HomoDommi Got a Printing Press

In June, HomoDommi and Boy-Child drove lickety-split from Boise, through exotic towns like "Toonpa" and "Elko", to a place near Death Valley -- about 700 miles -- to pick up a printing press that they had purchased.  HD is pretty dang chuffed, let me tell you.  This is what he wrote in his letter to me about it:

So it's not that complicated, but it is a big deal for me.  I bought a (used) Takach tabletop press via Craigslist.org last week.  The Takach is a fine-art press - used for etchings, intaglio, woodblock and photoengravure - the rolls-royce of presses, and something special.

And what makes it doubly-special is that I'm buying it from an artist I've been following for a few years - someone whose blog I go to periodically to see what she's up to (Laura Campbell).  So a great press from someone I respect (so hopefully a good vibe and karma come with the purchase).

Here it is, [HomoDommi continues] in the front living room.  Yes, the stand is that pink.  A beautifully crafted, artisan stand made by "Jerry the Queen of Questa, New Mexico" - I guess Jerry's rather unique (an older drag queen who pays the bills doing quality furniture in a small town next to Taos.)  I love the stand as much as I love the press.  I even like that it's pink.

... and the press is inspiring. I'm going to start making monoprints ... soon. (Cloudscapes and maps of Nevada, btw, are the intended subjects.)  I'm very pleased.

He also writes, about Death Valley and the state of Nevada:

Nevada is the weirdest state I've ever driven through.  Not in a good-way weird, but in a 'stare-in-disbelief' sort of weird.  Lots of signs for brothels, gambling everywhere, BIG shiny casinos next to hard-scrabble homes, tequila for sale in 7-11's, and poverty-blue towns with no lawns, no sidewalks and dilapidated roofs, yet huge shiny pick-ups parked in the middle of the front dirt-patch.  (BTW, we rented the biggest pick-up I've ever driven, and in Nevada it fit right in ... and I loved driving it. Sarah Palin can have the state of Nevada, but I want a truck like what I was driving someday.)

Nevada, salt-flats in the background [wrote HD about this photo]. On this 88-mile stretch of road, the Boy and I carefully counted 3 motorcycles, 2 trucks and 7 cars for on the entire drive.  And while we didn't count farm houses, I'd say 25 or so, all off in the distance, and of course no towns, shops, gas stations.  A deserted part of America.

You can't get more 'death-valleyish' than this.

Here are some links to photos printed with the Takach press (by Laura Campbell) that HomoDommi now owns.
South Pueblo Gravure 

Another Pueblo Gravure
Proof Print: San Francisco de Asis No. 6