original owner of Stamp Francisco and has been involved with rubber stamp art and rubber stamp manufacturing for decades. He is currently the co-proprietor of Chicago's Stampland. His artistic influence on the world of rubber stamping has been documented extensively through numerous international exhibitions and publications. As a publisher, he has produced multiple boxed exhibition catalogs and assembling periodicals such as Stampzine. Gaglione has created many aliases and identifications during his long career as a conceptual artist (Picasso, Dadaland, etc.) and he continues to prolifically create and perform as a neo-Dadist, Fluxus practitioner, and correspondence artist.

Jeff Rathermel, the fantastic curator of MCBA, invited me to be the archive's first rubber stamp artist in residence. 

The large archive, (amounting to 70,000 stamps, and stamp related material) was in the process of being documented and catalogue whilst i was there. I was very kindly given access to the rubber stamp archive room.

Craft Stamper Interview March 2017

I was interviewed for the March edition of 'Craft Stamper'.

RUNNER: Regular: Artist in Residence

TITLE: Artist in Residence: Stephen Fowler


(((Hi Stephen, thank you so much for working with us! Please answer the questions below in approx. 150 words per question and attach around 5 images to accompany some of your answers. Thanks again!)))


Q: Tell us a little bit about yourself and background as a maker. 

A: I studied Illustration at both degree and post graduate level at Harrow Art School and Central Saint Martins school of Art & Design. I caught the printing bug during my time at Harrow, I particularly liked etching and woodcut, and this was where I first experienced the excitement of carving rubber stamps and making artist books. 
Since then I’ve been an Illustrator, D.J, making posters, flyers, projections and souvenirs for my own club nights. Exhibited in galleries and artist book fairs, run experimental and masterclasses in both print, rubber stamping and artist books. I’ve also orchestrated Wildman life classes around the country. Alongside these indeavors, I’ve taught Illustration in a number of art schools including Banbury & Bicester College, Kingston University, Camberwell Art College, and Worcester University were I’ve recently taken up a part time position. My art and teaching practice are intertwined, they fed each other.  


Q: Your artwork is very diverse; what would you say is your main source of inspiration?

A: It’s hard to say, I suppose the medium, every medium has its qualities, so a lot of time I allow that to determine my ideas. For example, I’ve recently carved lots of rubbery food stamps these included; processed cheese squares, ham and round sausage slices. On another occasion, using the same carved potato, I printed a series of portrait impressions over a week, called ‘Memento Mori’. At first the portrait was youthful, but by the fifth day it had started to shrink and crinkle, by the seventh day you can imagine what happened! Another instance I explored white pigment ink, for a pigment it’s very translucent, very ghostly, so this inspired some paranormal print postcards. Rubber stamps also make for superb silhouette impressions, this characteristic will inspire a series of graphic descriptive stamps for a potential exhibition and publication in Preston.


Q: What does your work space look like?

A: I’m between studios at the moment. My last work space was on Hackney Road, East London. I shared a floor with my friend Rocky, he’s a carpenter working with reclaimed wood, he very kindly transformed my workspace, building shelves, work surface out of found tea-crates, old doors and discarded furniture. He used a bay-window, and an old British Rail waiting room window to separate our work areas. His higgledy pigglty interior decoration made for inspiring workspace! On the walls I super glued clothes pegs, so artwork, drawings clippings could be moved and replaced at ease. I had several bookcases, and workstations to lay out inspirational material, for the making of books and large prints. By the two large windows at the far end of the studio you’d have seen a clothes line with drying prints, a sink and stove for cooking my supper, or breakfast if I’d worked through the night. 


Q: Which technique/material do you enjoy using the most?

A: Hmm, difficult to say, anything that’s cheap! I’m always on the lookout for rubbers/erasers in stationeries, art, craft, or gift shops, for making into stamps. I already have a large collection, which I’m steadily working my through. Working with a variety of erasers, be they large or very small in size, and unusually shaped, always sparks the imagination and makes for a variety of inventive results. More and more commercially made rubber stamp blocks or soft Lino sheets are available, (suggesting a rubber stamp revival perhaps?). I like testing them, trying them out. I’m finding the textured back of Adigraf linoleum particularly satisfying to print with at moment. But still nothing beats the reliability of speedball speedy carve.  


Q: Which stage of the creative process do you find most exciting?
A: Right now it’s the research stage. By the time I’d finished my book on Rubber Stamping, I’d unearthed a lot of historical material, and came across Pawel Petasz, a leading Polish Mail Artist. His work came to prominence
during the Cold War. Poland’s printing presses were severely regulated at the time, so he took to making Lino cuts, potato prints and hand carved rubber stamps. His work is graphic, raw, expressive and very inventive, and he’s still alive today. As is Picasso Giglione, a contemporary of Petasz, your readers may know his rubber Stamp shop, ‘Stampland’, based in Chicago. Both Giglione and Scott Helmes, another stamp artist, have recently donated their entire collections of rubber stamp related material to the Minnesota Centre for Book Arts. By next summer this working archive will be available to view and used by the public. I’ve been invited to be archive’s first artist in residence, I’m looking forward to delving through what promises to be an exciting treasure trove.


Q: What advice do you have for emerging designer makers working in stamping? 
A: Make friends with other stampers, wither that’s going to rubber stamp workshops, via Mail Art, or why not start up a stamping club? You’ll find encouragement and inspiration from other’s artwork and feedback.  Mail Art; there’s nothing like receiving unexpected art through the post, it’s a joyful experience, comparable to birthday cards from old friends or love letters. Sharing or/and collaborating can open your eyes to other ways of making, craving, printing, and a different-types and colours of ink, dye or pigment, and even a variety of new subject matter.
Try and make the most of the stamping medium, it’s not just a reproduction process, it’s great for making repeats, its portable so print on people, buildings, and food, and why not make your own set of letters if you can’t find the ones you want. It’s often used as an official form of language so carve own collection of commands or instructional stamps. Most importantly have fun with stamping (and of course buy my book!). 

Rubber Stamp Workshops - Spring/Summer

Since my last post, I've been organising and preparing with several institutions a number of Rubber Stamp Workshops for the spring and summer months. 

First up, Rubber Stamp Artistamps at the Victoria & Albert Museum.
Saturday, 10 June; 10:30 – 16:30
£92/£74

Explore the possibilities of rubber stamping techniques in this one day workshop led by Stephen Fowler. Taking inspiration from the V&A collections, students will learn how to carve and print their own rubber stamps to be used to create an edition of artist postage stamp sheets to share and take away.
Suitable for beginners, all materials provided

https://www.vam.ac.uk/shop/whatson/index/view/id/4845/event/Rubber-Stamps-and-Artist-Stamps/dt/2017-06-10/eType/1/free/2

Next: the Idler Academy,  
Sunday 18th June
The Idler Academy at Great Western Studios, 65 Alfred Road, London W2 5EU
1:30pm – 6pm
£75

Over the course of this one-day workshop, you will realise the creative potential of D.I.Y rubber stamp printing. You will be taught how to carve rubber stamps from erasers, make single colour and multi-colour stamp prints, and to bind a limited editioned pamphlet book to house the group’s stamp impressions, as a keepsake for the day. All materials will be provided, and the price includes a Hendrick’s gin & tonic at the end of the session. We are offering a special Father’s Day gift discount: buy two tickets for only £100 (instead of £150) and invite your father, or someone special, along to spend a lovely Sunday afternoon creating your own rubber stamping pamphlet. 
Just call 0203 176 7907 or email mail@idler.co.uk to take advantage of this offer.

And finally;
University of the West of England, Bristol.
Tuesday 8th - Thursday 10th August 2017 at the Bower Ashton Studios, UWE Bristol, UK BS3 2JT. £200/£160
All materials, teas/coffees and lunch are included in the price

Another chance to catch my Artistamp Workshop, this is a more extensive workshop spread over 3 days. 


Artiststamps, or artists’ stamps, are closely associated with mail art; they reflect its spirit of marrying art and the everyday. Stamps signify payment, and mail artists test and tease the postal system with their playful appropriation of this official form of evidence.

Create an array of stamps during this workshop by learning how to carve rubber stamps from erasers and a number of DIY perforation techniques. 

The famous CFPR perforating machine will be available to use and Stephen will teach you how to create single and multiple-coloured stamp impressions, and mask and position rubber stamps accurately.You will be encouraged to send your results through the post to a national and international networks of mail artists.


http://store.uwe.ac.uk/product-catalogue/short-courses/faculty-of-arts-creative-industries-and-education/cpd-courses/centre-for-fine-print-research-cpd-courses/artistamps-full-price

Rubber Stamping Workshop - June 19th - Bristol

I'm very pleased to announce my first rubber stamp workshop in Bristol since moving here in February 2015. Its going to take place in Vicky Harrison's wonderful shop PAPER VILLAGE.

Its a four hour workshop and costs £38. Visit the shop or email vic.harrison@blueyonder.co.uk to book your places.









More details visit - https://www.facebook.com/events/554307971418200/

Antique Rubber Stamps

For the last few weeks I've been staying temporally in my Sisters house. I haven't had the space, or time to make my own stamps, but I have purchased quite a few stamps off the net. These are antique stamps from the 1960s, and 1970s. I've managed to find some great bargains from the USA and around the UK.

My niece and I have been trying them out, making mail art, get well soon cards and other things.

Japanese Railroad Rubber Stamps

Another great book from the Arnolfini bookshop - Japanese Railroad Rubber Stamps 

This is what it says on the back of the book; 

Rubber stamps are installed at railroad stations throughout Japan. As many as 5,000 such stamps are in use today.Each one is unique, bearing the station name along with specially designed patterns that convey the uniqueness of the locality via images of sightseeing spots, specialty products and other aspects of the region. Just looking through these stamps makes one feel like going on a trip. This volume contains approximately 380 imprints of such stamps selected from all over the country and representing various periods, drawing from the compilers collection of around 70,000.

 

A link to an article on Japanese Rubber Stamping: https://denshadejapan.wordpress.com/2011/05/22/the-eki-stamp/ 

Hot off the press - Limited Edition 'Cosmic Forces' Artist Book Now available !

‘As Shakespeare said, you can call spirits from the vastly deep, but will they answer?’ 

Mr. Franklin. Hound of the Baskervilles. 20^thCentury Fox 1939

Stephen Fowler explores his fascination with American B movies of the 1930’s & 40’s fascination with Spiritualism, séances and Mediums in his Artist Book, Cosmic Forces. 

Throughout the period these cheap and quickly made films often employed the paranormal in highly effective ends, creating scary and haunting atmospheres to chill the cinema audience. 

Introducing and utilizing the props of Spiritualism such as darkened rooms, ouija boards, floating spirit hands and voices and ectoplasm was an economical means to convey the strange and ‘other’. Another was exploiting the suspicion of the outsider in casting brilliant Eastern European and Asian character actors as Spirit Mediums. Scriptwriters drafted eerie, eccentric and sometimes profound lines and for these actors to speak,

‘those beyond, they know, they told me death would come among us’ 

   

Mrs. Walters. Charlie Chan’s Murder Cruise, 20^th Century Fox 1940

     

I made this book by printing a selection of my hand cut rubber stamps.

I stretched the paper and painted it with some very old antique red drawing ink, then I printed/stamped with thick strong bleach, oil and water based ink. 

I'm pleased to announce that a limited edition pressing of the concertina book has been made and is available via my email. sngfowler@yahoo.co.uk