Cal and I met when he took an Intro to Letterpress class I was teaching at the Independent Publishing Resource Center in Portland. He printed a small card as his sample for class, a beaver with the text “Symbiotic Culture Collective.” We talked about our separate projects and our love of letterpress. I suggested we collaborate. A few weeks later my life was upended and I forgot about the offer.

Luckily he reached out six months later, we met for coffee, realized we share a library, some mutual acquaintances and a passion for interactive art.

Our plan was to letterpress print at least part of the card, but in order to finish in time for a show of artwork where the cards would be shared, chose risograph. I hand drew the letters for the phrase SYMBIOTIC CULTURE COLLECTIVE then cut and arranged them as if I was setting type. They were printed twice, once in yellow, then turned and printed again. As I continue to learn about riso it is fun seeing what it can mimic. Cal wrote all the text.

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Three color risograph printed at Independent Publishing Resource Center in Portland.

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