Dan Shafer
The energy and effort that students put into their work is constantly inspiring to me.
Which courses do you teach?
I teach beginning bookbinding and letterpress in the DesignDepartment. Look for the room full of antique equipment.
Why do you teach?
I always joke with my students that I steal all their best ideas --and in some ways that is true. The energy and effort that students put into their work is constantly inspiring to me. It pushes me to workharder on my own projects, and sometimes gives me new ideas or helpsme come up with a new direction to take.
What brought you to Cornish?
I was really impressed with the overall vision and professionalism of the school when I was looking into Cornish. The administration really sees it as their mission to support students as much as possible. Cornish is growing and it is an exciting place to be right now.
Where do you draw inspiration from?
As an artist and designer, my greatest inpiration comes from finding things around me in the world and making them into something else. Iam particularly interested in the ways that people interact with things, which is why making books is a passion of mine. If you handsomeone a book, they know what to do with it. A lot of people are intimidated by what they perceive as "art."
What drew you to your field?
From the day I was introduced to a letterpress by Elsi Vassdal Ellis up at Western Washington University, I couldn't get enough. Adding in bookbinding to that was a natural fit, and I have been learning ever since. Although it is a very old trade, hand-printing and -binding has been growin in popularity in the last few decades. The physical, tactile experience of making something appeals to many people, and that was certainly the case for me.
Tell us about your creative process:
I am a big believer in making, making, making. I think that the best way to come up with ideas is to experiment with materials, with words, with forms, with anything that is around. I see my projects as experiments -- a lot of times I really don't know how they will turn out, and half of them will be complete failures.
What projects are you currently working on?
Right now I'm working on perfecting a couple bindings. I'm also working on some linoleum cut posters. Any my big task is to organize the letterpress studio at Cornish.
What do you do for fun?
I love music (seeing shows and listening to just about anything), backpacking, going to see the Mariners, and cooking good food. My wife and I are having our first baby soon, so I don't know how much of that I'll be doing.
What do you like most about Cornish?
My favorite thing about Cornish, especially in the classes I teach, is the interaction between all the different programs. I love having musicians and dancers alongside designers and artists, and seeing the students learn from each other.