FAIRHOPE, Ala. — The Fairhope Unitarian Fellowship will host an opening reception for Ian Leonard Robertson on Saturday, July 11, from 3 to 5 p.m. His exhibit is “Some Pages: The Letterpress Printing of Ian Leonard Robertson.”

There will be music by Dr. Jazz (Jeanine Normand)  along with refreshments by Joyce Burkhart. The public is invited to attend.

Robertson, a printer and typographer since 1951, has taught at Colby College in Maine, where he was publications director. He also taught at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, and was also an instructor at the University of South Alabama.

His work runs the gamut from commercial art to private press publishing. These days, he prints primarily from handset lead types on his 1890s platen, and a wooden hand press custom-built for him.

Pinky Bass, Fellowship Art Committee member, says, “One does not immediately think of the world of printing, publishing and design when speaking of art, but the work of Robertson will open your eyes to that possibility. His mastery of the process coupled with the eye of an artist makes this unusual exhibition a thoroughly visual experience.”

In addition to printers such as Arthur Rushmore and Will Bradley, who were his mentors, Robertson was tutored by Joseph Campbell at Lawrence College. He is a true disciple who chose not to “take a job for the money” but to follow his bliss.

Recently the Mobile Arts Council honored him with a retrospective of his work. His work was also included in the exhibition “Alabama Unbound” at the Mobile Museum of Art.

The exhibition will remain on display until Sept. 6 at the Fairhope Unitarian Fellowship gallery, which is open Saturdays from 3 to 5 p.m.

Fairhope Unitarian Fellowship is located at 1150 Fairhope Ave., across from the Baldwin County Satellite Courthouse.

For more information, e-mail fairhopeunitarian@att.net.