VT Book Arts Guild “MailB.A.G.” June 2015
Next Meeting: Wednesday, June 10, 2015, 6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
We meet at the Unitarian Universalist Society Church located at 152 Pearl Street in Burlington, VT. We will be in the Sophia Fahs Community Room, a large room located in the basement. Click here for more information on directions/parking.
Program: Studio Support and Workshop Time
Studio Support and Workshop Time is two hours that you give yourself, in the company of fellow book- and paper-arts lovers, to learn, share and create in a supportive and encouraging environment.
The meeting will begin with some group time, both for sharing – something you’ve made, a great resource or tool you’ve found, a source of inspiration – and for asking questions or puzzling out challenges you may be having with a project or particular technique.
The remainder of the time will be devoted to creative work. Bring along a project or model from a previous meeting that you’d like to continue working on or develop further, or bring a piece of your own to simply continue working on in the company of others.
Not sure of what to bring? No worries! Every Studio Support and Workshop Time session will have suggestions, resources or materials for a project. This session will offer the opportunity to continue exploring the fun and fascinating possibilities of Exquisite Corpse Books, as presented by Rebecca Boardman in May. Whether perfecting the technique of creating Exquisite Corpse images for your own book or as part of the BAG Collaborative Book Project, Rebecca will lead us in a short exercise to further familiarize us with the process and get our creative juices flowing.
Have you begun creating collaged postcards to share with friends, an inspiring practice presented by Marcia Vogler in March? Come share what you’ve made and use this time to create additional collaged postcards. This Studio Support and Workshop Time is also a perfect opportunity to apply the collage techniques shared by Marcia to create exciting Exquisite Corpse images! In addition to drawing paper, you might want to bring drawing tools for Exquisite Corpse images such as:
- Pens
- Pencils
- Colored pencils
- Markers, Sharpies, gel pens, etc.
If you plan to collage, you might also want to bring:
- Magazine, calendar, catalog and other collage materials you would like to work with
- Glue stick
- X-Acto knife
- Scissors
- Cutting mat
- Paints, inks, and rubber stamps and anything else you would like to use to embellish your card(s)
May Meeting Reflections
At our May meeting, Becky Boardman introduced us to the concept of the Exquisite Corpse in preparation for a collaborative project. After showing us examples and providing us with a template, Becky encouraged participants to create a 3 part image using the size and parameters she had set up.
It’s always amazing to see what comes out of people when there is no forewarning- so expressive and free of the ‘usual’ way of working. Participants collaborated by sharing pens, paints, glue, and papers to produce some fabulous images that Becky will magically combine into an exquisite corpse structure, and share at the next meeting. As always, the group was lively and engaged with both the project and each other.
You can view images from the meeting on the B.A.G. blog.
B.A.G. News
*** There are still spaces left in this wonderful box making workshop – don’t miss out – email Jill now or be sure to sign up at the June meeting!
The Book Arts Guild of Vermont is pleased to announce a fun and creative weekend workshop with bookbinder Elizabeth Rideout. Creative Box Making for Book and Paper Artists will take place on June 27 – 28, from 10:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Participants will construct a variety of basic box structures using traditional box making materials and techniques. Pre-cut bookbinders’ board, book cloth, and decorative papers will be provided for each student to assemble and cover three different finished box styles as well as personal reference models to take home. Students will leave the workshop with a clear understanding of basic box making (design and construction) and three completed boxes including a classic dropspine box, flip-top box, and miniature box with fitted lid.
Box making is an important and FUN skill to have for any artist or art owner. I strongly believe that these skills can broaden an artist’s toolbox both creatively and professionally. Whether applied in an integrative manner or simply in efforts to protect or preserve a special object, box making enhances what we make, how we experience it, and how long it will last.
All experience levels welcome!
Dates: June 27 – June 28 (Saturday – Sunday)
Time: 10:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Location: Six Loons Studio at Shelburne Pond Studios, Shelburne, VT
Class fee (all-inclusive): $145.00
Space is limited, so sign up as soon as possible! Click here to download the registration form.
For further information about the workshop, please contact Jill Abilock at (802) 238-0883 or SixLoonsStudio@gmail.com.
Book Arts News
*** Geographies: New England Book Work, the New England Chapter of The Guild of Book Workers exhibition, is now on view at the Dartmouth College Library in Hanover, New Hampshire through August 21, 2015.
Geographies: New England Book Work includes bookbindings and artist’s books that relate to the theme of New England created by 26 of their members. Included are classic regional texts, books that make personal connections to the region, and New England history from a variety of perspectives, among other topics.
For more information on the exhibition and the complete schedule please read the post on the chapter blog.
*** ArtisTree Gallery is looking for submissions for their upcoming exhibit, UNBOUND: VOL V. The broad theme of UNBOUND: VOL V encompasses all of the possibilities of what we may think or may not think a “book” is.
Is it story? An entry to another world? An exploration? What does it indicate? This juried show looks to explore these ideas of “the book” and all the ways artists use its format as a stepping off point or as a material to explore new ideas.
This call for submission is open to all New England and New York residents of the U.S. who are 18 years of age or older. All artwork must be original in concept, design and execution. The deadline for submission is June 13, 2015. For more information, please visit the ArtisTree Gallery’s website.
Book Arts Classes
*** From January 26 – 31, 2016, Daniel Essig will be teaching Wooden Books – Greek & Centipede Binding at the North Country Studio Workshops in Bennington, VT.
Easily master the centipede stitch by first understanding the structure and workings of this ornate 7th century Greek binding. Using simple hand tools to begin, we will drill, shape, and smooth our wooden book covers. Sealing the covers with milk paint will create a leathery appearance. We will adorn our books with the centipede stitch using two different colors of thread. This elegant sewing structure, combined with wooden covers, opens a wide range of possibilities for both the beginner and the advanced bookbinder.
Applications are now available and the review process begins June 1st. For more information or if you have any questions, please visit the NCSW website.
*** From June 27 – 28, the North Bennet Street School is offering the Leather Satchel for Ethiopian Books with Bill Hanscom.
Learn to construct a maḫdär, the two-piece leather satchel used for transporting and storing manuscripts in Ethiopia. In this two-day workshop, using a pattern based on historical examples, students create a model of this traditional case by scoring, folding and lacing together pieces of heavy cowhide leather. The models feature many common elements: a case with flap, carrying strap, lifting cord and a telescoping slipcase cover called a difat. Participants of the Traditional Ethiopian Bookbinding workshop should bring their full leather binding, otherwise, bring a book no larger than 5 ½ x 5 ½ x 2 to build the case around. No leather paring experience required.
For more information or to register, please visit the NBSS website.
*** The Eliot School in Jamaica Plain, MA is offering Artists’ Book Boot Camp with Annie Silverman on August 24 – 28, from 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Present your photographs, prints, collages or paintings in book form. Bring 2-D imagery you have generated to incorporate into your books. Learn basic folded and sewn bindings, discover a range of hard and soft cover options, and explore how to sequence your content. Forms will include pamphlets, multiple signatures, accordions, composites, dos-a-dos and French doors.
For more information about the class, please visit the Eliot School’s website or click here to download the complete catalog.
- Book Arts Guild of VT website: http://www.bookartsguildvt.com/
- Book Arts Guild of VT Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/bookartsguildvt
- Book Arts Guild of VT on Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/bagvermont/
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