28 October 2016
This year’s University of Otago Printer in Residence programme has produced a unique publication on the life of a pioneering female climber who scaled New Zealand’s highest peak. The 2016 Otago Printer in Residence was Sarah Smith, from Dartmouth College. Sarah was based at the University of Otago’s letterpress studio Otakou Press during six weeks in August and September 2016. Working with poet Rhian Gallagher and artist Lynn Taylor, she designed a book of limited-edition poems, and hand-set and printed the text. The poetry is centred round the life and activities of Freda Du Faur (1882–1935), the first woman to climb Aoraki/Mount Cook. A total of 120 copies of this uniquely folded book were printed; 100 of those are for sale. Sarah also presented an open lecture on campus, and was present at the opening of book art programme exhibitions, one at the University of Otago on September 2, and more recently back at the Baker-Berry Library, Dartmouth College.
Read the full story on the Otago website.