Campsite Press is the developing studio of printmaker, Jonathan S. Green. The name “Campsite Press” is premised on the ways in which campsites act as transitional sites between the environment and culture. Camps create liminal areas that are permeable, not always completely ‘inside’, or completely ‘outside’. Campsite Press is a space for Green to process his research and fieldwork.

At the heart of Campsite Press, is a Dickerson Combination Press and a collection of litho-stones which were passed down to Green by James “Jim” L. Evenson and Nedra T. Evenson.

“The Chicago-born Jim Evenson served in the U.S Navy before art at Grinnell College and the University of Iowa. He came to Kenai with Nedra in the summer of 1955. Evenson originally planned to keep his art teaching job at Cornell University while escaping to Alaska to commercial fish in the summer. Instead, he and Nedra moved to a homestead on the shore of Nikiski’s Bishop Lake. Evenson spent winters teaching art at Kenai Central High School and drift-netted Cook Inlet in the summer.”

While on sabbatical in Malaga, Spain in the 1970s, he learned stone lithography. On returning home, he set up his own print shop, Bishop Lake Studio, where he produced over 150 editions and countless paintings with Nedra. Jim passed away in September, 2020.

Campsite Press is forever grateful to Jim and Nedra Evenson for their generous gift. Many thanks to the people that assisted with this acquisition – Marion Nelson and Thor Evenson. Special thanks to the Carr family – Joe, Donna, Joseph and Sally – for their big help (big lifting) in moving and storage of the press, stones, and gear. Thanks to Terry Hildebrand and Sean McLachlan for their help on the unloading.

Campsite Press has been a refuge for Green during this pandemic. Going forward he would like to expand in to possible residencies or printing services.
You can see up to date stuff on Campsite Press’s own Instagram account here.