Late last November, I got the keys to the space at 980 Northampton. The building, which occupies three floors and spans nearly 40,000 square feet, was once a lithography printing business. I was told they used to print Jack Chick evangelical cartoon booklets for churches — or at least that’s what I imagined when I heard “church cartoons.”
When I arrived, the studio space was in disrepair: the floor was covered with black-and-white checkerboard linoleum tiles, full-length mirrors were drilled into the walls with screw pegs, and glossy black foam brick paneling covered sections of the room. The landlord, Kevin, explained that the previous tenants had outfitted the space with stripper poles and TV screens everywhere. They weren’t evicted for any debauchery, but because they had been caught sneaking into the building’s store and stealing over several months. Kevin smirked and told me, “You can do anything here as long as you’re not disturbing other tenants or stealing.” The rent was cheap, and Kevin seemed like a good guy, so I decided to take the leap.
I was thrilled to have the space, but getting it into a clean, functional, and inspiring condition was no small feat. The first two months were spent hanging drywall, spackling, painting, deep cleaning, building tables and shelves, and moving in equipment. Slowly but surely, the studio began to take shape, becoming the creative environment I had envisioned.
Clockwise from top: The studio when we first moved in; Hannah and Kiwi setting up the website in the new space; Robert gives the flooring a fresh coat of paint.
Reflecting on Our First Year
Looking back on our first year, we have much to celebrate. Our grassroots approach to building an audience and carving out a lasting niche within Buffalo’s vibrant art community has been both challenging and rewarding.
We’ve hosted free public open studios, where we invited the community into our space to see the work we’re doing and learn about Risograph and screen printing. We launched the “Build Your Brand” package, offering creators an affordable way to access our services under one price point. We curated unique events, including Spencer Cheek’s Arms & Ornaments at the BICA project space and Copy Capsule 001 — a pop-up exhibition and dance party at NoFun Lo-Fi Bar on Elmwood Avenue.
Clockwise from top left: Scenes from Copy Capsule 001— sculptures by Erin Berry, Arturo Renteria, and Bryan Hopkins; visitors flipping through Ryan Huff's Sharpener zine; (event photos captured by wavy); riso takeways at Spencer Cheek's Arms & Ornaments show.
On the equipment side, we’ve made significant investments to expand our capabilities, adding an apparel printing press, a conveyor dryer, an exposure unit, a washout booth, and two new Risograph colors. These upgrades have allowed us to take on a broader range of projects and better serve our community. We’ve printed materials for many artists and organizations we admire, creating art show handouts, posters, zines, and apparel for clients like The Buffalo Institute for Contemporary Art, Extra Extra Pizza, and New World Records.
Students from Dave Mawer's Art, Society, and New Media Technologies class show off prints for Risograph-based animations.
At LIBBY Projects + Editions, we’ve built something truly special: Buffalo’s first creative studio specializing in Risograph and screen printing. Introducing Risograph to the city has sparked excitement among artists and designers, offering them access to a vibrant, eco-friendly medium that was previously unavailable locally.
Challenges and Opportunities
Running an independent print studio comes with its share of challenges. Maintaining and repairing specialized equipment, sourcing high-quality and sustainable supplies, and managing daily operations all require significant resources and expertise. As a small business committed to accessibility and innovation, we rely on community support to keep LIBBY Projects thriving.
Looking Ahead to 2025
As we move into 2025, we’re excited to expand our reach and impact. We plan to host and participate in more exhibitions, fairs, and markets to showcase the incredible work emerging from Buffalo’s art community. Additionally, we aim to enhance our services by adding new Risograph colors to our palette and possibly welcoming a work-study assistant to help with studio operations. These initiatives will allow us to better serve our community, foster new collaborations, and create even more opportunities for Buffalo artists.
Gratitude and Support
We know times are tough, especially at the end of the year, but the overwhelming support and kind words we’ve received since starting LIBBY Projects keep us motivated. For those who have the means to contribute, your generosity will help propel us into 2025 on a strong footing. Your donations will enable us to continue growing, innovating, and making Buffalo a hub for print-based creativity.
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Thank you for being part of our journey. Here’s to another year of collaboration, creativity, and community!