Letterpress designer and printer, Daniel Swartz, presented his artist lecture series, “Of Faith and Makers,” on Wednesday, March 18, in the McGlothlin-Street Theatre, Gregory Center.
“Are you defined by what you make or who you are?” Swartz asked the graphic design class earlier that day, where he presented “12 Mistakes I Made As An Artist So You Don’t Have To.”
Swartz examined themes including the dangers of pride, prioritizing money over time and overreliance on social media.
Following the 2020 pandemic, Swartz began his freelance and letterpress career with a hand-carved linoleum print that sold unexpectedly. Although he was inexperienced in printmaking, he learned that imperfect things are loved.
Swartz advised the graphic design class to be wary of how social media can affect mental health.
“Notifications are not the same thing as progress,” Swartz said. He previously struggled with overthinking his Instagram posts, causing unnecessary and overwhelming anxiety. He emphasized the importance of protecting his peace, such as turning off notifications or replying later, in order to remain present with his family.
Swartz, who speaks at universities across the country, emphasizes the importance of discussing failure and how the creative path is imperfect.
“It’s not as clean as the newspaper article makes it look,” Swartz said. “It’s easy to condense someone’s story, including our own, into a soundbite.”
In the afternoon, Swartz hosted a Lego print workshop in the basement of Derthick, where students experimented with mapping antique letter designs using Legos and pressing inked pieces onto paper to create tactile prints.
“I worked digitally for a long time,” Swartz said. “You finish a project, send it out, and it’s just a file in the cloud. There’s nothing when you’re done. I want something in front of me that is finished.”
Following the workshop, students had an opportunity to present their portfolios to Swartz for review and feedback.
Later that evening, Swartz presented his public lecture series, “Of Faith and Makers,” where he discussed his letterpress journey.
Swartz encouraged audiences to trust God in everything. “His grace and mercy allow us to work,” Swartz said. Swartz founded and manages the Hoosier Type Company. His prints can be viewed on Instagram, Facebook, and his website, hoosiertypeco.squarespace.com.
Photo: Daniel Swartz poster by Mary Grace
