VT Book Arts Guild “MailB.A.G.” October 2011
Next Meeting
Wednesday, November 2, 2011, 6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
We meet at the B.C.A. Center (formerly known as the Firehouse Center for the Visual Arts), located to the right of City Hall on Church Street in Burlington, VT.
Program: Calligraphy and Manuscript Gilding with Maryanne Grebenstein
At our next meeting, calligrapher and book artist Maryanne Grebenstein will walk us through the design process and creation of her one-of-a-kind books. Her books, or manuscripts as they are also known, are lettered, gilded and decorated completely by hand using the same materials and techniques that have been used by scribes for centuries.
During the lecture, Grebenstein will demonstrate some of the techniques she uses. She will also exhibit and discuss several of her recent books that have been bound by B.A.G.’s Chair, Elizabeth Rideout.
Grebenstein is the owner of The Abbey Studio and Turn in the Path, both located in Hingham, MA. Her unique books are in the holdings of private collectors and medievalists, and one was recently purchased for the permanent collection of Cushing Memorial Library at Texas A&M University.
Reflections on October’s Meeting
Addressing a nice mix of newcomers and current guild members at our October meeting, Book Arts Guild Chair Elizabeth Rideout introduced the B.A.G. Board of Directors and gave her first State of the B.A.G. speech. For members who may not have been able to attend, her speech is included below.
Good evening, everyone, and thank you for coming. I’d like to introduce the members of the board, and share some goals we’ve set for our organization.
Our board of directors as it stands currently; myself and 6 lovely and very hard working ladies:
- Janet Ballantyne: Co-Founder
- Ann Joppe-Mercure: Treasurer
- Elissa Campbell: Membership, Newsletter and Web Master
- Jill Abilock: Programs and Events
- Jen Alderman: B.A.G. Historian
- Nikki King: Exhibits
As our membership grows in numbers and also enthusiasm, it’s important to me for the Guild to continue to offer learning opportunities in and around the field of Book Arts, and to create a supportive and welcoming environment for new and established artists, crafts people and teachers. From this perspective, our varied monthly programs — which include artist presentations, demonstrations, and hands on activities — as well as opportunities for exhibiting, field trips, and workshop intensives, are ALL paramount.
Our board of directors has been working diligently on the planning of a new membership structure that will enable the Guild to expand the pool from which we draw our guest artists, presenters, and workshop instructors. Through this effort we aim to increase opportunities for our members to exhibit their work and to inspire and encourage creativity and the sharing of book arts in our community.
She concluded by noting that the board looks forward to sharing more of details in the days ahead.
Elizabeth then took off her Chair hat, put on her work apron, and brought us with her into the world of professional bookbinding. She started with a tour of her toolbox, explaining the essential function each of her tools serves in the work she does. She then provided materials and instruction so that we could all practice cutting, folding and gluing like professionals. Everyone in attendance left with sharper skills and a better understanding of the bookbinding process.
You can view images from the meeting on the B.A.G. blog.
B.A.G. News
*** B.A.G. is happy to announce the theme of our 2012 spring exhibit, Shaping Pages. The exhibit will be hosted by the S.P.A.C.E Gallery in Burlington and will run during the months of April and May, 2012. Our exhibit will be part of the First Friday Art Walk. Stay tuned for more details!
*** Chena River Marblers in Amherst, MA is holding an open studio from December 10 – 11. This is a great time to take advantage of their end-of-year overstock and seconds sale. We’d love to take a field trip down there to visit our friends and local paper marblers. If you’re interested in joining a car pool, please contact Elizabeth Rideout.
*** B.A.G. member Deborah Howe won third place in design for her designed binding in deFINEd BINDINGS, an exhibition of 26 bindings of the Pictorial Webster’s Dictionary by members of the New England Chapter of the Guild of Book Workers. The juried exhibition features an array of interpretations of the set book, Pictorial Webster’s: A Visual Dictionary of Curiosities.
Book Arts News
*** The 2012 Sketchbook Project is looking for artists to create work for inclusion in a worldwide tour of art spaces. The cost is $25.00 to receive a sketchbook and participate in the project. You can select from any of a number of themes or you can let them choose one for you.
The sign-up deadline is October 31st and you have until January 31, 2012 to complete your sketchbook. For more information, please visit their website.
*** The North Bennet Street School is hosting its 19th Annual Open House from November 4 – 5. This is a rare, behind-the-scenes look at one of the America’s oldest schools of craftsmanship in Boston’s North End. You’ll be able to visit the school, talk with students and faculty, see the tools and studio spaces and watch demonstrations.
For more information, please visit the North Bennet Street School website.
*** From October 5 – 29, 2011, the Bromfield Gallery in Boston, MA will host deFINEd BINDINGS, an exhibition of 26 bindings of the Pictorial Webster’s Dictionary by members of the New England Chapter of the Guild of Book Workers. The juried exhibition features an array of interpretations of the set book, Pictorial Webster’s: A Visual Dictionary of Curiosities.
Exhibitors include: Eric Alstrom, Patty Bruce, Lesa Dowd, Mark Esser, Madelyn Garret, Deborah Howe, Abigail Jones, Rachel Kadel-Garcia, Nancy Leavitt and Joelle Webber, Celine Lombardi, Athena Moore, Sabina Nies, Nancy Nitzberg, John Nove, Patricia Owen, Todd Pattison, Patricia Rosen, George Sargent, Patricia Sargent, Judy Sgantas, Sonya Sheats, Julie Stackpole, Andrew Thompson, Gerrit VanDerwerker, Katherine Westermann, and Stephanie Wolff.
*** The Boston Athenæum is hosting the exhibit Artists’ Books: Books by Artists, featuring remarkable and unexpected artists’ books from their outstanding collection. Featured artists include book artists Russell Maret, Laura Davidson, Ryoko Adachi, Stephen Dupont, Harriet Bart, Xu Bing, Iliazd, and more than two dozen others.
The exhibit runs October 12, 2011 – March 3, 2012.
- Book Arts Guild of VT blog: http://bookartsguildvt.wordpress.com
- Book Arts Guild of VT Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/bookartsguildvt
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