Risography (or Riso) is a printing technology invented in the early 1980s in Japan. This lesser-known process uses archival inks and papers similar to traditional fine art printmaking but provides and ease of use akin to mimeograph or early xerox technology. Pushed aside for advancing xerox technology in the 1980’s and 1990’s, risography has seen a resurgence in usage over the past decade among DIY and independent publishers.

I was recently accepted to the Frans Masereel Centrum Printmaking Residency in Kasterlee Belgium for the summer of 2023 where I will be working with a master printer exclusively on risography. Through this residency I will acquire a deep knowledge of this technology and bring it back to the University of Michigan. This competitive residency is partially funded by the Belgian government but also requires a fee of 1750 Euros (approx.. $1750 USD) for the five-week period of my residency (Jul. 3 – Aug. 4, 2023). I am applying to the Center for Research on Teaching and Learning Lecturers’ Professional Development Fund to cover this fee.

I have been a lecturer at Stamps School of Art and Design since 2016. This innovative art school recently invested in Risograph technology. While used occasionally for specific projects, there is no class dedicated to Riso. Through this residency, my goal is to acquire a depth of understanding of this exciting and historically overlooked technology that enables me to design a class around the process and aid other instructors in teaching it as well.