Jen Farrell
designer/letterpress artist
Jen has been at the press since 1996, cutting her teeth at the venerable Fireproof Press right here in the Windy City. She struck out on her own in 1999, armed with the ideals of a Luddite and ridiculous notions of keeping letterpress as old school as possible. Educated at the school of hard knocks (otherwise known as running a small business,) she is proud that Starshaped has stayed true to the mission of preserving the tools of letterpress printing while pushing the craft forward and contributing to the vibrant print community. Her work has appeared in many books, magazines and blogs, is in many private & library collections and has been exhibited all over the world.
Judith Mayer
illustrator
Judith is an American lettering artist and illustrator working in Chicago—born and raised in the Midwest and the daughter of an immigrant. After working at several design firms, she decided to start my own practice in 1998.
She gets so much inspiration from traveling. She’s been to 49 of the 50 states (you’re on her to-do list, Alaska). More recently, she’s enjoyed exploring Costa Rica, Iceland and Italy. There’s so much art and lettering and design to discover everywhere she goes! Her work is also influenced by my years as a designer and her love for mid-century modern and pop art.
She is grateful to have had her work recognized and published in over 40 books and magazines, including Communication Arts, Uppercase Magazine, HOW Magazine, Graphic Design USA, and LogoLounge. She’s also a member of Crush Illustration Collective.
Creating public art is a part of her practice. Recent projects include a mural at a residency in Costa Rica, a collection of 14 murals in Ainslie Arts Plaza in Chicago, and representing Illinois in a collaborative 19th Amendment flag design, displayed at the National Museum of Women in the Arts in Washington, D.C. and at the William J. Clinton Library and Museum in Arkansas.
Amy and Charlotte Callahan
printers (liner notes)
Amy and Charlotte Callahan currently make up the third generation to operate and control North Shore Printers, which is Women Business Enterprise certified, union printing business located in Waukegan, Illinois servicing the Chicago area.
From humble beginnings through our 89 years of dedicated service:
Our founder and grandfather, James J. Callahan, began in Waukegan with the Callahan Dairy Co., which he founded and operated until the sale of the business to Beatrice Creamery Company in 1928.
As most businessmen of his time, Jim Callahan invested his money in stocks. As a side investment, he purchased stock in the Waukegan Franklin Press, Inc. In April 1933, he found himself wiped out by the stock market crash which led to the Great Depression. His sole remaining asset was with a small near- bankrupt print shop. He planned to reorganize the company to start over again, and was in search of a name. At that time, the print shop was located near the downtown terminal of the North Shore Electric Railroad, and as one of the coaches squealed around the corner, the name North Shore Printers was taken on. The company restarted with four antiquated presses and 15 men working part time to keep something coming in for everyone.
During its early years the company operated on a hand-to-mouth cash basis, but through the diligence and efforts of Jim Callahan and the others of North Shore Printers, the company gradually reached a stable position and began to grow.
Over the years, many family members have contributed to the growth and success of the company. Jim Callahan’s children Harold Callahan, Edward Callahan, Alice (Callahan) Galbraith and husband Bill Galbraith saw the company through after the passing of its founder. Today Jim’s grandchildren continue the legacy after over 89 years as a family-owned business.
North Shore Printers, Inc. is a certified women-owned, operated, controlled business and is the original, and at this time, the only union label printer in Lake County, Illinois.
Sandy Babusci
photographer
Sandy is a freelance graphic/web designer and photographer who has had the opportunity to work with Fumée on previous projects dating back to 2013, providing photography, CD case and poster design. A renaissance woman and creative at heart, she can be found dabbling in other art forms such as painting/drawing, digital art, poetry and baking and cake decorating.
Elizabeth Friedlander
font in liner notes
(1903–1984)
Elizabeth Friedlander worked across a range of media from brochures and patterns to calligraphy and clandestine publishing, but she is most known as the first woman to design a typeface. Born in Berlin, Elizabeth was forced to exchange Germany for Italy in 1936, then went through an unsuccessful attempt to apply for an American visa. She eventually lived in London, before retiring to Kinsale, Ireland.
In 1933, major Frankfurt type foundry Bauersche Giesserei asked Friedlander to create a font for them. She produced a typeface but was unable to name it Friedlander, as she had wished, because it was a recognizably Jewish name. The typeface was finally released in 1939 under the name Elizabeth, after Friedlander had already left Germany to escape the Second World War.
After Germany, Friedlander moved to Italy and later to London where she worked with Jan Tschichold at Penguin Books doing pattern designs.”
~From Designing Women in Ready Magazine
Nancy Nichols
liner notes editor
Nancy Nichols has been a visual artist and writer all her life. Her father was a painter and her mother a pianist. Both parents were avid readers and had no need for television in their home but Nancy was happy to read and draw, play piano, ride bikes all over Oak Park, and hang out with friends.
After two years of college and becoming a mom, Nancy worked two years in the Art Institute of Chicago’s Development office, then wrote press releases for Urban Gateways’ roster of visual and performance artists. As Vice-President and President of Prairie Star Quilter’s Guild, Nancy penned two years of monthly newsletters and then inaugurated and directed an annual international quilt conference, coordinating all logistics and writing the corresponding forms and press releases for five years.
In 2008, Ms. Nichols sat down to seriously write poetry and prose again. She is currently seeking an agent for a completed hybrid memoir and is close to completing a second manuscript.
“Additionally,” said Nancy, “I’ve truly enjoyed copy-editing grant proposals and liner notes with Christy. Her projects are always unique, adding tremendously to music history and inspiring new performances with her lush and lively voice and style.
Christy Bennett bandleader/vocalist
Christy Bennett - bandleader/vocalist
Chicago singer Christy Bennett has been influenced by and performed the work of her share of jazz legends, but her specialty is uncovering the gifts of lesser known songwriters, especially women. On her new album, Good Morning, Heartache: The Music of Irene Higginbotham , she explores the work of an overlooked ‘40s composer (niece of the great swing trombonist J. C. Higginbotham) who is perhaps best known for her work with Billie Holiday but also wrote songs recorded by Anita O’Day, Dinah Washington, Peggy Lee and Nat ‘King’ Cole. Bennett, whose collection of songs written by Django Reinhardt with rarely heard lyrics dips into Higginbotham’s songbook as well as other lesser-known artists at regular appearances around the city of Chicago. Those interested in Bennett’s research will find videos, recordings and written material at her website www.nerd-mountain.com .