Dearborn Station Artists’ Book
Designer, printer, and crafter
Dearborn Station was pivotal in the development of the Printers Row area of South Loop, Chicago. The station was able to deliver the necessary paper and other required supplies to the multitude of printers who worked in the surrounding blocks. Printers Row, until recently, relied on the use of letterpress printing. This pop-up book combines old and new production methods: the masonite covers were laser engraved and cut, then the engravings were hand-filled with gold ink; the paper station was laser cut, then foil-stamped and hand-folded; and the paper base under the station was letterpress printed using wood and metal type as a tribute to the history of the station. This work is available for viewing at the Joan Flasch Artists’ Book Collection.
The gold "DEARBORN STATION" title on the cover of the piece is a reproduction of the sign that currently adorns the station. Don't forget to look up the next time you pass by it.
This book was made in an edition size of 16. When opened, the book measures 9 inches by 12 inches by 5.5 inches tall.
Scope of work included layout design, letterpress printing, foil-stamping, laser cutter file preparation and operation, and construction of pop-up books.
process images
Some initial sketches of the plan.
A historic headline about Dearborn Station.
Another historic headline.
Dearborn Station as it appears today (on Google Maps).
An antique postcard of Dearborn Station in its functioning glory.
