> by heather cook

The Western New York Book Arts Center (WNYBAC) presents an opportunity to understand the letterpress at Liquor & Letterpress, a fundraiser to benefit programming at WNYBAC. The interactive event is to be held on Saturday (11/7) from 6—9pm at 468 Washington Street in downtown Buffalo.

WNYBAC’s first annual Liquor & Letterpress Fundraising Event will feature an assortment of specialty cocktails presented by guest mixologists, food from local restaurants, live music by Buffalo’s own Ed Handman, Dave Phillips and John Werick, and an art auction displaying the works of over 20 artists. The highlight of the evening will include letterpress demos by WNYBAC volunteers and members. Guests will be given the opportunity to participate and create an assortment of hand-printed ephemera to take home, including coasters, notebooks, posters, cards and more on our antique printing presses.

Tickets for the evening are $35 a person or $50 for couples. Non-profit group discounts are available, contact info@wnybookarts.org for availability and pricing. All proceeds benefit the Western New York Book Arts Center’s mission to promote a greater understanding of printing and book-related arts through education, creation, and exhibition for a broad and diverse community. Join us for a toast to type, try your hand at the craft, and get a little type-sy with us!

Think Green

There has been much talk regarding the environment, climate resiliency and sustainability as of late. It’s a hot topic that shouldn’t be ignored. Man, through technological advancements, has impacted our land over many centuries, and so the scientific community is looking to find ways to lessen our footprint. But not so long ago, indigenous peoples were sustained by this land for countless generations. What can we learn from native peoples as we look to the future?

Dr. Robin W. Kimmerer—a scientist, a writer, and a distinguished teaching professor at the SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry—believes that the scientific community can apply traditional ecological knowledge by way of respecting and protecting indigenous knowledge in order to reconnect people with the land. As a member of the Citizen Potawatomi Nation, she embraces teachings that consider plants and animals to be our oldest teachers. She is the founding Director of the Center for Native Peoples and the Environment and has written two award-winning books, Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge and the Teachings of Plants and Gathering Moss: A Natural and Cultural History of Mosses.

Kimmerer is coming to Buffalo next Tuesday, (11/10), to speak at the Burchfield Penney Art Center. Her presentation, entitled “The Honorable Harvest: Indigenous Knowledge for Biodiversity Conservation,” is at 7pm. The event is to be hosted by The Western New York Land Conservancy and 24 local co-sponsors. The Honorable Harvest will speak to restoring our relationship with the land by blending Native American knowledge with science. Talking Leaves Books will have copies of Dr. Kimmerer’s books available for purchase at the event and Dr. Kimmerer will do a book signing following the presentation. A reception will be held before the presentation at 6pm. All are welcome to attend this free event.