Meet Ben Blount in Evanston

Today we’d like to introduce you to Ben Blount.

Ben, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I’ve always been interested in art. I drew all the time as a kid, studied design in college, and spent my spare time making books and things along the way. About 10 years after college, I took a community class in letterpress printing at Columbia College Chicago and after that, I was hooked. I ended up going through the graduate program in book and paper arts at Columbia College and have been printing and making books on and off ever since. In the last few years, I acquired a small press and some wood and metal type and have been making and showing work more consistently.

Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
The only challenges have been based on my own hesitation or fear. I dragged my feet for a while on really putting time into making things. But once I started putting time and commitment to the work, things started really happening. I got the chance to do a solo show at 1100 Florence, a new gallery space in Evanston, and that has been the jumping off point for me consistently making and sharing my work. The ongoing challenge has just been putting in the work. Just doing it. There are job and family responsibilities, and you know, life to balance. But really it’s more of an opportunity. An opportunity to say something, to share my ideas, to collaborate — it’s been great.

Please tell us about Ben Blount.
I’m a designer and letterpress printer. And I typically make posters and books. I deal a lot with race, identity, and culture in my work. I use a common cultural language of stories, myth, stereotypes, and slang to re-contextualize implicit and explicit ideas about race — hopefully, in a way that invites conversation. I’m most proud of or happy about the conversations I’ve had with people about my work. I’ve gotten to hear firsthand the impact the work has had and seem some really interesting and sometimes difficult conversations evolve. Also, I feel a part of a larger artistic community of printers and makers that’s really been exciting. I’m learning more how to best approach the work and how to get it out in the world.

If you had to go back in time and start over, would you have done anything differently?
If anything, I would have started earlier. I think the timing is always right, but I think starting earlier would have lead to more practice, more experience, more growth, better printing, a larger network, and community, etc. But there are no regrets. What’s the saying? “The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second best time is now.”

Contact Info:

• Website: www.benblount.com
• Email: blountben@gmail.com
• Instagram: @blountben
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/benblountprints/

Image Credit:
Ben Blount, Steven M. Adams

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