Docent Spotlight: Gary Marc Remson

Docent Gary Marc Remson has been a significant contributor to Museum activities for several years. His interest in print started with an exploratory class in junior high school that infected him with the printing “bug,” something that has bitten most of the Docents and staff. He took all the printing classes he could through junior high and high school and ended up with a Bachelors in Industrial Studies. His intention was to teach Graphic Arts in the LA Unified School District. However, during college he was introduced to Dr. Richard J. Hoffman. He was the inspiration for Gary’s printing prowess. Gary learned from Dr. Hoffman that there are two halves to creating a printed piece: designing and the printing of a book or broadside. Gary chose to concentrate on the printing side.

Shortly after Gary graduated from Cal State Los Angeles, Richard Hoffman retired from teaching and founded the Colombian 415 Chapel. Most of the people in the chapel were people Gary grew to know through college but he was introduced to others, like Ernest Lindner. Ernie used to talk about creating the Printing Museum at the Chapel’s monthly meetings and Gary helped him a number of times with displays of his collection.

Gary’s Buffalo South Press consists of the equipment that Richard Hoffman had while he was alive but that his wife gave to those people she knew would appreciate the machinery. His collection includes a Vandercook proof press, 12 x 18 C&P, Miehle Vertical V50, Linotype model 31, Ludlow, and handset type and mats for both the Linotype and Ludlow.

Gary’s most recent projects at the Museum include assisting Dr. Leland Whitson with the printing of “The Surgeon Factory” book on the 1922 vintage Miehle V-36 press (see article on the home page), and restoring Dr. Hoffman’s Hollander beater, pictured to the right. During this past summer Gary has spend hours cleaning, fixing and restoring the Hoffman beater to its original glory and beyond. Papermaking artist and Book Arts Institute Director Rachelle Chuang is ecstatic about developing papermaking classes in 2009 when its restoration is completed. He also shows up wearing his unique quotable tee shirts with unforgettable sayings. Thank you Gary for your invaluable contributions to the International Printing Museum.