The Department of Visual Arts and History took delivery of the largest printing press of its kind in South Florida

Images: Sydney Woods, current MFA student in VAAH (left), Velasquez and Col. Otto Rutt, MFA '20 and currently adjunct instructor in Printmaking.

The Department of Visual Arts and History took delivery of the largest printing press of its kind in South Florida in February 2024. Currently, the presses in the department are more than 70 years old, and very few technological changes are different from the original press created in the mid-nineteenth century. One notable improvement of this newest design is the ability of the preset bed to operate without external support, ensuring that hands remain clear while operating the press.

"It is a rare honor to be the first to operate a brand-new press expected to last 150 to 200 years," said Joseph Velasquez, associate professor and head of the printing department.

The new press, affectionately named Watson after Robert Watson, one of the first printmaking professors at FAU, symbolizes Velasquez's desire to honor Watson and his own personal desire to leave a legacy of sustainability rooted in safety for students at Florida Atlantic.

Delivery of the press was taken by Sydney Woods, current MFA student in VAAH.