Amanda Buck

We the People

A few months back I started a letterpress project. It required participation from friends all over the country, so the process was long and unpredictable. It was challenging and fun, and I hope to do more projects like it in the future.

As these things go, the final product doesn’t much resemble what I originally had in mind. But that is the nature of experimentation. You just have to roll with it— making adjustments as you go along and letting go of things that simply aren’t working.  

So without further ado, I present “We the People.”  34 designers were asked (and 27 responded) to draw selected words from the Preamble of the United States Constitution. These drawing styles are as eclectic and diverse as the people of this country. 

LETTERING & ILLUSTRATIONS BY:

Amanda Buck, Megan Deal, Evan Forrest, Nikole Gramm, Michael Greenler, J. Spence Holman, William Holman, Breanne Kostyk, Nicole Lavelle, James Martin, Sarah McIntire, Elaine Meese, Robin Mooty, Marc O’Brien, Corinne Olsen, Alex Pines, Playlab, Krista Reeder, Julie Roche, Laura Sanders, Seth Shaw, Blair Stapp, Aggie Toppins, Craig Turner, Danny Wicke, Terran Wilson, & Grace Wu

Thank you all for participating.

THE PROCESS

I sent these instructions along with stamped, self-addressed postcards in black envelopes. 

I printed 5 overlapping layers of phrases in the background using large wood and metal type. On their own, they SCREAM patriotism, but when overlapped, the messages are more subtle. One can spend time with the poster, discovering each phrase printed on the background layers. Here are two examples:

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Here are some examples of the drawings/collages/lettering received from designers all over the country (by Breanne Kostyk, Robin Mooty, Aggie Toppins, Alex Pines, Corinne Olsen, and Danny Wicke).

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I put all the drawings together in order to make a photopolymer plate. 

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And here is the final result! 

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They are on sale over at Buck Up Prints’ Big Cartel and $10 from each poster sold will be donated to the Obama 2012 campaign.