Now Streaming Free: “Why Letterpress Endures,” with Blake Riley
The longtime creative director of San Francisco's Arion Press shares some of the history, myths, and meaning behind his life’s work—and why this meticulous art still captivates in a digital age.
Dear Friends,
Since the beginning of the year, we have been slowly remastering and re-releasing some of the best episodes of “The Secrets of Mastery” podcast, which debuted here on Substack in 2024. These updated versions are now available free of charge on YouTube—sometimes with additional photography—as well as on our website, or wherever you like to get your podcasts.
In this interview, Blake Riley, creative director and lead printer at San Francisco’s iconic Arion Press, discusses some of the long history—and persistent myths—around his craft. Find out what keeps a centuries-old, labor-intensive industry going in a high-tech world; what ‘mastery’ means to him (it may surprise you!); and why he never gets bored.
We hope you’ll enjoy: “Why Letterpress Endures,” with Blake Riley. As with all of our Secrets of Mastery episodes, it was hosted and produced by
.We always welcome your thoughts and suggestions, which you can offer in a comment, by tagging us in Substack Notes, or via email. Thank you for reading and sharing our stories, for supporting our work with a paid subscription if you can, and for being such a loyal part of the Craftsmanship community.
Sincerely,
Todd Oppenheimer
Publisher & Editor-in-Chief, Craftsmanship Magazine
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Craftsmanship Magazine focuses on master artisans and innovators whose work informs our quest: to create a world built to last. In addition to our Substack offerings, you’ll find more stories, podcasts, photo essays, and documentary shorts on our free website—along with community resources like our Artisans’ Directory, our guide to U.S.-based craft & folk schools, and much more.