typewriters unlimited
TYPEWRITER
LENDING
LIBRARY
Typewriter Lending Library
The Santa Barbara Public Typewriter Project (aka Typewriters On & Off State Street) created opportunities for people to experience the joy and creativity of typing on vintage manual typewriters. Public Typewriters were installed in 6 participating venue locations throughout Downtown Santa Barbara - similar to the popular "Pianos on State" installation. Numerous events and writing workshops occurred at several of the venues. Participants were invited to share their creations which have been uploaded on this website below. With the corona virus outbreak, the public placements ended, and in it's place, the Typewriter Lending Library has been established. (The original six participating locations for the public typewriters are listed at the bottom of the page.)
The Lending Library lends free typewriters to Santa Barbara residents for private use in their own homes. Typewriters are sanitized and distributed in accordance with safe physical distancing practices. Writing prompts are distributed via text and/or emails.
Individuals are encouraged and instructed in keeping personal typewritten journals and are requested to submit responses to monthly writing prompts.
For more information, email me: simonbrucekiefer@gmail.com
The Santa Barbara Public Typewriter Project and Typewriter Lending Library are generously funded through a Community Arts Grant from the City of Santa Barbara and administered by the Santa Barbara County Office of Arts and Culture. Explore Ecology/Art from Scrap participates as the fiscal sponsor.
Responses to Writing Prompts
Original Participating Venues
Original Participating venues in the initial phase of the project are described below. Click on their logos to be connected to their websites.
Art From Scrap is one of several programs operated by Explore Ecology. Art From Scrap has operated a Re-use Store since 1978 which sells materials and supplies at well below market prices to local artists and school teachers. The materials and supplies in the store are donated by individuals and the local business community (thereby diverting tons of matter each year from our landfill).
Channing Peake Gallery is located on the ground floor of the County Administration Building. The gallery is named after one of Santa Barbara County's most famous artists. The County's Office of Arts and Culture manages and curates the gallery.
The Community Arts Workshop is a project of the Santa Barbara Arts Collaborative, a nonprofit committed to sustaining and growing all forms of the arts in Santa Barbara, which leases 631 Garden Street from the City. The premises consist of two large buildings and four separate spaces for rehearsals, visual arts, gallery shows, and annual workshop space for the Santa Barbara Solstice Parade.
The Museum of Contemporary Art Santa Barbara is the premiere venue for contemporary art between Los Angeles and San Francisco. MCASB advances creativity, inspires critical thinking through meaningful engagement with the art of our time, and is located on the upper level of the Paseo Nuevo mall in downtown Santa Barbara.
Municipal Winemakers sell wine tastings, glasses and bottles and is located at 22 Anacapa Street, in a former SCUBA dive shop just a couple of hundred yards from the beach amid the quirky area of Santa Barbara known as the Funk Zone. Municipal Winemakers often have fun events and popups on their calendar.
TWBC is dedicated to the cultivation of local ingredients, our community, and each other. TWBC operates a taproom located at 406 E. Haley Street in the Laguna District of Santa Barbara and brews its beer onsite. TWBC supports the arts in its many forms.