The Book Arts League welcomes everyone to the long-awaited Farmhouse Grand Opening at the historic Ewing Farm, held on February 27, 2010

Gweneth Ewing cuts the ReBirthday cake – Lafayette Mayor Pro Tem Jay Ruggeri looks on.

The League welcomed many guests to the Farmhouse Grand Opening at the historic Ewing Farm in Lafayette. The recently-renovated farmhouse, which is the base of operations for the nonprofit community arts organization, was open for tours, hands-on bookbinding demonstrations, and sales of contemporary book arts.  Refreshments were served to the family-oriented crowd.

A “Re-Birthday” cake celebrated 124 years of the building’s existence.  With Ewing family members looking on, Gweneth Ewing cut the cake and Lafayette Mayor Pro Tem Jay Ruggeri spoke about the original homestead and the hand dug well. He thanked all the partners who have invested in our past  in hopes of bringing a brighter future. He described the marriage of the Book Arts League and the Historic Ewing Homestead as “a match made in heaven–a perfect fit. These non-profit/all volunteer efforts will NOT ONLY bring good new energy to this historic landmark… but they ‘bring history to life’ by their historic preservation of THE BOOK.”

Book Arts League volunteers gave a printing demonstration in the adjacent Ewing Farm Bunkhouse, where the League has set up a working letterpress print shop that uses traditional typesetting and presses from the 19th and early 20th centuries.

The site, owned by the City of Lafayette, is being restored using grants from the State Historical Fund and the donations, volunteer labor, and fundraising of the Book Arts League.  The Book Arts League’s mission is to promote the arts of the book through workshops, demonstrations, and outreach.

Gwenth Ewing, Julia Seko, Jay Ruggeri

Tom Parson demonstrates on a press in the bunkhouse

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