Optional excursions
We have organized several optional excursions for Friday, July 11, with the goal of inviting conference attendees to
explore the vibrant past and present of Rochester's bookish community. Pre-registration is required; you can choose and pay for excursions when you register for the conference.
Docent-Guided Tour of the Susan B. Anthony House and Museum
The National Susan B. Anthony Museum & House in Rochester, New York, features the National Historic Landmark home of the legendary civil rights leader, and the site of her famous arrest for voting in 1872. This home was the headquarters of the National American Woman Suffrage Association when she was its president. This is also where she died in 1906 at age 86, following her “Failure is Impossible” speech in Baltimore. Tours begin at the Visitor Center at 19 Madison Street, where you will find a museum shop and small exhibit center. Over the course of 45-60 minutes you will explore all three floors of Susan B Anthony’s National Historic Landmark home while learning her incredible story from one of our knowledgeable and passionate docents. Your guided experience will include walking outside and navigating two staircases. One of the many highlights of your tour will be to visit the front parlor, the room where Susan B. Anthony was arrested for voting in the 1872 presidential election. Tour time TBD. $20.00. Maximum 20 attendees.
Tour and Happy Hour at the Visual Studies Workshop
Attendees are invited to explore the new home of the Visual Studies Workshop. Joan Lyons, founder of the VSW Press and Tara Nelson, Chief Curator and Managing Editor of VSW Press will share highlights from their renowned Independent Press Archive, which documents the rich, 56-year history of VSW. Immediately following the tour, guests can enjoy a glass of wine or a refreshing seltzer in the gallery, where clips of audiovisual media related to the Independent Press will be playing on screen. 4-6 PM. $10.00. Maximum 20 attendees.
A Riparian Ramble: Rochester’s History and the Landmarks of the Printed Word
Join local history expert and preservation architect Christopher Brandt for a two-hour guided walking tour exploring Rochester’s transformation over more than two centuries. From a humble village on the falls to a booming industrial hub, from a center of civil rights activism to a leader in horticulture and optics, Rochester’s evolution is written into its landscape. This tour begins at the corner of Platt Street and Browns Race and concludes at the historic Rundel Memorial Library. 10:00 AM. $20. Optional lunch in the city afterward. Maximum 20 attendees.
Dead Lines: Writers, Publishers and Printers of Mount Hope Cemetery
Established in 1838, Mount Hope Cemetery is one of America’s earliest garden cemeteries, spanning over 196 acres of rolling hills, winding eskers, and deep kettles, offering a picturesque and historic setting for this exploration. https://fomh.org/. During this 90 minute walking tour led by Mount Hope tour guide Liz Call, discover the rich literary history of Mount Hope Cemetery as you delve into the lives and legacies of writers, publishers, and printers who shaped their era’s literary and cultural landscape. From bestselling authors to unsung printers, learn how these individuals left their mark on the written word—and the world. This tour will start at the south end of the cemetery. Please note that the cemetery is quite hilly. 10:00 AM. $20. Maximum 20 attendees.
Book Arts Workshops at Flower City Arts Center
Established in 1970, the Flower City Arts Center is a community-based not-for-profit organization that educates, encourages, and inspires all people to create and enjoy the visual arts, design, and media.
Riso 101: 10 am - 1 pm. Maximum 6 attendees. This class will teach attendees the basics of printing and reproducing work on the Risograph duplicator and become an authorized RISO user in the Book Arts Studio! Students will print an edition of 3-color, 8.5”x11” prints of their own design created during this workshop. Choose from our selection of 11 Riso inks! Source materials for prints will include drawings and collage materials. There will also be a demo of how to print using digital files.
Case-Bound Pamphlet Stitch: 1:30 - 4:30 pm. Maximum 6 attendees. Drop into the Book Arts Studio for this one-day workshop where you will learn how to create a basic hardcover notebook from start to finish. Through demonstrations and step-by-step instruction, you will leave the workshop with a customized hardcover book and the skills to make countless more. All materials provided.
Eco Printing: 10 am - noon. Maximum 6 attendees. This workshop will focus on locally and sustainably sourced plant materials like leaves and flowers to produce earth inspired design on cotton paper and fabric. Students will explore techniques for bundling, mordanting and steaming to enhance the color fixation. This class is suitable for beginners looking to experiment with natural materials. All materials provided.
Intro to Hand Papermaking: 1:00 - 4:00 pm. Maximum 4 attendees. In this introductory workshop, students will learn the basics of hand papermaking, including pulp preparation, sheet forming, couching, pressing, and drying. Experiment with different methods, paper sizes, additives, and forms. No prior experience necessary. All materials provided.
All workshops: $50 (materials included)
