Polka! Print! Party! Fundraiser

Join Polka! Press for our new annual Open House & Fundraiser for International Polka Day!!! Screen print your own Dottie the Chicken t-shirt (bring your own light colored t-shirt) Dottie is our Polka! Press mascot and spokes-chicken! Enjoy a letterpress demo, see the space, meet Polka members, munch on snacks, while listening to, you guessed it, Polka music!

Sunday August 11th, 1-4pm

Polka! Press Print Collective

2132 Fordem Ave, L1 - basement

Madison WI 53704

(behind Banzo!)


Support your local printmaking collective where local independent artists print including @lesleyannenumbers @bernieandzuzu @hijinx.mixed @washboardpress @katheryn.horne_artist @mmmurmelart @sarahinmadison @sfergs93, Sarah O'Farrell, Jim McKiernan, Laura Myntti, Lindsey Rothering and Aidan Higgins.

A Brief History of the Printing Press Featuring Member Philip Hasset

PBS Wisconsin Education takes a “Look Back” at amateur newspapers as a form of communication for young people of the time (AKA the original social media). Our talented member Phil Hasset of Washboard Press demonstrates how to operate his mini printing press. Each individual letter must be painstakingly placed to form full letters, poetry, news, and debate. Phil brings his press with him to events around Wisconsin so you too can witness the magic of the printing press by pulling your own print! Watch this video to learn a little bit about the printing press and the history around early amateur newspapers.

Young people writing and printing their own newspapers became popular in the late 1860s and 70s. This was a time of significant industrialization in the United States. With the invention of a small, hobby printing press, young people could make and share news via their own newspapers and grow communities by printing and swapping them.

At Polka! Press Co-op, we have a wonderful selection of typography in varying fonts and sizes that can be used on our printing press. Members enjoy collecting vintage blocks to add to our eclectic collection of imagery for the press.

Screen Printing 101 Workshop - February 24th 2:00-4:30PM

Bernie of bernie & zuzu and Juliet of Hijinx Mixed Media are hosting a screen printing workshop in the Polka! Press studio.

Screen printing with stencils is one of bernie & zuzu’s favorite techniques. Open to all levels, this process-based workshop will empower you as a creator. You will learn a bit about the history and types of screen printing, and then we will focus on the method of screen printing with stencils. Join us!

Where: Polka! Press Co-op. 2132 Fordem Ave, Suite L1, Madison WI 53704

When: Saturday February 24th, 2:00-4:30PM

Price: $75 includes instructor fee and supplies

To sign up, e-mail us: polkapressmadison@gmail.com

infographic of information above

SOLD OUT! - Screen Printing 101 Workshop - POSTPONED - January 24th, 6-8PM

Bernie of bernie & zuzu and Juliet of Hijinx Mixed Media are hosting a screen printing workshop THIS WEEKEND in the Polka! Press studio.

Screen printing with stencils is one of bernie & zuzu’s favorite techniques. Open to all levels, this process-based workshop will empower you as a creator. You will learn a bit about the history and types of screenprinting, and then we will focus on the method of screen printing with stencils. Join us!

Where: Polka! Press Co-op. 2132 Fordem Ave, Suite L1, Madison WI 53704

When: Sunday, December 17th from 1:00PM to 3:00PM. Wednesday, January 24th from 6:00PM to 8:00PM

Price: $75 includes instructor fee and supplies

To sign up, e-mail us: polkapressmadison@gmail.com

screen printing 101 at Polka! Press with Bernie and Juliet has been POSTPONED to Wednesday, January 24th 6PM-8PM
screen printing 101. Where: Polka! Press Co-op. When: POSTPONED to January 24th 6-8PM. Price: $75 includes supplies. What: Learn screen printing basics from local artists.