Printmaking by the People

Photo by L & DaVinci Art Alliance taken during the workshop “Blueprint for our Future: Declarations of Interdependence” led by teaching artists Sofie Rose Seymour and Joy Lai.

What’s It All About?

What would the Declaration of Independence say if it could be written today?

What visions do Philadelphians have for the promise of “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness?”

Next year marks the 250th anniversary of the writing of the Declaration of Independence. This city-wide project will feature discussions about essential aspects of freedom, the importance of printing in communicating and mobilizing during the Revolutionary era, and the urgency of poster-making as a means of advocating for change. Participants in dozens of workshops around the city will create their own posters to express their ideas about the rights that are essential for a just, inclusive and sustainable community. The work will inspire a signature mural and an exhibition at the Free Library of Philadelphia.

Upcoming Workshop Schedule

Block Printing at the Bok Building!

This workshop will be led by artist Shira Walinsky, who co-founded Southeast by Southeast, a storefront and community arts space for refugees and immigrants in South Philadelphia. You will learn how to design a poster, carve text or images into E-Z Cut blocks, then ink and print them for yourself! Make one print to keep and one to donate to our archive, which will inspire a major mural in Center City next year and could be chosen for an exhibition at the Free Library in spring, 2026. This event is free and open to the public as well as the Southeast by Southeast community members.

Ages 14+ and no prior printing experience is necessary. Space is limited. Please register on Eventbrite HERE.

Read about what it’s like to attend a workshop in this blog post!

Read about our project launch last year in this blog post.