Arion Press Still makes Books the Old Fashioned Way

By Jonathan Farrell

Even though the world is now caught up in the "digital age," Arion Press is undaunted. Its endeavor of producing limited editions of finely printed and bound books is still in demand, and owner Andrew Hoyem is optimistic about the future.

When asked the question, "How has the digital age changed printing and publishing?" Hoyem replies: "Printing technology changed significantly long before the digital revolution. Letterpress was supplanted by photo-lithographic or offset printing in the 1960s. Certainly computer technology and the desktop publishing it spawned have made printing and publishing faster, easier and available to nearly everyone. There is no longer any significant impediment to publishing - which is very democratic."

Not shy about using the new technologies available when needed, Hoyem maintains that "the aesthetics of the work we do can be facilitated by the computer and other contemporary methods when appropriate. But there is something about the look and feel of a fine book printed by letterpress that cannot be replicated by offset or laser or inkjet."

A tall, formally dressed man, Hoyem and his staff of 12 employees take their work seriously. Each project requires a significant amount of time, attention to detail and the finest materials.

He is pleased with the new location of Arion Press - a two-story building at the Presidio national park.

"This building just happened to suit our needs. We are a cultural tenant in this new national park."

As Hoyem provided a tour of the building, he was eager to show works in progress.

Passing row upon row of type, in different fonts with some in packages and others in drawers ready for use, he said, "We cast our own type from lead alloy in the last full- functioning type foundry in the United States." He added that many terms applied to computerized typesetting come from traditional printing, such as fonts, picas and points.

"Here we have our folio edition of the Bible," Hoyem said after reaching the bookbindery at the end of a long hallway.

He called to Shannon Kelley, one of Arion's bookbinders, to release an enormous book from a standing press. Slowly she turned a big metal wheel and released from its grip a volume of the Bible. Much larger than any atlas, its price tag starts at more than $7,000.

"Notice the colorful silk threads in the headbands. Each binding is hand sewn," Hoyem said.

When Hoyem and his staff undertake a project, there is total dedication to the craft of book making.

Handling several projects simultaneously, each production is meticulously planned and efficiently produced to exacting standards.

"Each edition is limited to no more than 400 copies," Hoyem said. "I try to match an artist of distinction to make prints for a literary piece at least once a year."

Walking over to another project, he showed an example.

"These are the last copies being bound of The Voices of Marrakesh, by Elias Canetti, winner of the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1981. The etchings are by artist William T. Wiley, who has long been a fan of Canetti's writing.

"When I add visual art to books I don't want it to distract a reader from his own imagination," he said.

Such was the case with Herman Melville's classic novel, Moby Dick. There are no depictions of the characters. "I wanted only to show what the reader might not be able to imagine, such as the sites on land, the sailing ships and equipment and processes of whaling from that time period," Hoyem said.

Even though Arion projects may be considered labors of love, Hoyem said, "we are a business and must make money to pay salaries and overhead." The main customers of Arion Press are major libraries, museums and book and art collectors.

A special gallery for the display of completed books has been set aside for public viewing. Along the walls in frames are larger prints that have been published in conjunction with Arion books. Hoyem welcomes the public to view the exhibition at Arion Press - the gallery is open on Wednesday afternoons from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Hoyem's dedication to his craft has not gone unnoticed. Four Arion Press books are now on display at the California Palace of the Legion of Honor at Lincoln Park, as part of a large survey of books from 1870 to 2000 from the Logan Collection.

He hopes the efforts of the newly founded Grabhorn Institute will help perpetuate fine printing and book making.

"The institute provides for outreach to the public with educational programs, such as our tours, exhibitions and seminars. It also supported some of the renovations to the building," he said.

One of the Grabhorn Institute's main goals is to preserve and perpetuate the use of the historic type-foundry, and to pass on knowledge and skills to future generations by providing an apprenticeship program. An apprenticeship requires a person to be dedicated and willing to make a commitment, Hoyem said, because, on average, it takes about four years to learn the basic craft.

Weekly tours are offered at Arion Press on Thursday afternoons at 3 p.m. Reservations are required and the cost is $7. For more information, call (415) 561-2548.