Great Lakes Type
2015
Letterpress, Found Materials, Photography
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/37fc8a743c64625eb2ac5f12c26187382ee61ad6d952f087def618ae6ffb864c/SHOT_Detail.jpg)
The Great Lakes Type Project uses found materials along Lake Michigan to explore the connection between economic modes of production and the environment.
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/9b82ee1fb3e5887fe8c622c1b6f2bd12aeba2674b09e232321b21be1cacd6ebf/Research_Hammond-Beach_Ducks.jpg)
Throughout the 19th century, participants in “the big cut” extracted lumber from upper midwestern forests to construct cities on the east coast. A burgeoning wood type industry surrounding the Great Lakes used the same lumber to produce moveable type. In response to wood type’s roots in the extractive economy, I attempted to gather materials at three sites surrounding Lake Michigan. While beachcombing did not yield enough material to form a 12” x 18” block, I found alternative mediums to represent modern industry around the Lakes.
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/394e03769c800a7b648c7bcbec73dae1a778970d04b649eaa84208e0668f7735/Research_Hammond-Beach-Sludge.jpg)
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/20c23cfffd584cc7be5c0450783d06c7754dfa0b192a73d847507dfd00db83fb/Research_Hammond-Beach-Feather.jpg)
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/3ff5f58ea56c6808e837d4f2ef60b1f2064777df0fcfd95232f1e4ea302fd811/Research_Wolf-Lake_Water_2.jpg)
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/01c479de24da4da3202a8ebc38b9e1ae4e06f693e8c479bb1921d0e7fb402364/Research_Wolf-Lake_Water.jpg)
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/9d70a88a018732d5694c4d556b2024b5cbfe937cc7d908fee56a350f9d364ad7/Research_Wolf-Lake_Weeds.jpg)
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/9a8d481e1b24ca8ba6179af617240746bf48243f79366525f64c1ac2755461cf/Process_Feather-Garbage.jpg)
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/99c034aef69fa8914d9d7b1d26518b3cec3821aeccae88f572c71de2ee21e2e9/Process_Bag-o-Grain.jpg)
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/c4fd2c65cb67e776f1df8a114df3604d8386289e80222c0918fb666960e3f278/Process_Grain-Mound.jpg)
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/5d25ee4393f9ae2dafbad9a74bf6a8dd3f727d61d5396add186207b991f3c845/Process_Grain-Block.jpg)
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/b1109add2f2c0401b0df10667223db54a371617abfdf9dd10667a4eea8d6eaec/Process_Grains-Prep.jpg)
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/4e61d9716b6194c07baa68c1c129f39fd4d571409b1a80e31c15841dc4276115/Process_Dessication-Chamber.jpg)
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/80f1334adbe5961e1bb68a9d32e649c6c9ef357881728a317aaa7072f9f12b6d/Process_Spent-on-cutter.jpg)
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/3b2e51a11357e5af37ad5edece512745e10afd87aeb0531e3afed75e90d0ed45/Process_Lasercut-SPENT.jpg)
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/7d411b783125e133cecc17dc846957838cdc2db0b4715a46af2c0eab3dfd019f/Process_Carved-P.jpg)
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/17042f9244385a7f6d60e904e7293e90ee6762567e452dfbeb90ae13e46c115d/Process_Spent-on-Press.jpg)
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/d2054edf4be18b1903bb35caca2f74392e7df0727d45975be04cc615261c4870/SPENT_Proof.jpg)
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/f8e04e4ea7e9850934832d6d41ec0a735e4acc95f115bbce56587dd8be057909/SPENT_Detail.jpg)
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/d0fb1f04d5d00c43af56d3584804613f062e944eafb89f2a3aef17d7d1cfdd21/Process_Feather-Bag.jpg)
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/3250e43171ed6350cd52891c2f007b33a662bf50252c11575eb98e5a9911f9c0/Process_Shot-on-Cutter.jpg)
The pheasant feathers were adhered to type-high particle board and laser cut.
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/e85d7a76d9a9c6985ab06f8979c9fe60fd2ed3c6e609c95e72a6d43a3be93c76/Process_Lasercut-Shot.jpg)
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/cbaa33612435617723b0f5e06e760bd4badef3f56b031a0930a526889481363c/Process_Feather-S.jpg)
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/ec69e734cf3968e5fa49a5b4da2d1c397c4d706b890c14d035b4c0fa99008c8c/Process_Shot-on-Press.jpg)
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/01e9c568eefd027e46b18bcc4591358e954ab0f6142b9ba042f19dbe2b23437c/Process_Inked-H.jpg)
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/7c86af00136b2dbb76704a135cc16063f02e3baa24578560e0fce6bb91f34cfa/SHOT_Proof.jpg)
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/37fc8a743c64625eb2ac5f12c26187382ee61ad6d952f087def618ae6ffb864c/SHOT_Detail.jpg)
Shot (detail).