The main element of the exhibition will be the 133 broadsides Lead Graffiti produced for their Tour de Lead Graffiti project, following each stage and rest day of the Tour de France from 2011–2015. Their work has been published in the pages of “Sports Illustrated,” and has been shown in various configurations in exhibitions, including The British Library and the Hamilton Wood Type Museum. However, this is the first and only time that all of the broadsides have been exhibited together in their entirety. The Tour de Lead Graffiti is one of the largest single letterpress projects ever produced, 133 broadsides, and it will be thrilling to see it all at once.

Lead Graffiti was formed in 2008 by Ray Nichols and Jill Cypher as an experimental letterpress laboratory. The husband-and-wife team of artists/designers focus on public causes, a love of words and typography, passing historical and technical information forward, and a playful disregard for the usual design rules. Lead Graffiti’s studio is packed with cases of wood and metal type, printing presses of all kinds, a working hot-metal Intertype linecaster, and all the gear that Gutenberg would have known.

Ray and Jill’s talk will be one of two talks happening for our First Saturday Open House! Be sure to also join us at 12pm to hear Carol Moore talk about her felted covered artist books that will also be on display at the Center.

This is a free event!