Nelly Gable of the Imprimerie National d’ France visits Julia Ferrari once again, to renew their work and studies together. Two years ago Nelly Gable, award winning French punchcutter, received a mission order from the French government to travel to teach Julia Ferrari the art of punchcutting, the ancient art of engraving letters at size for fine hand printing. This art has been kept alive amazingly in a continuous unbroken tradition for 500 years by the French government. Ferrari is learning the craft, to continue the collective ability of her letterpress print shop, to be able to produce new typefaces and ornaments in hot metal for the future. She takes up the craft where her partner, Dan Carr, now deceased, left off, hoping to keep the rare craft alive in America. Carr was one of two people in the United States versed and actively competent in the craft. Ferrari now hopes to continue his legacy at Golgonooza, with her own efforts at punchcutting. Ferrari is in addition holding special intensive workshops at Golgonooza Letter Foundry, where students can experience firsthand the depth of heart inherent in craft and the use of the hand. She is holding one of a kind literary & journal writing workshops that interact with the use of hand set type, and the use of words in our physical space.
