MacKellar Screenworks

In 1919, 18-year-old Ivan McLean founded Quality Sign Co., which quickly became Lansing’s go-to for iconic signage — from the Boji Tower clockface to the legendary “One-Legged Shopping Lady.” Renamed H. Ivan McLean Screenprint in 1954, the company would establish itself as a strong supporter of the design community and local events for over a century. 🤝💯

Fast forward to the 1970s, Kirk MacKellar joined the shop and would alter the direction of production to the artistic side. 🎨 Ivan brought Kirk into the Michigan Advertising Club where he met creatives like Lauren Ciesa. They would work on projects together for the love of the community and support of the arts, such as providing content for the East Lansing Art Festival pro-bono for over 35 years. Teaming up with Chris VanWyck of Ciesa Design, Kirk and Chris would produce a wide range of artistic work including print for the BWL Chili Cook-Off, annual Christmas Cards, and Airstream/UrbanAir signage and posters. These productions were made possible by Kirk’s desire to work with artists and Chris’s skill in designing for silk screen printing.

A century-long legacy of signs, art and community. As for the continuance of screen print, Kirk believes that the silk screen printing business needs artists to survive. With digital processes having the ability to print on substrates typically monopolized by screenprinters, and most advertising moving to digital platforms, the industry will need the support of creatives — for the love of artistic printing processes. ❤️

For more details and other local history highlights visit: https://ciesadesign.com/history

📸 McLean Screenprint 1954 / Image courtesy of: MacKellar Screenworks webpage

MacKellar Screenworks

Thanks Ciesa!

In 1919, 18-year-old Ivan McLean founded Quality Sign Co., which quickly became Lansing’s go-to for iconic signage — from the Boji Tower clockface to the legendary “One-Legged Shopping Lady.” Renamed H. Ivan McLean Screenprint in 1954, the company would establish itself as a strong supporter of the design community and local events for over a century. 🤝💯

Fast forward to the 1970s, Kirk MacKellar joined the shop and would alter the direction of production to the artistic side. 🎨 Ivan brought Kirk into the Michigan Advertising Club where he met creatives like Lauren Ciesa. They would work on projects together for the love of the community and support of the arts, such as providing content for the East Lansing Art Festival pro-bono for over 35 years. Teaming up with Chris VanWyck of Ciesa Design, Kirk and Chris would produce a wide range of artistic work including print for the BWL Chili Cook-Off, annual Christmas Cards, and Airstream/UrbanAir signage and posters. These productions were made possible by Kirk’s desire to work with artists and Chris’s skill in designing for silk screen printing.

A century-long legacy of signs, art and community. As for the continuance of screen print, Kirk believes that the silk screen printing business needs artists to survive. With digital processes having the ability to print on substrates typically monopolized by screenprinters, and most advertising moving to digital platforms, the industry will need the support of creatives — for the love of artistic printing processes. ❤️

For more details and other local history highlights visit: https://ciesadesign.com/history

📸 McLean Screenprint 1954 / Image courtesy of: MacKellar Screenworks webpage

MacKellar Screenworks

Long, long ago in a print shop very close by, The Spirit of the Holidays would visit each year.

It was ushered in by a talented young artist with an old soul.

Chris VanWyck would design a Holiday Art Print that would be screen-printed the old-fashioned way of one-color-at-a-time. The best art board would be sourced and each color was carefully mixed from scratch.

It required craftsmanship and a lot of time but, oh, what a joyous time it was.

Receiving one of these meant you were a very good customer, or friend, and in many cases, both.

Chris continues in that same spirit today lending his time and talents and championing causes where needed. Thank you Chris!

Thank you Linda Frederickson for bringing these back home.

This series of screen printed posters started in 1987, long before computers were commonplace.
Each poster was color separated by hand using an exacto knife and masking film. That process alone required patience, a steady hand, and hundreds of hours.

The 1937 Nash is 26 colors. That means 26 screens, 26 color matches, 26 times through the press, and 26 setups and cleanups. In the end, everything lined up perfectly.

The biplane was built that same year at Capital City Airport and was the 5th plane to be built since the Weaver Aircraft Company ceased operations decades before. They are now built in Dayton, Ohio.

Another Michigan product, Chris Craft was the model for the last poster in this series.

No electronic wizardry was involved. The magic resided in the hands, heart, and head of the craftsman.