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The news site of Santa Barbara City College.

The Channels

The news site of Santa Barbara City College.

The Channels

Mobile press company stops at college

Relying on a 600-pound printing press and hand-carved woodblock prints, the mobile Drive By Press company has revitalized a primordial printing method and visited over 150 high schools and universities across the country.

And now they’re coming to City College.

Nick Alley and Ryan O’Malley of Drive By Press will demonstrate their techniques of hand-printing apparel from 1-6 p.m. today in front of the Bookstore. The company’s visit to City College will be one of its last tour dates for the foreseeable future, despite the considerable countrywide success it has found during its five-year existence.

“I wish it was some fortune-500 company,” Nick Alley said. “But it’s really just two dudes in a truck.”

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During its visits to schools, the company displays a near-extinct method of making t-shirts. Ink is painted onto hand-carved wooden blocks that depict complex drawings, most of which are donated by local artists who live in those specific cities. Alley and O’Malley then use the printing press, and a handmade shirt is born.

“I’m very happy that we’ve branched out to Santa Barbara,” said Joseph Velasquez, one of the company’s founders. “It’s an exciting event and I hope you guys will enjoy it.”

While the company has a modest background and is entirely self-funded, it still finds ways to travel the country and spread the passion for press printing.

The money they receive through t-shirt sales allows them to book hotels, eat regular meals, and travel in a van from state to state. Alley said Drive By Press does receive honorariums from schools for their demonstrations, but they usually “end up breaking even.”

Originally created in 2005 by Velasquez and other co-founder Greg Nanney, Drive By Press began as a thesis idea for graduate school that both needed to complete for their Masters in Fine Arts. As their printing became more sophisticated, however, excitement began to build about this new idea, and the printing press movement gained steam.

“They realized that it was viable as a job and that it wasn’t just a thesis project,” Alley said.

Nanney and Velasquez pawned off every valuable item they owned, bought a $3000 15th century printing press, and set off on the road. Since 2005, the members of the Drive By Press have traveled all across America wanting people to experience the originality and enthusiasm they bring to every demonstration.

Apparel costs $20 if Drive By Press uses their t-shirts for the design, but only $10 if students bring their own blank shirts to the event. Alley said that although City College will host one of Drive by Press’ final stops, he has loved being able to teach students what he’s learned and has enjoyed every minute of the tour.

“It started out as an educational endeavor, but it’s truly been an amazing, unforgettable experience,” Alley said.

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