VT Book Arts Guild “MailB.A.G.” August 2016
Next Meeting: Wednesday, August 10, 2016, 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
Theme: Surface Decoration – Spicing Up your Paper
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.
To make these meetings even more valuable to our members, studio support meetings will have a theme or topic to serve as a focal point for sharing our collective wisdom.
Inspired by several recent additions to the Book Arts Guild library, the theme for our August meeting will be surface decoration: tips and techniques for creating interesting designs on paper. From paste paper and marbling to stamping and embossing, there are many, many ways to enhance or create beautiful designs on paper. What is your favorite? We invite you to share your go-to techniques, show some interesting tools you like to use, and bring in samples of papers you’ve created.
As always, there will also be group time for sharing something you’ve made 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, bring a piece of your own to continue working on in the company of others, or bring some materials to explore the theme of the evening.
This session will offer the opportunity to continue practicing calligraphy as taught by Penne Tompkins in July. In addition to producing beautiful text, calligraphic letters can also become an interesting design element, and you are invited to explore the possibility of using calligraphy, as well as other techniques, for creating attractive designs on paper.
Suggested tools and materials:
For practicing calligraphy:
- Broad nib markers
- Ruler
- Pencil and eraser
- Paper
For exploring surface decoration:
- Plain paper/card stock to decorate
- Decorative paper to embellish
- Your favorite tools and materials for decorating and embellishing (e.g. markers, crayons, colored pencils, ink pads, rubber stamps, rubbing plates, waxed paper, ink, watercolors, etc.)
July Meeting Reflections
Our introduction to calligraphy proved to be a fascinating and fun evening. Penne Tompkins gave us a sense of what modern calligraphy is and how it is used today, showed us some of her own wonderful work, and helped us delve into the depths of lettering. We got some great tips, instruction, and help in beginning to find our own hand.
Once again, I have to say how lucky we are to have members with extraordinary skills and willingness to share them. Thanks to all who participated, and special thanks to Penne for being the evening’s presenter.
You can view images from the meeting on the B.A.G. blog.
B.A.G. News
*** The Book Arts Guild of Vermont is proud to be participating in this year’s Burlington Book Festival on September 17, 2016 at UVM’s Davis Center. This annual event celebrates the written word by offering readings, book signings, panels, workshops, demos, family activities, and special events.
We are planning to exhibit works from members to introduce the community to book arts, and increase awareness of book arts and our group. During the exhibit time, we have also committed to demonstrating various book structures (not hands-on workshops).
Here are the opportunities for participation:
- Artists’ Books exhibit: You can submit new work or something you have previously exhibited. Limited to 20 works. If you would like to submit work for the exhibit, please download the entry form and return it to Marcia by August 31st. Work will need to be delivered by September 10th. Artwork and entry forms can be brought to the August meeting for immediate consideration.
- Volunteers for set up, break down, and sitting/demonstrating: If you would like to participate by volunteering for a 2 – 3 hour slot on Saturday from 9:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m., please sign up at the August meeting, or email Marcia with your interest. If you would like to demonstrate a particular structure, please let us know. The demo does not have to be a teaching thing, you could work on any project you’re currently working on.
*** B.A.G. member Elissa Campbell is teaching the Handmade Photo Album at Studio Place Arts in Barre, VT on August 9, 2016 from 4:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
Share your vacation season, a summertime family reunion or wedding with a handmade photo album. In this workshop, you will learn how to create an elegant hard-cover album using bookcloth and handmade paper – this is a wonderful keepsake that can hold 4” x 6” photos from your recent vacation or family holiday gatherings.
No previous experience required – this is a great class for a beginner. You can even bring in your own cover materials to customize your book.
To register, contact SPA via phone (802) 479-7069 or email.
Book Arts News
*** The exhibit UNBOUND VOL. VI is open now through August 27, 2016 at the Artistree Gallery in South Pomfret, VT.
This juried show explores the idea of “the book” and all the ways artists use that format as a stepping-off point or as material to explore new ideas.
For more information, please visit the Artistree Gallery website.
*** The Fuller Craft Museum in Brockton, MA is hosting the exhibit Metamorphosis: The Art of Altered Books, now until November 6, 2016. The exhibit features mixed media artists who carve, gouge, fold, collage, and manipulate books to transform the printed pages into a sculptural object.
Exhibited works explore the materiality of the object, layers of meaning within, communication and cultural connections, design potential, and possible extinction of books in today’s tech-driven world. Exhibiting artists include Long-Bin Chen, Andy Hayes, Wendy Wahl, and Jacqueline Rush Lee.
For more information, please visit the Fuller Craft Museum’s website.
*** The North Bennet Street School is hosting a public lecture with Martin Frost on Tuesday, September 13 from 6:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. – The Curious Art of the Secret Fore-edge Painting. Using books from his own collection, he will discuss the history of and techniques used in fore-edge painting. Frost has painted the edges of over 3,500 books, including examples of the scarce all-edge, split and two-way doubles. He also binds many of his books.
The event is free and open to the public. Registration is available online.
The North Bennet Street School is located in Boston, MA. For more information, please visit the NBSS website.
*** The North Bennet Street School is hosting the final stop of the Guild of Book Workers‘ juried traveling exhibition, Vessel, now through August 31, 2016. The exhibit is in the NBSS Wingate Gallery.
The book as vessel inspires beautiful metaphor – a craft for traveling, a container, a holder, a receiver, a transporter. Across time and culture, the vessel is at the center of many ceremonies and rites of passage. Native American cultures regarded the vessel as a portal to a sacred realm. The book as craft is our vessel to sail the high seas, to hold our dearest memories, and to indicate the pulse of life. Guild of Book Workers members contributed works to interpret “vessel” in broad and unique ways.
The exhibition features approximately 50 works by GBW members. Selected works include fine and edition bindings, artist’s books, broadsides, and historical binding models.
The North Bennet Street School is located in Boston, MA. For more information about the exhibit, please visit the GBW website.
*** In collaboration with The Ticknor Society, The Movable Book Society is holding its biennial conference in Boston on September 15 – 17, 2016. The Movable Book Society was organized in 1993 to provide a forum for collectors, artists, curators, book sellers, book producers, and others to share enthusiasm and exchange information about pop-up and movable books.
This year’s speakers include Matthew Reinhart, Shawn Sheehy, Laura Davidson, and Emily Martin. The conference also features hands-on activities, presentations, a silent auction, and a book sale.
For more information, please download the conference program or contact The Movable Book Society at info@movablebooksociety.org.
Book Arts Classes
*** The North Bennet Street School is hosting two workshops in collaboration with this year’s joint conference of the Movable Book Society and The Ticknor Society. Both workshops are open to the public. Registration is required.
Making Pop-ups Using Origami Techniques with Joel Stern
Sunday, September 18, 2016
9:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
Using origami and pop-up techniques, this short workshop focuses on making paper-folded faces that can be incorporated into hand-made books. Models taught are of increasing complexity, with opportunity for students to create their own.
Paper Craft Meets Circuitry with Jie Qi
Sunday, September 18, 2016
1:30 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Add electronics to your paper crafts to make them dynamic and interactive. Design and craft circuits on paper with Chibitronics Circuit Stickers, tiny peel-and-stick electronic parts that you can use to make interactive glowing paper craft projects. No circuit building or crafting experience necessary.
The North Bennet Street School is located in Boston, MA. For more information or to register, please visit the NBSS website.
- 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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