Printing Revolution

Andy Volpe will present a slide lecture titled "Printing Revolution," which has a dual significance, referring to both the printing press and the "Revolutionary" nature of what was printed. The program will concentrate on the events leading up to the American Revolution and the printing of the Declaration of Independence. It will also discuss the legal disputes between Colonial printers and England concerning the concepts of a Free Press and Freedom of Speech. After the presentation, several replica prints, including the Declaration, will be displayed. The program lasts approximately 1 hour and is suitable for grades 5 and up, adults, and seniors. This event is sponsored in part by MA250.

Mr. Volpe is an artist, printer, and living history presenter based in Worcester, MA. He earned a degree in Fine Arts from Westfield State University, where he developed a passion for the "Old Master" printers of the Renaissance and Early Modern Periods, specializing in Intaglio or Copperplate printing. For over 15 years, he has been involved with the Museum of Printing in Haverhill, where he conducts presentations, tours, and printing demonstrations. He has also collaborated with Gary Gregory, the founder of the Printing Office of Edes & Gill in Boston, which replicates documents and prints from the American Revolution, notably the Declaration of Independence. Volpe's work focuses on Paul Revere. When not printing, he can often be found at the Higgins Armory at Worcester Art Museum, presenting on various topics related to arms, armor, and archaeology, particularly the Roman Legion.