Call or Email: 612-379-4743 / info@indulgencepress.com

1992-2012
Celebrating 20 years, one page at a time!

The mission of Indulgence Press is to integrate form and content through the production of high quality art and craft while exploring and expanding on the history of the book. Wilber H. Schilling's studio in the Traffic Zone Center for Fine Art is home to Indulgence Press — specializing in letterpress printing, book binding, artists' books, fine press books and fine art prints.

In the studio, Schilling primarily uses a hand-fed Vandercook SP20 cylinder letterpress. He uses other printing methods as needed to achieve the rich aesthetic quality found in his art work — For example, the gum bichromate process is used to create Decayed Volumes.

Schilling is the artist, designer, printer, illustrator, bookbinder and publisher at Indulgence Press. He often collaborates with other artists and writers. He began his career as a photographer and photographic illustration plays a key role in his art work.

Schilling earned a BA in history and photography from Clark University (Worchester, MA) and an MFA in printmaking and book arts from The University of the Arts (Philadelphia, PA). He has taught letterpress printing, bookbinding and photography throughout the United States. His books and art work have been exhibited internationally and can be found in over 100 collections including the New York Public Library, the Minneapolis Institute of Arts, the Getty Center, the British Library, the Whitney and the Library of Congress. Schilling is winner of the 2010 Minnesota Book Artist of the Year Award.

Portrait by Marc Norberg

Why name it 'Indulgence Press'? While working at the Library Company of Philadelphia, Schilling was inspired by the work of Johann Gutenberg, the first printer to use movable type. The first printed works of Gutenberg were Indulgences (circa 1452) commissioned by the papist church and sold to absolve the purchaser of doing penance for sins. Gutenberg used the proceeds from printing Indulgences to fund the production of his iconic Bible.

In this increasingly digital age, a carefully handmade, inspiringly designed and richly tactile book is a rare beauty. For example, the Indulgence Press edition of Melville’s Bartleby the Scrivener is beautifully printed and bound. It features a structure and illustrations that represent aspects of the story. Reading Schilling's 'Bartleby' is a luxurious treat—isn't that the contemporary definition of 'indulgence'?

So, the word ‘indulgence' has multiple conceptual and historical meanings, there's a twist and a cleverness to it—perfect for a maker of fine press artists' books.