by Elissa | Aug 5, 2021 | B.A.G. Meetings, bookbinding, Exhibitions, Lecture, MailB.A.G., Member News, Vermont, Workshops
Next Meeting: Wednesday, August 14, 2021, 4:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
This month’s meeting will be the opening reception for our members exhibit at the Northeast Kingdom Artisans Guild. The gallery is located at 430 Railroad Street, #2 in St. Johnsbury, VT.
Don’t worry if you can’t make it to the exhibit – all of the work will be photographed and put on our website.
We hope to see you at the gallery!
The B.A.G. Board
Program: B.A.G Exhibit Opening Reception at Northeast Kingdom Artisans Guild
The Book Arts Guild of Vermont is proud to present our group show for 2021, THE ART OF THE BOOK: IS IT A BOOK?
Here are the juicy details:
The members’ show will run from August 6 through September 18, 2021, in the Back Room Gallery at Northeast Kingdom Artisans Guild in St. Johnsbury, Vermont. The opening reception will be on August 14 from 4:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. and will take the place of our regular meeting.
At the reception, artists will have the opportunity to speak about their work, so if you would like to share, please be prepared.
July Meeting Reflections
For the wrap up of our Text Me! theme, we asked members and friends to share work they have done based on techniques and ideas we have learned from previous meetings.
It was exciting to see the variety and quality of work produced! We can’t wait to see some of these pieces in person at the show in August.
Thanks to all who shared and listened.
B.A.G. Library Corner
It’s time to wrap up our text theme and what better way than with the Lively Art of Lettering feature from Somerset Studio magazine.
The January/February 2010 issue features the work of three artists: Jane Harrison-Williams turns the English alphabet into a whimsical animal menagerie; Linda Schneider paints figures from words in what she calls “penned personas;” and Joyce Bank pairs art with a love of tea, creating “book ghosts” from tea bag pages. All three have creative ways of utilizing text in their work that showcases their unique expression.
If you have ideas for books to feature or if you have a library book in your possession you’d like to share something from, email Sally at salblanch@gmail.com.
You can check out and download the selection here.
B.A.G. News
*** The exhibit Mixed States, recent work from sisters Nina and Sari Gaby, runs September 2 – 29 with a reception and artist talk Sunday September 26, from 2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. at The Little Theater Café Gallery. The gallery is located at 240 East Avenue in Rochester, New York.
Nina’s collage is based on book imagery, referencing mood, terrain, geography, and the always changing landscape of visual narrative.
For more information, please visit The Little Theater website.
*** Elissa Campbell is teaching the Travel Companion Journal on August 26 at the Swanson Inn in Waitsfield.
In this workshop, participants will create a journal with a double-needle coptic binding, an intricate stitch that will be visible on the spine of the book. Not only is the coptic binding beautiful, but it also allows books to remain flat when opened.
The journal will include pockets both inside the covers and in the text block, allowing you the opportunity to save lots of stuff from your travels – tickets, photos, pressed flowers – you name it!
All materials and tools will be provided. Lunch and snacks are also included in the fee – all you have to do is show up!
For more information, please visit the Swanson Inn website.
To register, please contact the Inn at stay@swansoninn.com.
Book Arts News
*** The Minnesota Center for Book Arts is hosting The Art of Korean Paper, an online artist talk and demonstration with Aimee Lee on Wednesday August 18th. Lee is an artist, papermaker, writer, and the leading hanji (Korean handmade paper) researcher and practitioner in North America.
While studying papermaking in the US, Aimee noticed a gap in paper history and decided to research, learn, and teach Korean papermaking to fill that gap. She will show examples of her artwork featuring hanji in her presentation and demonstrate the ancient papercraft of noyeokgae, known colloquially as jiseung, the process of cording and twining hanji.
For more information or to register, visit the MCBA website.
*** The Newport Paper and Book Arts Festival is being held online this year and registration for the festival itself is free! You will have full access to the NPBAF community, including mini lectures, artist talks, a live Art and Happy Hour Zoom gathering plus a space to chat and share with other festival goers. In addition to the free content, there are lecture and studio workshops available for purchase.
Lecture workshops will be live streamed with students watching the instructor work through a process, technique or structure. The instructor will take you through all the steps, pass along some great tips and tricks, and provide you with a materials and tools list. The lecture will be recorded and you will have access to watch it as many times as you like until February 1, 2022.
Studio workshops will be live streamed and designed for you to work along with the instructor. Your materials fee has two parts: the materials themselves plus the cost to ship them in a USPS flat rate box. There is also a student supply list of materials and tools you will need to gather before the workshop. The lecture will be recorded and you will have access to watch it as many times as you like until February 1, 2022.
To register for the festival, please visit the NPBAF website. To view the festival brochure, please click here.
*** If you missed the virtual Focus on Book Arts conference that was recently held online, you’re in luck – much of the content is now available online through the end of August:
Stay-at-Home Fun
*** The Jaffe Center for Book Arts is offering Magic Box of Mysteries with Keri Miki-Lani Schroeder on August 19 & 26, and September 2.
Mystify and mesmerize with this magic box of mysterious toys and tricks! In this workshop you will learn the secrets of this hidden compartment, magic wallet box. Open the magic box to reveal hypnotizing optical paper toys. Then close the box and open again to unveil an entirely different set of paper toys, including a volvelle, flexagon, and thaumatrope. How does it work, you ask? Through the magic of book arts, all will be revealed.
For more information or to register, please email John Cutrone at jcutrone@fau.edu.
*** The Center for Book Arts is offering How to Conceptualize and Create an Artist Book with Maria Veronica San Martin on August 23 – 25.
During this intensive project-based remote course, students will learn “how to think and create an artist book” by examining their concept, aesthetic, and techniques. The course will be taught from the artist’s studio and will start with a brief exploration of what an artist book is, followed by demonstrations of an accordion book structure (dos-a-dos); the technique of monoprints on plexiglass, zinc or copper (a form of printmaking that produces a unique print) for images and/or text, and the final creation and construction of a flag book.
Students will be able to create their own artist book in four sessions with a final critique. No prerequisites needed, but ideally participants should have some book arts knowledge or experience.
For more information or to register, please visit the CBA website.
*** The Minnesota Center for Book Arts is offering Single-Page Books: The Next Level with Rosae Reeder on August 25th.
Single-page books, also called flutter-fold books, are extremely versatile folded structures that can be used to make books, zines, and unique formats for written greetings. These books are created by folding and cutting paper, incorporating simple elements of origami with principles of bookbinding.
These small wonders can be used as one-of-a-kind works or in multiples to create structures that twist, turn, and further expand this already-interesting construction. In this one-day virtual workshop, learn how to fold a series of ten single-page books, as well as other folded structures as time allows. Some experience folding paper or binding books is helpful but not required.
For more information or to register, please visit the MCBA website.
by Elissa | Mar 8, 2018 | B.A.G. Meetings, bookbinding, Call to artists, Exhibitions, MailB.A.G., Member News, Vermont, Workshops
Next Meeting: Wednesday, March 14, 2018, 6:30 p.m. – 8:00 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: Digging Deeper: A Hands-On Exploration of Tunnel Book Structures
Join us as we plumb the depths of tunnel book structures in a member-led mini workshop format similar to our ever-popular November program, Card Tricks and Book Blitz.
Bring a tunnel book you’ve made, or a model of a tunnel book structure you’ve put together, along with materials that will allow approximately six people to make a model of your structure. If you can, bring written instructions for making the model – strictly optional and extra credit, but always appreciated!
Each person who brings a book or model will have some time to share and explain what they’ve made to the group, then we’ll spend time individually exploring and creating the structures.
Please feel free to join in the fun even if you don’t have time to prepare a model tunnel book or materials. We use a similar meeting format every November and there is always enough to go around.
Warning: Tunnel book structures are addictive, and B.A.G. cannot be held responsible for other projects that may not get done once you discover the many techniques available for making these magical books!
Things to bring:
- A tunnel book you’ve made, or a model of a tunnel book structure (optional)
- Materials for 6 people to make a model of your structure (optional)
- Plain card stock for making models of structures (in case you need more materials to make models of the structures that interest you)
- Glue
- Scissors
- X-Acto knife
- Cutting mat
- Ruler
- Pencil
- Bone folder
- Awl or needle tool
The focus of our April meeting will be presenting content in a tunnel book format. However, if you are more interested in exploring one or two structures more thoroughly (rather than making several models) during the March meeting, you can bring in the following optional materials to experiment with adding visual content to those structures:
- Decorative punches
- Stamps and ink
- Pens, pencils, markers
- Decorative papers
- Collage materials such as magazine images
February Meeting Reflections
Perhaps it was Jill’s enticing program description, Mining for Gold – Exploring Tunnel Books, that brought so many people out to the January meeting!
After an inspiring slide show of tunnel books from the web (thanks, Ann!), many makers shared their tunnel creations. While the variety of style and subject seemed broad, the overall concept of how image and construction form the tunnel was clear.
It’s always amazing to hear members talk about their work, and to realize what a talented bunch we are. Thanks to everyone who came, participated, and enjoyed.
You can view images from the meeting on the B.A.G. blog.
B.A.G. News
*** Book Arts Guild of Vermont 2018 Show news!
Members and friends are invited to submit work for our show at Studio Place Arts in Barre from May 22 – June 30, where we will be exhibiting in the second floor gallery. Here is our show name and description, which leaves it wide open for interpretation:
Beyond Words: Artworks by the Book Arts Guild of Vermont
Books can take on a language of their own, as shown in the multimedia work of this group of artists that use shape, structure, and materials to get their message across.
Important dates:
- Submissions: Work must be submitted by May 1, 2018. No work can be accepted after that date.
- Opening: May 22, 2018
- Closing: June 30, 2018
- Artist’s talk: Date TBD
The second show will take place in June at Frog Hollow Craft Gallery on Church Street. This will be a great opportunity to get exposure for our group in the heart of Burlington.
The show will be called The Art of the Book, which leaves it wide open to interpretation.
Important dates:
- Submissions: Work must be submitted by May 22, 2018. No work can be accepted after that date.
- Opening: June 1, 2018
- Closing: June 30, 2018
- Artist’s talk: Date TBD
B.A.G. Member News
*** B.A.G. member Jane Ploughman is teaching two classes in March:
Collage and Simple Bookmaking
In this workshop, you will make 3 or more books using simple techniques. You will also have time to fill the pages of your books with words, images, color, and all manner of collage material provided!
This workshop is for ages 18+ and all materials will be provided. Jane will be co-teaching these workshops with Lily Hinrichsen.
The workshop is being taught twice, so you can attend either on March 23rd or March 24th. The workshops are being held at ARTSight in Bristol from 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. and cost $70.00 (or $60.00 if you’ve taken our workshops before).
For more information, contact Lily at lilyhinrichsen@gmail.com.
Handmade Books: Simply Sewn
Learn how to sew beautiful single and multiple-signature book bindings. Learn about some of the tools and techniques and how to make informed material choices. The workshop’s focus will be on form and structure. Students will leave with three different sewn softcover bindings. Some bookbinding experience is helpful but not necessary.
The workshop is taking place at the Middlebury Studio School on Saturday, March 31st from 9:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.The cost is $55.00, which includes all materials and handouts.
For more information or to register, contact Barb Nelson at (802) 247-3702 or ewaldewald@aol.com.
*** B.A.G. member Elissa Campbell is teaching the Crossed Structure Binding at Studio Place Arts in Barre, VT on March 24th from 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
The Crossed Structure Binding is intriguing in that the sewing is done directly onto back cover straps that integrate into the front cover. This non-adhesive variation on the long stitch was developed by book artist Carmencho Arregui after studying pre-16th century bindings.
In this workshop, you will work on two variations of this binding, one using paper covers and the other using leather. As time allows, you’ll add stitching to the covers to both reinforce the structure and add a decorative touch. You’ll also learn how to create and use an improvised sewing frame.
To register, contact SPA via phone at (802) 479-7069 or email.
Book Arts News
*** The New England Chapter of the Guild of Book Workers is looking for volunteers to help teach simple bookbinding techniques and creative content. Through this event, NEGBW volunteers will be helping Cadette scouts (age 11-14) to earn a Book Artist badge and potentially inspiring future bookbinders.
The event will be held on Sunday April 29, 2018 at Camp Maude Eaton in Andover, MA. There will be two sessions, one from 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. and from 1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
If you are interested in volunteering or have any questions, please direct them at Lauren Telepak at negbwprograms@gmail.com.
*** From February 17 – July 8, the Philadelphia Museum of Art is hosting the exhibition Keith Smith at Home. This is a rare opportunity to view the creative work of the well-known author of such a beloved series of bookbinding manuals.
Friendship, love, desire: Keith Smith’s life is an open book. For five decades, the Rochester-based artist has used surprising combinations of materials to chronicle his experiences. In this exhibition, explore an array of Smith’s mixed-media photographs and prints, and – his specialty – handmade artist’s books, most from his own collection.
In his work, Keith Smith irreverently disregards the supposed dividing lines between “fine art” (photography, etching, watercolor), “craft” (sewing, quilting, bookmaking), and “utilitarian technologies” (transparencies, photocopies). Although his subject matter is rooted in his personal life, he also grapples with universal themes such as self-representation, domesticity, and intimacy.
For more information, please visit the PMA’s website.
Book Arts Classes
*** On Saturday, April 28th, the Kate Cheney Chappell 83 Center for Book Arts is hosting a workshop with Erin Fletcher of Herringbone Bindery, Secret Belgian Binding – Two Ways. The workshop will be held in the Multi-Purpose Room in the Wishcamper Center at the University of Southern Maine in Portland.
This workshop will explore the Secret Belgian binding (also known as Criss Cross binding) and ways to modify it. The binding is simple and easy to construct; it opens flat and is perfect for smaller text blocks. Students will complete two versions of the structure; one bound in the traditional sense and the second will offer a bit more secrecy and refinement to the structure.
Registration is available online or alternatively, you can call (207) 780-5900.
*** From June 11 – 15, the North Bennet Street School is offering Miniature Bookbindings with James Reid-Cunningham.
Miniature books present difficult design and structural challenges to the bookbinder. A true miniature is less than three inches tall, and during this course, the student will construct three books of diminishing size: a long stitch binding with decorated boards, a lapped component binding, and an accordion in a wrapper with a tongue and slot enclosure.
The course will contrast the utility of case binding, accordion, and non-adhesive structures for miniature books, with a concentration on flexibility and book action. We will analyze materials and techniques suitable for small format books. The limitations inherent in small-scale books will challenge students to do precisely executed and finely detailed work.
For more information or to register, please visit the NBSS website.
*** Registration for Wells College Book Arts Center‘s Book Arts Summer Institute is now open. The week-long intensive courses include letterpress printing, bookbinding, calligraphy, typecasting, and font design. Week 1 runs from July 15 – 21 and Week 2 runs from July 22 – 28.
This year’s instructors include Jenna Rodriguez, Aimee Lee, and Scott McCarney. Wells College is located in Aurora, NY.
For more information, please visit the Wells College website. Ann will also have postcards from the Summer Institute available at the February meeting.
by Elissa | Jun 14, 2012 | B.A.G. Meetings, bookbinding, Exhibitions, MailB.A.G., Member News, Vermont, Workshops
Next Meeting: Wednesday, June 20, 2012, 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.
Photo by Christopher J. Campbell
Program: Open Bindery
Join us for Open Bindery in June!
Unfortunately, Margery Cantor is not able to present at our June meeting, but we look forward to having her share her letterpress expertise with us in the future. Instead, we have a program designed to get your summer bookbinding endeavors off to a roaring start.
This month, we invite you to bring a project to work on and join us for the Book Arts Guild’s first-ever Open Bindery! We hope to create a collaborative space where we can work on our own projects while at the same time sharing ideas, offering each other assistance, and inspiring each other. It also provides an opportunity to get to know each other better, to catch up with old friends, and to share what we’ve been working on.
Our mini-bindery will offer equipment such as book presses; a Kutrimmer™; a Xyron™ (a non-heat, non-spray alternative to wet adhesives), sewing frames, a Zutter Bind It All™ spiral binder, cutting mats, and various hand tools. There will also be a mini-library of books on bookbinding and book arts for instruction and inspiration, and materials available for purchase, such as bookboard and PVA glue.
We think it will be a very enjoyable and productive evening, and look forward to seeing you there!
Reflections on May’s Meeting
Our May meeting was such fun with Robin Cooper Collins leading us all on the makings of a very special movable mechanism that she discovered during a restoration project. Robin first provided us with an introduction of her work with the restoration and conservation of antiquarian children’s books. We were all fascinated by the detective skills, technology and wealth of art techniques Robin applies to her projects.
Robin, thank you for sharing your unique expertise with us on antique children’s books and for guiding us though the makings of challenging movable mechanism.
We have pictures from the meeting, but they’re not on the blog yet. As soon as they’re posted, we’ll let you know.
B.A.G. News
*** The Book Arts Guild of Vermont is pleased to announce that book artist Daniel Kelm will be coming to Vermont to offer The Book Restructured: Wire Edge Binding, a two-day workshop from 7/28/12 – 7/29/12.
Book artists produce a truly remarkable range of books – some diverging wildly from what we recognize as traditional book form. Wire edge binding, which employs a thin metal wire along the hinging edge of each page, was developed by master bookbinder, artist, and innovator Daniel Kelm to meet the challenge of creating a nontraditional book that opens exceptionally well and allows for unusual shapes.
During this two-day intensive workshop, which includes two projects, you will master basic wire edge skills for producing highly functional bindings of both traditional and unusual shapes. The first project – a simple codex of six identical page panels – teaches you the basics of integrating metal wire into a paperboard construction. The second project – an accordion with triangular pages that fold to form a tetrahedron – teaches you how to make books of various geometric shapes.
All experience levels welcome!
Dates: July 28 – 29, 2012 (Saturday – Sunday)
Time: 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. (including lunch break)
Location: The Bindery Place, Shelburne Pond Studios, Shelburne, VT
Cost (all-inclusive!): $210.00 B.A.G. members, $225.00 non-members
Space is limited and B.A.G. members are getting a head start on registering, 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.
*** The May/June exhibition at the Creative Space Gallery in Vergennes, VT includes work from our 2012 spring exhibit, Shaping Pages. Featured work includes handmade books by B.A.G. members Jill Abilock, Janet Ballantyne, Eloise Beil, Elissa Campbell, Elizabeth Rideout, Maryann Riker, Nancy Stone, Annie Watson, and Cynthia Weiss.
There will be a reception with the artists on Friday June 2nd from 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. You can also visit during gallery hours on Thursday – Sunday, now through June 24th.
Book Arts News
*** The New England Chapter of the Guild of Book Workers is holding their annual meeting on Tuesday, June 26th, at 6:00 p.m. This meeting is open to all current chapter members. The primary item of business is the election of an entirely new chapter committee. The presumptive committee members will be happy to speak with members about ideas for upcoming chapter activities. Outgoing Chapter Chair, Jeffrey Altepeter, will give one last annual report.
The meeting will be held at The Independent at 75 Union Square in Somerville, MA. If you plan to attend, please RSVP to Jeffrey Altepeter.
*** The Museum of Printing in North Andover, MA will be having its Ninth Annual Printing Arts Fair on Sunday, June 17th, 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. The Fair is free and open to the public.
The Printing Arts Fair brings together printers, artisans, booksellers, graphic designers, specialty paper vendors – anyone interested in the printing arts – in a family atmosphere. Live demonstrations of turning molten lead into type, letterpress printing, intaglio printing, paper making and more.
For more information, please visit please visit The Museum of Printing’s website.
*** The Photo-Bookworks Symposium, presented by the Visual Studies Workshop, will take place from June 28 – 30, 2012 in Rochester, NY.
For the 2012 Photo-Bookworks Symposium, Visual Studies Workshop has invited national and international artists, critics, curators, and publishers to discuss some of the most challenging and innovative photobooks being created in the world today. Learn about the history of the medium, about being published and self-publishing, how artists and bookbinders are expanding the form, and much more.
There will also be a special pop-up bookstore by ARTBOOK as part of the symposium. Titles by the presenters and numerous other photobooks and artists’ books, including recent titles from VSW Press, will be available for purchase at discounted prices. There will be book signings by all the presenters throughout the symposium weekend.
For further information or to register contact Kristen Merola at workshops@vsw.org.
Book Arts Classes
*** Art New England is offering Artists Books To Go with Aimee Lee from 7/29/12 – 8/4/12 at Bennington College. In this workshop, students learn key ways to build artists’ books with a minimum amount of equipment and environmental impact, and explore the book form as a repository for images, text, and ideas.
Students experiment with a variety of folded and sewn structures that can easily be made at home or on the road. They also learn how to manipulate paper into pop-ups and unconventional pages that draw from fiber techniques. Transfers and mark-making techniques will convey content and students will gather tips on how to maintain a portable tool kit. Participants will leave with an armful of books and the knowledge and confidence to make books anywhere and anytime. This class is suitable for all levels of experience.
Registration is available online. To learn more about Aimee Lee, please visit her website.
*** Book Arts at the Stone House will be offering workshops from July 23 – 29, 2012 in Freeport, Maine. Spend seven days beside the sea attending a series of book arts related workshops, filled with a wide range of topics including printmaking, cyanotypes, paper-making, marbling, sequential images, inventive fold books, book design, and box making.
During the course, each student will have the opportunity to work with 8 different instructors in half day and full day workshops. Every participant will be exposed to a variety of approaches and opinions from a stimulating group of professional artists.
Please visit the website for more details on the location and how to register.
*** From 8/3/12 – 8/5/12, Velma Bolyard will be teaching Pulp Clouds: Hand Papermaking at the Long Ridge Farm in Westmoreland, NH. In this workshop, you’ll gather plants, cook pulp, form and dry sheets of your own papers.
Expect to make strong, useable, and beautiful waterleaf (un-sized) sheets. You’ll make a book from your papers, binding sheets into sample books utilizing structures that allow you to explore bookbinding as well. Each participant may expect to make a portfolio of sheets of various sizes from at least five different plants.
The fee for the workshop is $500.00 with a limited materials list. For more information, please contact Long Ridge Farm.
*** From 8/27 – 8/31, Erin Sweeney of Lovely In The Home Press will be teaching Book School 2012 in Peterborough, NH.
From 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. each day, you’ll tackle a new structure, and discuss form and content appropriate for each. Simple writing exercises will be explored to create and organize ideas for future projects. Projects include the Piano Hinge structure, several album structures, a traditional long-stitch structure, boxes, and a Plunder Book to wrap it all up and utilize our newly learned techniques.
For more information or to register, please contact Erin at erin@erinsweeney.net.
