All applicants must submit their poems at by filling out this form!

Ilya Kaminsky's Deaf Republic, the 2025 NEA Big Read selected by SPACE and Mechanics' Hall, is celebrated not only for its word but for its unique visual presentation on the page and Ilya's inclusion of the illustrations of multiple sign language illustrations — many of them the characters' "imagined sign language," used as a literary device on behalf of the author, who partially lost his hearing at age four.

In this poetry workshop, selected participants can have access to the resources at Pickwick Independent Press to reimagine their poetry as a physical visual object. In the workshop on the 25th, participants will have access to Pickwick's extensive letterpress collection and will have the opportunity to select blocks to lay out their title, name, and select an ornament, emblem or image to accompany their poem. The body of the poems themselves that are submitted will be 3D printed in a letterpress block and printed after the workshop for the purposes of time.

This workshop and its materials are offered for free through the NEA Big Read. Pickwick and SPACE will be keeping copies of each poem for archiving and participants can anticipate getting copies of the final edition for their own purposes a month after the workshop. No experience with letterpress or printmaking is needed for this, writers new to printmaking are deeply encouraged to apply.

Due to workspace and potential demand this workshop will have limited room; there will be a lottery system for all poets who submit a poem by May 19th and confirmation will be sent that day for selected participants. With unknowns ahead, SPACE hopes to receive the final dispersal of federal funds, in which case a second workshop may be offered and additional participants will be notified.

This event requires the use of two flights of stairs. For accessibility requests or questions for interpretation or physical support please email hello@space538.org.

This event is part of the BIG READ series, presented by SPACE Gallery and Mechanics’ Hall.

NEA Big Read is a program of the National Endowment for the Arts in partnership with Arts Midwest.

NEA Big Read | Poetry Typesetting Workshop w/Pilar Nadal (Pickwick Press)