VT Book Arts Guild “MailB.A.G.” March 2009
New BAG summer book arts workshop announcement below Quadricentennial Project
Next Meeting:
Wednesday April 1, 6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
Enter by side door: Punch in the new winter code (contact us for code). When the green light glows, pull open the door.
$5.00 voluntary contribution to Burlington City Arts for their education programs. (Remember, if you write a check, it can be evidence for a tax deductible contribution.)
Reminder: Deadline for your three 5” x 5” artwork for the Lake Champlain project. See below**
Program: “Books and Fiber Art” presented by Sally Knight, B.A.G. member
Sally worked as a professional fiber artist from 1989 through 2003. Using fabric primarily (and some occasional mixed media), she created art quilts, fabric jewelry, 3-dimensional constructions, and a few artist’s books. The evening will include:
- A show & talk about some of the books Sally has made (then and since, using both fabric and paper)
- Sharing a few techniques she’s developed for using fabric in books, and
- A hands-on session, teaching an interlocking book structure (using paper) based on the accordion fold that she learned in a Claire Van Vliet workshop several years ago. This structure offers different possibilities: with the binding closed it has a traditional book structure, but opened up, it becomes a sculptural book with more complexity than the traditional accordion fold. For those of you who are familiar with Claire’s work, it’s a variation of Aunt Sallie’s Lament.
Materials to bring:
- exacto or other craft knife
- cutting mat
- scissors
- small awl
- ruler
- glue stick or other preferred glue
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Book Arts Guild to participate in Lake Champlain Quadricentennial Celebration
Jennifer Alderman explained the Guild’s book project for a collaborative flag book to be displayed at the Echo Lake Aquarium & Science Center next summer during the 400th Anniversary of the naming of Lake Champlain by Samuel de Champlain, a year-long celebration that begins next summer on the theme of Vermont: The Lake, The Land and The People.
Criteria (for the B.A.G. Flag):
- RSVP Jen Alderman that you plan to participate: jenstevealderman[at]msn[dot]com
- Do three pieces of art on the lake, the land and the people. Some helpful websites:
- The artwork can be a painting, drawing, collage (keep the layers thin).
- Use 5” x 5” of any stiff paper, such as cardstock or watercolor paper.
- The paper’s grain should run from the top of the artwork to the bottom to match the grain of the accordion
fold (vertical).
- To determine the grain, lay the paper down on the table.
- Curl one edge (as though you were going to fold it) and compare the ease of curling it to the next, perpendicular edge which you curl.
- The grain runs matches the direction that curls easiest.
- Note: If your artwork grain does not match the grain of the accordion it will be glued to, the tension is likely to cause warping or torquing.
- Sign your name on the back of the artwork along the left side (the right side will be glued to the accordion fold).
- Bring or send the artwork to a Book Arts Guild meeting, April 1st at the latest.
Announcing a new Summer Book Arts Workshop
The Book Arts Guild of Vermont presents Unbinding the Visual Journal, a one-day workshop with Jane Davies.
Jane Davies on Unbinding the Visual Journal:
Like many creative mixed-media enthusiasts, I LOVE the idea of visual journaling. I look at other artists’ journals and think ‘oh, I could do that,’ or ‘I wish I had thought of that.’ But when it comes to actually using one of my handmade books, or even a store bought art journal, I get The Blank Page syndrome. After years of wrestling with my seeming inability to find a satisfying approach, I came up with a way to make a visual journal that solves the Blank Page Problem. I call it my “unbound collage folios” journal because you begin by creating random collages on unbound folios, and then assemble them into a book. Each page spread offers something that you can respond to. Collage, write, paint, sew, cut, tear, draw – anything you can think of. There are no mistakes and no blank pages! This workshop takes you through the process of unbinding your visual journaling, resulting in a beautiful handmade collage book.
Date: Saturday July 18, 2009
Time: 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Location: Williston Federated Church, Fellowship Hall, Williston, VT
Cost: $50 (Payment due in full with registration to reserve a spot!)
Meals: Please bring your own bag lunch and drinks. (You can also bring optional afternoon snacks to share.)
Materials: Materials list will be supplied with registration confirmation
Directions: Located on Rte 2 in Williston village between Richmond and Williston’s Taft Corners. (It’s the white steeple seen from I-89.) Parking is behind the church and also across the street near the recreation path.
For further information or to receive a hard copy registration form, please contact Jill Abilock: jabilock[at]japanlink-trans[dot]com or (802) 735-1443
Reflection on the March meeting: Buttonhole Binding with Elissa Campbell
Because of technical needs and resulting room-location difficulties, Elissa Campbell was not able to give the presentation she’d already prepared on “Book Arts & Technology”. Hopefully we will do it another time.
Gifted ‘trooper’ that she is, Elissa prepared a new, alternate activity on Buttonhole Binding. Within just a few days, she pre-cut the supplies (for folios and cover) and then developed a clear lesson plan for a large group to complete the project within a limited meeting time! It was very well organized and presented; members went home very impressed with their new skill! One member e-mailed that she has already used the structure for a cookbook.
Upcoming Programs:
Ann Joppe-Mercure, our Keeper of the Calendar, and the creative Program Committee have lined up the following programs for 2009:
- May: Iris Folding Techniques & Bookmaking workshop by Jill Abilock
- June: Personal Journey as Book Artist by Carolyn Shattuck plus information for members about B.A.G.’S September exhibit at the Firehouse, Burlington
- July & August: Pending; possible field trips
- September: Sharing of books that will be in our annual Firehouse show
- October: Designed Bindings by Rebecca Coll
- November: Pending
- December: Annual Ethnic Potluck with Swap & Sale
- January: Sharing of challenges, projects & resources
Member news:
*** Nancy Stone’s solo show Power of Nuance will be held at the Emile A. Gruppe Gallery from April 1 – May 17.
The Artist Reception is Sunday, April 5: 3:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
The gallery is located at 22 Barber Farm Road, just outside of Jericho Village; hours are 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. Thursday through Sunday or by appointment. Watercolor paintings on Yupo paper and hand-made books will be featured.
*** Are you participating in Open Studio Weekend? Please respond with information so it can be posted in the “MailB.A.G.”!
Book Arts Opportunities:
*** University of Southern Maine: Lecture and Reception April 2, 2009, 4:00 – 6:00 p.m.
The History of the Book: A Visual Chronology by Richard Linden of Bowdoin College. Glickman Family Library, Portland. Also, an exhibit: Studying Books: Book Arts at Maine Colleges and Universities.
*** The Book As Art: Artists’ Books From The National Museum of Women in the Arts: February 14 – May 31, 2009 at the McMullen Museum of Art, Boston College, Chestnut Hill, MA.
The Guild’s “Dazzle & Pizzaz” committee decided that it will not organize a fieldtrip since several other special events are in the works. Instead, members should arrange carpools on their own. Using our chatroom would be a good way to do this: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/BookArtsGuildVT.
*** Elissa Campbell writes:
I received notification of an upcoming event with Claire Maziarczyk, who makes fabulous paste papers. She has an exhibit at The Robert and Dorothy Ludwig Schenectady Jewish Community Center, Pastepaper Quilts, from March 3 – April 30, 2009.
On 4/25/09, Claire will be hosting an open studio/sale from 10:00 a.m. – 2:30 p.m., then she’ll give a gallery tour of her show at 3:00 p.m. I’m planning on going and I was wondering if anyone wanted to join me. I have a van and can easily fit 6 people. Let me know if you’re interested.
Book Arts Learning Opportunities:
*** Lorraine Reynolds will be teaching a workshop on altered books:
Date: Saturday, April 18, 2009
Time: 10:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Location: Artists’ Mediums, 300 Cornerstone Drive, Williston, VT
Cost: $40 per person (call or stop in at the store to register.)
She will also be doing a free demo on Friday April 17 from 2:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. on making Altoid tin box shrines at the same location.
www.glimmeringprize.etsy.com www.glimmeringprize.blogspot.com
*** The Garage Annex School, Inc., Easthampton, Massachusetts. Check out their website and courses that include Double-Raised Cords Meets the Gutter and Introduction to Paper Conservation among others. All levels of experience are welcome.
*** If you have a website and/or blog that showcases your creative work, we’d love to share it on the member links page of the B.A.G. blog. Send an Email with the details to Tech Schmoe Elissa Campbell: erscampbell[at]hotmail[dot]com.
Book Arts Guild of VT chat room: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/BookArtsGuildVT
Book Arts Guild of VT blog: http://bookartsguildvt.wordpress.com
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