Making Zines with Block Prints in Upper School Art

Upper School students began this unit by exploring the invention of the printing press by Johannes Gutenberg and considering the essential question: “How did the printing press change the world?” To truly understand how revolutionary this invention was, students “stepped back in time” and experienced the challenges of creating, duplicating, and sharing a printed idea using only hand-carved blocks. They brainstormed six-word phrases, simplified images, and carved all components in reverse—a painstaking and eye-opening process.

Students also experimented with paper-folding techniques, collaborative printing, layering, and the question: “What is art?”

“I have a newfound appreciation for the printing press!” exclaimed student Piko V. while carving his block—perfectly capturing the spirit of this project.

Helping students see how art, invention, and original ideas can transform the world was at the heart of this wonderfully challenging “old school” experience.