Superimposed: A Collaborative Risograph Zine Workshop with Rachel Simmons and Chrissy Kolaya

WHO: Who would enjoy this workshop? Anyone with a creative practice, whether visual and/or written, who is interested in collaboration, zine making and learning how to print on a risograph machine! This workshop, facilitated by Rollins professor, printmaker and book artist Rachel Simmons and UCF professor and writer Chrissy Kolaya, will coincide with the letterpress exhibition Type Out Loud exhibition on view at the SVAD Art Gallery from Jan. 11 through Feb. 9, 2023.

WHAT: By printing from a variety of existing materials such as sketchbook pages, books and magazines, we’ll explore the expressive possibilities of superimposing imagery and text in a collaborative risograph zine (pronounced “reeso-graph zeene”). In addition, we’ll explore how collaboration can generate new ideas for artists and writers.

Zines are inexpensive, self-published books that can address any topic using any subject matter and are often traded amongst zine makers. Risographs are printed on a special machine that runs one color layer at a time using soy-based inks that come in a wide range of saturated colors including fluorescents and metallics. The textural qualities and layering possibilities of the risograph have made it a very popular process with graphic designers, printmakers and zine makers.

WHERE: School of Visual Art and Design at the University of Central Florida, UCF Art Gallery. The workshop is free, but the workshop is limited to 15 participants and registration is required by Jan. 31, 2024

PROCESS/OUTCOMES:  Participants will work with a partner to create a collaborative riso zine, each taking home a copy of their collaboration, as well as a few extra copies to trade with other workshop participants. Introductions, pairing partners and demos. Partners select imagery for two separate overlapping color runs. Print both color layers. Add existing and/or new writing as a final layer in the zine. Fold the zines, share and exchange your work with others!

WHAT TO BRING: Visual artists are encouraged to bring a sketchbook, old books or magazines with interesting imagery. Writers are encouraged to bring either a work-in-progress, found text you’d like to work with, or be prepared to generate writing in response to the collaboration. Partners will choose and print two layers of found imagery by scanning the materials directly on the risograph. After both image layers have been printed, participants will be guided through a creative writing exercise in response to the imagery and invited to add this writing as a final layer to the zine. Paper and ink for zine printing will be provided.

Address: 12400 Aquarius Agora Dr, Orlando, FL 32816 (Room 140) Free parking is available in Garage F next to the Addition Financial Arena. Parking Lot H4 or Garage I requires purchasing a $5 daily virtual visitor permit, purchase here: https://parking.ucf.edu/permits/visitor-permits/ Please note that visitors should park in green student spaces ONLY, as the $5 daily virtual permit does not cover red and blue spaces from the hours of 7 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. Starting at 5:30 p.m., visitors can park in red, blue and green spaces.