VT Book Arts Guild “MailB.A.G.” January 2017
Next Meeting: Wednesday, January 11, 2017, 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: Adventures in Surface Design – A Group Exploration facilitated by Ann Joppe-Mercure
Join us in January as we explore and share ways of printing designs or images on paper. What are your favorite methods? Do you carve your own stamps? Have you discovered an interesting material or technique for creating stamps without carving? Do you use masks or rubbing plates?
Come and share it with us! Bring your favorite material or technique and, if possible, a sample of an image or design made with it. Ann Joppe-Mercure will facilitate the discussion as we share and learn from each other.
Please feel free to come and discover new techniques and ideas, even if you don’t have a technique to share. In February, we will have a hands-on printing extravaganza using some of the methods and/or materials shared in January to create beautiful prints and designs. possibly for use in a collaborative book.
Things to bring (optional):
- Your favorite tool and/or techniques for printing designs or images on paper
- A sample image or design made with the tool or technique
- Paper and pen for taking notes on all the cool new methods you’ll discover!
December Meeting Reflections
Honestly, I was floored by the incredible talent of the magical Sarah Frechette. Sarah, along with Jason Thibodeaux, gave us a special presentation of her marionette show, The Snowflake Man, with ‘backstage’ explanations and an inside view of how it all happens.
The glorious pop up book of ‘sets’ housed in a suitcase and the super detailed marionettes were brought to life in front of our eyes! We were entranced, just as I imagine every child who attends her shows must be. And when these children grow up and want to major in puppetry in college, I say ‘Yes!’
After the presentation, Sarah led us through the design and development process and encouraged us to make our own pop-up stages. Gosh, I was too full of awe to think of anything except a flying bird.
Another highlight of the meeting was the delivering of books for the Book Arts Guild of Vermont’s first book swap. Participants created a blank book or journal that incorporated recycled materials, meant for their swap partner. The results were spectacular! Let’s get more participation next time – it’s so fun.
Thanks to all who attended, to Elissa for heading up the book swap, and a special thanks to Sarah and Jason for giving us a look at their world. On to 2017. Whew.
You can view images from the meeting on the B.A.G. blog.
You can also view images of books from the Book Swap on the B.A.G. blog.
B.A.G. News
*** It’s time to renew your annual membership!
The primary mission of the Book Arts Guild of Vermont is to act as both an educational and creative resource in the field of book arts. Our monthly meetings are $5.00 an evening or free with a $35.00 annual membership. Your membership supports the mission of the Book Arts Guild, pays for our rented space, provides opportunities to exhibit and supports honorariums to presenters.
In addition to the benefits you receive (outlined in the sidebar of this newsletter), your paid membership also enables us to cover expenses such our website and email newsletter – key tools for keeping our book arts community in touch and informed. A special membership benefit this year is that you don’t have to pay to submit work to our annual, non-juried book arts exhibition. You’ll also receive a personal thank you from Ann Joppe-Mercure (priceless).
If you have a skill, a passion, a favorite technique or a body of work that others would love to learn about, and then take the leap and volunteer to share it with us as a presenter. If you present at a B.A.G. meeting, you receive free membership for the year. Think about it – we know you have something to share!
If you would like to become a supporting B.A.G. member, click here to download our membership form.
Book Arts News
*** The New England Chapter of the Guild of Book Workers is looking for volunteers for an upcoming Girl Scout event. They will be partnering with the Girl Scouts of Eastern Massachusetts offering programs for Cadette scouts (age 11-14) to earn a Book Artist badge. In addition, they will run a program for younger scouts.
The event will be held on Saturday March 25, 2017 at Camp Cedar Hill in Waltham, MA. They will run a 3-hour program for Cadettes in the morning from 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. and then have a 2-hour program for younger girls from 1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. You can volunteer for just one program or make a day out of it and do both!
For the Cadettes, there will be an introduction and then five stations that the girls will rotate through which may include printing, accordion folds, a pamphlet, origami book, a scroll, decorating paper or a collaborative book, depending on the interests of the volunteers. Each rotation will last for about 30 minutes.
The younger girls will have similar programming in a shorter time frame with only four rotations. If you have a book arts technique or project that you’d like to see done with the Girl Scouts please make some suggestions.
You do not need to be a member of the NEGBW to volunteer. If you would like to volunteer, please contact Todd Pattison at bookandtile@att.net.
*** On Thursday, March 9th, the North Bennet Street School is presenting a free lecture with Radha Pandey – Islamic World Papermaking.
The talk explores traditional Islamic-world papermaking history and technique, with a focus on contemporary practices in India. The Kagzi family is used as a case study to illuminate the introduction of papermaking in India and how it changed under British rule. The talk will also briefly cover how papermaking affected printing, publishing and literacy, and why it is relevant today.
Please register in advance as space is limited.
*** Snow Farm in Williamsburg, MA is offering two book/paper arts workshops this summer:
- June 9 – 11: A Cut Above: An Exploration in Papercutting with Beatrice Coron
Both beginners and advanced students alike will delight in learning about the long multi-cultural history of papercutting as well as the world of paper-cutters today. Explore the unique possibilities of papercutting techniques while making black and white, and color artwork. Demonstrations will include stenciling and working in 3D. Tips, tricks, and resources will be provided.
- June 11 – 17: Variations on the Accordion with Melanie Mowinski
There are so many ways to fold paper, Tyvek, and other materials into an accordion book! In this workshop, make models of star, storage, flag, pocket, circle, pivoting panel and other accordion structures. Paint papers to prep, create cover boards, fold papers, all with attention to structure, form, and ways of bringing accordions into your everyday life from journaling to travelogues and special artist books.
For more information or to register, please visit Snow Farm’s website.
*** Registration is now open for Haystack Mountain School of Crafts summer sessions. Haystack is located in Deer Isle, Maine. There are two book/paper arts workshops:
- July 30 – August 11: Raising Paper with Jocelyn Châteauvert
This workshop will explore the structural potential of handmade paper. Using traditional papermaking techniques as the foundation, participants will learn how beating, sheet thickness, and drying times influences and informs the ability for paper to become dimensional. Using relatively simple tools and processes we will imaginatively transform she
ets of handmade paper into three-dimensional forms that are strong and self-supporting. Previous experience with papermaking helpful but not required.
- August 14 – 26: Radical Bookwork: Re-purposing Found Books from Meaning To Structure with Doug Beube
This workshop is designed to challenge common assumptions about the nature of the book and to offer participants an opportunity to make their own bookwork from found books, which incorporates collage, installation, mixed media, painting, photography, sculpture, and writing. Students will primarily work with hardbound and softcover books by altering their physical structure. Although a few basic bookbinding structures will be demonstrated, this workshop is not about traditional binding; it is a mixed-media workshop on using the found book as raw and re-purposed material.
For more information or to register, please visit Haystack’s website.
*** John Vincent of A Revolutionary Press is looking for active papermakers in the Burlington area.
If you’re currently pulpy or know someone who is, please contact John at arevolutionarypress@gmail.com.
Book Arts Classes
*** The Eliot School is offering the Pop-Up Travel Journal with Susan Porter on January 15, 2017.
Incorporate photos, tickets, labels and other ephemera from your travels to create a pop-up book. The book begins as a simple square but opens into a dramatic, multifaceted container that includes pockets, windows, pop-outs and other paper forms. A variety of media and techniques will be used including printmaking, collage, painting and drawing.
For more information about the class, please visit the Eliot School’s website or click here to download the complete catalog.
*** From January 28 – 29 the North Bennet Street School is offering Bookbinding 101 with Amy Lapidow.
Students learn the foundations of bookbinding through hands-on experience and discussion of both adhesive and non-adhesive books. Learn structural elements, sewing variations, covering and cutting techniques using various materials, in addition to proper use of tools and equipment. Discussions throughout the course cover terminology, materials selection, and use. Structures covered include coptic, long stitch, and flat back bindings.
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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