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For the past twenty-five years, Richard Aldorasi has been educating and performing hands-on historical programs. In his school assembly programs, Richard, in full Colonial costume, brings to students a mobile hands-on living history program in handmade papermaking and letter-press printing. This experience takes students back hundreds of years down the trail of history and enables each student to draw from the invaluable experience of actually participating in the paper making process used by printers and paper makers in the New World. Each student forms his or her own piece of linen paper and/or shares in the feeling of working the lever of a Common English Press.
In addition, Richard uses the tools of the past to help others understand the problems we now face in the 21st century. His emphasis on environmental issues such as the "quiet fire syndrome" provides a highly informative program on the decay and misuse of paper in our society, along with the unyielding efforts of recycling and the long term effects of chemicals in our paper and printing processes.
In a two-day residency and meeting up to five different classes each day, Richard and your students will make paper the first day and print on it the second. Richard arrives in his pick up truck with his printing press and needs only a source of water to fill the vat and a ramp so that he can wheel his printing press into your performing space. He is an easy going person and a joy to work with!
Mr. Aldorasi also performs Christian Outreach programs for Sunday School, Christian Summer Camp and church family events. Dramatizations of the lives of Tyndale, Rittenhouse, Gutenberg and Aitken are witness to the work these great men have done, tracing the history of the Bible from the 15th through 18th century. Lord! Open the King of England's Eyes; The Bible of the American Revolution; The Most Influential Person of the Millennium; and The Father of American Papermaking are specific programs that demonstrate how God worked out His plan to print the Bible in English and the truth that lies covered in the history of the great patriarchs who obeyed God's command to form this great country of religious freedom.
Hands-On Educational Programs
Papermaking Program:
In this program Mr. Aldorasi introduces the history and methods of papermaking with an emphasis on our environment. He covers environmental issues such as producing and recycling paper, book conservation ("The Silent Fire"), and our natural resources: tress, rivers, and animal habitats.
He demonstrates in historical colonial outfits and uses only original fibers used by the early colonial papermakers such as flax (linen) and cotton. The paper is formed out of a three-foot coopered cedar vat with an authentic mould and deckle. An antique press, drying rack, and various hand tools are all part of his exhibit. Combined with the aesthetics of this artful, 2000 year-old craft, he tries to present a truly authentic educational experience focused on life in colonial America.
Each person gets hands-on participation as Richard takes them through the variety of steps in forming their own sheet of paper. Each student takes with him or her not only the unique experience, but a piece of colonial history.
(Each participant receives an 8-1/2 x 12 inch deckled edge piece of flax paper with a Heart and Scroll watermark.)
Letter Press Printing:
Beginning with the inspired genius of Johann Gutenberg to the colonial press of Benjamin Franklin and on into the twenty-first century, the printing press has continued to contribute to the spread of classical and humanistic literature. Making its lasting impression using simply ink on paper, it has raised nations and established world wide consciousness moving mankind from one generation to another.
In this program each person becomes part of the rich history of printing. Mr. Aldorasi's press is build from solid walnut and designed after the Franklin Lever Press in Philadelphia. Each participant experiences the authentic process of inking the plates with inking balls, setting the paper, rolling the plate under the platen and working the lever to print his or her own piece of handmade linen paper. Along with this historic presentation, Richard also covers the environmental issues of today and printing throughout the ages.
It is Mr. Aldorasi's hope that this presentation will leave an impression as clearly on students as the type face of the printing press and the water mark of the papermaker has done since the Vulgate Bible was first printed in the fifteenth century.
Program Options:
Papermaking - One day program in paper making
Letter Press Printing - One day program in letter press printing
Papermaking/Printing - Participants form paper day one. The papers are then dried over night in Mr. Aldorasi's drying system. Print papers day two. Programs Use to Extend Papermaking and Letter Press Printing.
Decorative Floral Paper - Making paper with flowers embedded
Colored Paper - Using a wide range of colorants to produce custom colored paper
Marlbeizing - a fascinating art used to create decorative paper
Embossing designs - using a vacuum table to achieve extraordinary effects and designs on paper
Pasteboard - An incredible sturdy yet pliable medium formed by laminating the handmade linen paper which is used for book covers
Setting Type - Learning the art of setting individual type
Bookbinding - making journals using non adhesive binding
The cost of a program is based on the number of participants and the type of programs.
People say:
"Richard has taught hand papermaking to Master of Science students in the University of Delaware/Winterthur Art Conservation Program. A goal of his teaching ha been to enable the students to make a sheet of paper using the same materials which have been used historically in the West since the 12th century. Richard's teaching is stimulating and his kindness and wit encourages student involvement."
- John Krill, Senior Conservator, Paper, Winterthur Museum, Garden & Library -
"It has always been Richard's desire to be able to teach in a school environment where he has more time to present the art of papermaking and printing to the children and the children have more time to practice the craft. The Artist in Residency program will afford him that opportunity.
"As an educator, I highly recommend Richard for this program. He is not an artist who is looking for a way to make extra money on the side; he is committed to education. It was a teaching situation that got him started and he has continued to make education his main purpose. He is interested in each child learning about his craft but he is also interested in giving them an appreciation for paper that will encourage them to be 'kind' to paper and their environment. Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions."
- Nancy Dyson, Director, Woodlyn Christian School -
"From 1993 to 1999 I was the Executive Director of the Elfreth's Alley Association in Philadelphia. Elfreth's Alley interprets the working class tradespeople's lives through the architecture and furnishings of their homes and through a variety of programs. The Alley's most popular event is the two-day June Fete Days. This event includes house tours and demonstrations by twenty artisans. Richard Aldorasi has been one of the demonstrators for six years. His demonstration techniques are some of the best that I have ever seen. He has a special quality that engages the visitor and leads them through the process of papermaking. Both children and adults are encouraged to "make a sheet" of paper.
"The public achieves a wonderful understanding of the beauty and the value of paper. This appreciation makes all of us more conscientious consumers."
- Gayle L. Petty, York County Heritage Trust -
Christian Outreach Programs
The performance level and versatility of these programs can be a powerful outreach tool for Youth Group and Church Programs to reach the local community as well as educating and building up the faith of the congregation. Most programs are short, one-hour performances, but program specifics and variations can be discussed and designed to fit individual needs. The Residency Curriculum Outline can be used as a guide in formulating a program to include Church History and to illustrate how God used these great men of history. Hands-on participatoin and working with authentic period tools can be part of any program.
Mr. Aldorasi offers the following prepared character sketches:
The Bible of the American Revolution
Robert Aitken, 1734-1802
Born in Edinburgh, Scotland and arriving in Philadelphia in1769, Robert was a bookseller, publisher, bookbinder and printer. Mr. Aitken printed the only Bible ever printed with Congressional approval and the first English Bible printer in America (Known as the Bible of the American Revolution) which was printed in the final years of the war of independence when all resources were depleted and in a time of great distress. This event demonstrates the Power of God to establish a country of religious freedom. In his portrayal Mr. Aldorasi accentuates the truth that lies in the beginning of this great land and the men who obeyed God's call.
Father of American Papermaking
Willian Rittenhouse, 1644-1708
He was the father of American papermaking who lived in Amsterdam before immigrating to American in 1688. He became the first Mennonite minister in America and the builder of the first paper mill in Germantown, Pennsylvania in 1690. The 18th century backdrop, authentic costume and tolls plus the reenacting of various jobs such as a beater, papermaker, coucher, press man in an interactive, hands-on environment will leave a lasting impression. In addition to this memorable experience, students will also take with them a piece of colonial history.
"Lord, Open the King of England's Eyes"
William Tynndale, 1492-1536
The portrayal of the life and work of Williams Tyndale, scholar, priest, matry will show that no man did more to enrich the English language. He was the man who taught England how to read and write. The story is set in the print shop/papermill of John Hooshstraten in Antwerp, Belgium. The story unfolds through the eyes of those making paper, tearing rags, setting type, binding books, and working the great Lever Press. These people tell the story of a man who translated the Bible into English for the first time in history and the printed and smuggled the Bible into England. The brave people who tell this story are also some of those who were martyred as the Reformation fires burned.
The Most Influential Person of the Millennium
Johannes Gutenberg, 1387 -1468
This program is presented in the setting of the 15th century print shop of Gutenberg. Experience the rich history of printing with Johannes Gutenberg as teacher and pressman. Setting typeface, suing traditional inking balls and working the lever of an authentic wooden lever press, students will print their own pages on handmade linen paper. The impression will leave an impression as clear as the printed pages of the Gutenberg 42 line Bible, the first book ever printed in 1455.
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