by Elissa | Oct 3, 2014 | B.A.G. Meetings, bookbinding, Exhibitions, Lecture, MailB.A.G., Member News, Vermont, Workshops
Next Meeting: Wednesday, October 8, 2014, 6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
The October meeting will be held at UVM’s Special Collections in the basement of Bailey Howe Library. Click here to download a pdf of the directions to Special Collections.
Please note that in October we will not be meeting as usual on the second Wednesday at the Unitarian Church in Burlington.
Program: Special Visit to UVM Special Collections
This year, our visit to Special Collections will provide the unique opportunity to view the spectacular work of the members of the New England Chapter of the Guild of Book Workers, as their traveling exhibit – Geographies: New England Book Work – is currently on display at UVM’s Bailey/Howe Library.
Even more exciting, exhibitors Deborah Howe and Stephanie Wolff will be on hand to offer a guided tour of the exhibit! They will discuss the creation of their own books in the show, methods of construction used by other exhibitors, and contemporary bookbinding and book arts. The exhibition contains a variety of artist books, bindings, and manuscript books on the theme “New England.”
Deborah Howe is the Collections Conservator and a Book Arts Instructor at Dartmouth College Library, and board member of the Morgan Conservatory in Cleveland, Ohio. Stephanie Wolff is an artist, hand bookbinder, and book conservator. She teaches book arts to students of all ages, including at Dartmouth College Library’s Book Arts Workshop.
The Guild of Book Workers, a national organization founded in 1906, brings together people interested in all the book arts, including bookbinding, book conservation, calligraphy, decorative paper, papermaking, and printing. For more information visit negbw.wordpress.com and www.guildofbookworkers.org.
* Please bring a pencil, not a pen, if you plan to take notes.
September Meeting Reflections
Our September meeting was one of learning and giving. Judy Sgantas provided the group with first hand knowledge of the altruistic work provided by Team Heart. Our hearts opened as she described the culture and conditions in Rwanda. The medical team will return to Rwanda again in February to provide heart surgery for young patients. This year Judy will accompany them and work with the children in the orphanage. She will teach bookmaking and provide art supplies donated by our Book Arts Guild.
At our meeting Judy taught us the book structure of wallet books. We made several for Team Heart to give to patients and care givers in Rwanda. Jill Abilock provided beautiful paste papers for the books so each one is unique special.
Thank you Judy and Jill for providing us with a few hours away from our lives to learn about the needs of others and to have the opportunity to make a positive contribution through bookmaking.
Judy will accept more wallet books and donations through December for the work of Team Heart.
Book Arts News
*** The Champlain Mini Maker Faire will be held at Shelburne Farms Coach Barn on Saturday, October 4th from 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m., and Sunday, October 5th from 11:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. The Faire is a family-friendly event to MAKE, create, learn, invent, CRAFT, recycle, think, play and be inspired by celebrating arts, crafts, engineering, food, music, science and technology.
The Book Arts Guild of Vermont will have a booth at the Faire where we will demonstrate simple book structures, and allow participants to try their hand at book arts. Stop by if you are at the Faire!
*** 
On October 4 & 5, the statewide Open Studio Weekend is offering a wonderful selection of book artsy studios for you to visit.
If you’re up for a tour, you can find your comrades in the following locations:
Elissa created a Google Map with all of the locations to help you with your tour. You can find maps and directions to studios on the VT Crafts Council website. You can also download a pdf of the 2014 Fall Vermont Open Studio Tour Guide. Please note that this is a really big file.
*** Fiber artist Marion Seasholtz generates a lot of cotton batting and fabric scraps in her work and is offering them to anyone interested in using them for papermaking. If you’re interested, please contact Marion at marion@windsedgestudio.com.
*** Al Mutanabbi Street Starts Here is on exhibit at the Eliot D. Pratt Library Art Gallery at Goddard College now through October 10, 2014. The exhibit commemorates the 2007 bombing that resulted in the loss of a vibrant cultural and literary community in Baghdad.
The exhibit has been traveling the world since 2012 and includes artists’ books and broadsides by artists from 26 countries. Goddard College is in Plainfield, VT.
*** The McGrath Lecture in Contemporary Book Arts presents Twenty Years of the Double Elephant Press: Harnessing Influence & Ignorance on October 8, 2014 at 4:00 p.m. in the Neilson Browsing Room at Smith College, in Northampton, MA. To accompany this lecture, there is an exhibition of selected works from the Double Elephant Press, on view through December 15 at the entrance to the Mortimer Rare Book Room (Neilson Library, level 3).
Michael Kuch of Double Elephant Press began drawing in pen and ink at the age of eleven at home in northern Vermont; one year later he had a one-man show at a local museum. For the past twenty years Kuch has worked with book artisans in the Northampton area, notably the letterpress printer Art Larson, as well as numerous bookbinders. Lately, Kuch has delved into printing his own etched text and made forays into bookbinding.
For more information, please visit the Smith College Libraries website.
Book Arts Classes
*** On October 25, 2014, the North Bennet Street School, in collaboration with the New England Chapter of the Guild of Book Workers, is offering an Onion Skin Binding workshop with Benjamin Elbel.
Learn the complex sequence of scores, folds and gluings involved in the amazing Onion Skin binding, a structure that grows from the inside to the outside, gradually incorporating the single sheets into a continuous stub.
While you will learn in a traditional workshop setting, Benjamin’s instruction will be projected on a screen for students as he will be located at his studio in London.
For more information or to register, please visit the Guild of Book Workers website.
*** The Eliot School in Jamaica Plain, MA is offering Fold & Stitch Books with Annie Silverman on Sunday, October 19 & 26, 2014 from 1:30 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. Using simple techniques that build upon each other, learn a variety of essential book forms: sewn pamphlets, multiple-signature books, accordion and flag books, along with simple wrappers and envelopes.
For more information about the class, please visit the Eliot School’s website or click here to download the complete catalog.
by Elissa | Sep 4, 2014 | B.A.G. Meetings, bookbinding, Exhibitions, MailB.A.G., Vermont, Workshops
Next Meeting: Wednesday, September 10, 2014, 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: Art with a Heart: Creating Journals for Team Heart Patients in Africa with Judy Sgantas
Join us for a very special meeting in September when we come together as a group and make books to help Judy Sgantas support the efforts of Team Heart, a non-profit group of volunteer physicians, nurses, and technicians dedicated to providing life-saving cardiac surgeries in Rwanda, primarily to children suffering from rheumatic heart disease, a preventable condition.
Judy’s husband Mark is a cardio-thoracic nurse at Fletcher Allen Health Care. Last year, he and six other volunteers from Fletcher Allen became part of the 40 members of Team Heart in Rwanda, performing valve surgeries on 16 patients over a two week period. He will be participating again this year and Judy will be joining him, working to support Team Heart’s efforts at an orphanage near the hospital.
Last year, Judy made “wallet books” (pamphlet-stitched journals with pockets folded into the covers) for all of Team Heart’s patients and a few of the Rwandan nurses, so they would each have a book that would hold their stories, pictures and even medical instructions. The books were such a huge success that this year Judy has invited the Book Arts Guild to help create the books that she will bring with her to Rwanda this fall.
So come to the September meeting prepared to learn an easy but interesting and useful new book structure as Judy leads us in creating wallet books for the Rwandan care givers and patients served by Team Heart!
Please bring the following:
- Bone folder
- Awl
- Scissors
- X-Acto knife/cutting blade
- Cutting mat
- Pencil
- Ruler
- Bookbinding or tapestry needle
- Waxed linen thread
Optional:
- Judy puts index cards for medical instructions in one of the book pockets, along with a postcard of one of her illustrations. If you would like to bring a personal card to place in the book that you make, that would be lovely!
August Meeting Reflections
Our August meeting was full of fun and hands-on experimenting. Jen Alderman and Gwen Morey came well prepared with demonstrations, written suggestion and loads of materials for us to explore. They believe in recycling trash and found objects into exciting stamping possibilities and they made believers out of us.
Some highlights included bubble wrap, ramen noodles and marbles. Their expertise and experience was appreciated as we got tips on the different types of inks, refill systems, punches and sponges to improve our techniques.
Thanks Jen and Gwen, what a wonderful way to learn and play on a summer’s evening.
You can view images from the meeting on the B.A.G. blog.
Book Arts News
*** On October 4 & 5, the statewide Open Studio Weekend is offering a wonderful selection of book artsy studios for you to visit.
If you’re up for a tour, you can find your comrades in the following locations:
Elissa created a Google Map with all of the locations to help you with your tour. You can find maps and directions to studios on the VT Crafts Council website. You can also download a pdf of the 2014 Fall Vermont Open Studio Tour Guide. Please note that this is a really big file.
*** Fiber artist Sandy Jefferis is selling her stash of handmade papers. Here’s what’s for sale:
- 83 sheets of Thai Lama Li Lokta, assorted colors, 20″ x 30″
- 29 sheets of Thai Unryu Marbled Momi, 24″ x 36″
- 21+ sheets of assorted bark and other handmade papers
The retail price for the batch is about $636.00. She is asking for $350.00 for all of it. If you are interested, please contact Sandy at sandyjefferis@gmail.com
*** Al Mutanabbi Street Starts Here is on exhibit at the Eliot D. Pratt Library Art Gallery at Goddard College now through October 10, 2014. The exhibit commemorates the 2007 bombing that resulted in the loss of a vibrant cultural and literary community in Baghdad.
The exhibit has been traveling the world since 2012 and includes artists’ books and broadsides by artists from 26 countries. Goddard College is in Plainfield, VT.
*** The New England Chapter of the Guild of Book Workers has organized a mini-conference in northern Maine during September 12 – 14, 2014. Spend a weekend in Northern Maine with a community of local artists working in the field of bookbinding, paper making and calligraphy.
The conference will be held at the Cobscook Community Learning Center near Whiting, ME. Programming includes a visit to the Book Arts Studio at UMaine Machias Friday afternoon, evening lectures by Alan Furth, Walter Tisdale and Gray Parrot Friday night, half-day workshops by Katie MacGregor and Nancy Leavitt on Saturday followed by a special presentation by David Yarborough.
For more information or to register, please visit the Guild of Book Workers website.
*** The exhibit UNBOUND VOL. IV: Art Using books as a material/format will be open from July 25 – August 23, 2014 at the Artistree Gallery in Woodstock, VT. This juried show looks to explore this idea of “the book” and all the ways artists use that format as a stepping-off point or as material to explore new ideas.
Book Arts Classes
*** On September 22-26, 2014, the North Bennet Street School is offering Fundamentals of Bookbinding I with Erin Fletcher in Boston.The course covers non-adhesive structures and case bindings, students learn about structural elements, sewing variations, covering and cutting techniques using various materials, and tools and equipment. The focus is on non-adhesive structures such as coptic, historical long stitch and case bindings such as flat back, rounded back.
For more information or to register, please visit the NBSS website.
*** The Eliot School in Jamaica Plain, MA is offering Fold & Stitch Books with Annie Silverman on Sunday, October 19 & 26, 2014 from 1:30 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. Using simple techniques that build upon each other, learn a variety of essential book forms: sewn pamphlets, multiple-signature books, accordion and flag books, along with simple wrappers and envelopes.
For more information about the class, please visit the Eliot School’s website or click here to download the complete catalog.
by Elissa | Aug 7, 2014 | B.A.G. Meetings, bookbinding, Exhibitions, MailB.A.G., Vermont, Workshops
Next Meeting: Wednesday, August 13, 2014, 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: Making Your Own Stamps with Found Materials with Jennifer Alderman & Gwen Morey
Join us in August when Jen and Gwen teach us how to make our own stamps using items found around the house. In addition to demonstrating techniques for making the stamps, our dynamic duo has prepared four different hands-on projects we will all make and take home.
Expect to learn some new techniques for decorating books and spicing up your art work!
Please bring the following tools and materials:
- A stylus or dead ball point pen
- A flat cap top from a bottle of water, gatorade or powerade
- Stamp ink pads
- Rubber gloves
- A pencil and/or pen
July Meeting Reflections
Elissa wowed us with her magical hands-on workshop, providing not only clear directions and madcap humor, but also LEATHER! Green, textured leather to be exact.
Using a sewing method from Keith Smith’s book, 1-, 2- and 3-Section Sewings: Non-Adhesive Binding Volume II, participants came away with new sewing skills, an appreciation for giant-sized visual aids, and a sweet leather mini-journal ready for big thoughts.
Thanks to all who attended, and extra special thanks to Elissa for her patience, preparation, and presentation skills.
You can view images from the meeting on the B.A.G. blog.
Book Arts News
*** Carolyn Shattuck is exhibiting her artists’ books in the exhibit Speaking Volumes now through August 16, 2014 at the Castleton Downtown Gallery. The exhibit features her sculptural works including pop-ups, flexagons and unique structures.
The gallery is located on Center Street Alley in Rutland, VT and is open Wednesday through Saturday from 1:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m..
*** Al Mutanabbi Street Starts Here is on exhibit at the Eliot D. Pratt Library Art Gallery at Goddard College now through October 10, 2014. The exhibit commemorates the 2007 bombing that resulted in the loss of a vibrant cultural and literary community in Baghdad.
The exhibit has been traveling the world since 2012 and includes artists’ books and broadsides by artists from 26 countries. Goddard College is in Plainfield, VT.
*** The Miniature Book Society is hosting the annual gathering of its members this year in Boston, MA from August 15 – 17, 2014. Programming includes guest speakers, tours, workshops, book auctions, and a book swap. A book fair will be open to the public on Sunday, August 17th from 11:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m..
For more details, please visit the MBS website.
*** The New England Chapter of the Guild of Book Workers has organized a mini-conference in northern Maine during September 12 – 14, 2014. Spend a weekend in Northern Maine with a community of local artists working in the field of bookbinding, paper making and calligraphy.
The conference will be held at the Cobscook Community Learning Center near Whiting, ME. Programming includes a visit to the Book Arts Studio at UMaine Machias Friday afternoon, evening lectures by Alan Furth, Walter Tisdale and Gray Parrot Friday night, half-day workshops by Katie MacGregor and Nancy Leavitt on Saturday followed by a special presentation by David Yarborough.
For more information or to register, please visit the Guild of Book Workers website.
*** The exhibit UNBOUND VOL. IV: Art Using books as a material/format will be open from July 25 – August 23, 2014 at the Artistree Gallery in Woodstock, VT. This juried show looks to explore this idea of “the book” and all the ways artists use that format as a stepping-off point or as material to explore new ideas.
Book Arts Classes
*** On August 23 – 24, 2014, the North Bennet Street School is offering Italic Calligraphy & Accordion Book with Maryanne Grebenstein in Boston. In this course, students learn to letter in the Italic style using a broad-edged pen and create a 5” x 5” accordion book.
For more information or to register, please visit the NBSS website.
*** The Eliot School in Jamaica Plain, MA is offering Fold & Stitch Books with Annie Silverman on Sunday, October 19 & 26, 2014 from 1:30 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. Using simple techniques that build upon each other, learn a variety of essential book forms: sewn pamphlets, multiple-signature books, accordion and flag books, along with simple wrappers and envelopes.
For more information about the class, please visit the Eliot School’s website or click here to download the complete catalog.
by Elissa | Jan 8, 2013 | B.A.G. Meetings, bookbinding, Exhibitions, Lecture, MailB.A.G., Member News, Vermont, Workshops
Next Meeting: Wednesday, January 9, 2013, 6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
DATE CHANGE: PLEASE NOTE THAT WE NOW MEET ON THE SECOND WEDNESDAY OF THE MONTH.
There will be no change in location – 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: Sharing and Support
Welcome to our annual meeting of minds! Perhaps you have an idea you’re not sure how to execute, or a project that has presented unexpected difficulties. Bring your questions or challenges and take advantage of the cumulative skills and wisdom of fellow B.A.G. members.
Bring book arts projects, either in process or completed, resources (books, magazines, web sites, blogs), favorite tools, sources of innovation, or anything else that inspires or connects you to the book arts. Perhaps you have a project begun at a meeting or in a class or workshop that you could share.
You are also invited to come with proposals for programs: speakers, projects, field trips etc. that you would like to see happen or that you would like to do yourself! This popular annual program will help us celebrate our eighth anniversary (!), so come, share and be ready to leave with a wealth of new creative energy.
Reflections on December’s Meeting
Our annual Pot Luck with Swap and Shop proved to be a delicious evening in many ways, with lots of exciting food to share, friends to meet, and book arts items to swap and purchase.
We were inspired by each others’ creativity in the culinary arts as well as paper arts, and enjoyed swapping recipes and news before shopping and trading for materials and gifts.
Thanks to all who attended for an enjoyable, relaxed evening during the holiday crunch.
You can view images from the meeting on the B.A.G. blog.
B.A.G. News
*** Please note that in 2013, our meeting date has permanently changed to the second Wednesday of the month. The change was made to resolve meeting/holiday conflicts.
Mark your calendars! Our 2013 meeting dates are:
- January 9, 2013
- February 13, 2013
- March 13, 2013
- April 10, 2013
- May 8, 2013
|
- June 12, 2013
- September 11, 2013
- October 9, 2013
- November 13, 2013
- December 11, 2013
|
*** B.A.G. is happy to announce that our 2013 spring exhibit, There’s No Place Like Home, will be hosted by Studio Place Arts in Barre, VT. The show will take place at the same time as an exhibit on children’s literature in the Main Floor Gallery.
The exhibit will be in SPA’s Third Floor Gallery from June 4 – July 6, 2013. The deadline for submissions is April 10, 2013. The official call for artists will go out soon, along with more details on the exhibit.
*** B.A.G. member Marcia Vogler asked us to share this with you:
Here is a book art project I found totally inspiring, and though you might as well.
The Icebook by Davy and Kristin McGuire is a miniature theatre show made of paper and light. An exquisite experience of fragile paper cutouts and video projections that sweep you right into the heart of a fantasy world. It is an intimate and immersive experience of animation, book art and performance.
*** B.A.G. member Elissa Campbell is teaching a brand-new class, Leather Pocket Journals, at Studio Place Arts in Barre, VT on 2 Tuesdays in February 12 & 19, 2013 from 4:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
In this workshop, you’ll learn 6 bindings that use only leather, paper, and thread – no glue needed! For each binding, you’ll sew 3 sections of folded pages into covers cut from one piece of leather. These bindings are very flexible and allow the books to open completely flat, making them perfect for use as sketchbooks or journals.
Each sewing technique creates a different decorative sewing pattern on the spine and we’ll try out different closure methods. No previous experience required – this is a great class for a beginner. You can even bring in your own leather to customize your book.
To register, contact SPA via phone (802) 479-7069 or Email.
Book Arts News
*** Now through January 19th, Burlington City Art‘s exhibit Constructed Conceptual brings together four different bodies of work in which paper and graphite drawings are uniquely cut, torn, rolled, twisted, folded, and painted to create dynamic sculptural objects, and alphabets of line and color.
Vermont-based artist and architect John Anderson challenges conventional definitions of drawing and sculpture by blurring the boundaries between two-dimensional drawing and three-dimensional space.
Burlington City Arts is located at 135 Church Street in Burlington, VT.
*** On March 5, 2007, a car bomb exploded on al-Mutanabbi Street, the ancient street of booksellers, poets and writers, located at the literary and cultural heart of Baghdad, Iraq. The attack killed 30 people and injured scores more.
As part of an international response to this event, the Cambridge Arts Council presents Al-Mutanabbi Street Starts Here, a three-part exhibition of 261 artist books made by 260 international artists from 24 countries.This exhibition events aims to bear witness to the events on Al-Mutanabbi Street, and to collectively affirm that the right to a free exchange of ideas and culture in public space is never to be taken for granted.
An opening reception will be held on January 14th at 6:00 p.m. at the CAC Gallery at the Cambridge Arts Council, City Hall Annex, 344 Broadway, 2nd floor, Cambridge, MA.
For more information about exhibit, event listings, images and video, please visit the project website.
*** The North Bennet Street School will present the lecture, Reflections of a Bookbinding Career with Sam Ellenport, on February 7th from 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Sam is a highly skilled bookbinder, collector, lecturer and writes about the history of bookbinding. His influence on the bookbinding field in New England cannot be overstated. He was instrumental in establishing the bookbinding program at North Bennet Street School in Boston, was the first Chair of the New England Chapter of the Guild of Book Workers and is past President of Harcourt Bindery.
The event is free and registration is available online.
Book Arts Classes
*** The New England Chapter of the Guild of Book Workers is hosting a Tyvek Toning Workshop with Dana Kull at the Northeast Document Conservation Center. The workshop will take place on Saturday, January 19th, from 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
You’ll learn what Tyvek is and the different varieties that are available. Students will learn how Tyvek takes color and experiment with different effects. Most important of all, Dana will discuss how you can use toned Tyvek in your own bookbinding projects. Each participant will leave the workshop with a number of colored pieces of Tyvek.
To register for the workshop, please send an Email to bookandtile@att.net – space is limited so please register early. The Northeast Document Conservation Center is located at 100 Brickstone Square in Andover, MA.
*** Haystack Mountain School of Crafts has announced their 2013 summer workshop lineup:
If you would like to receive a course catalog or be added to their Email list, please contact them at haystack@haystack-mtn.org or (207) 348-2306. Haystack is in Deer Isle, ME.
*** The Penland School of Crafts has announced their 2013 spring and summer workshop lineup:
Registration is available online. For more information, please visit Penland’s website.
*** Now celebrating its 30th year, the Paper & Book Intensive is a working sabbatical for practitioners and motivated beginners in the book arts, papermaking, and conservation. PBI will be held at Ox-Bow in Saugatuck, MI from May 12 – 23. Available classes include:
- Finesse the Sheet: Papermaking with Bernie Vinzani
- Pressure Printing: A Painterly Approach to the Press with Sarah Bryant
- The Three Ls: Limp – Link – Long; or Exploring Techniques Hidden In Libraries Across Europe with Adam Larsson
- Turning The Corner – And other useful leather covering techniques with Jeff Altpeter
- Page Design – It’s an Open Book with Paula Jull
- A Look at the World of Islamic Bookbinding with Yasmeen Khan
- Writing Tablets, Personal Almanacs and Calendar Books with Pam Spitzmueller
- BigAss Papermaking with Julie McLaughlin
- Daredevil Letterpress with Jessica Spring
- Ideas and Actions in Context and Construction with Tim Ely
Applications are being accepted online until April 15th, but acceptance letters are sent out in mid-February, so timely application is encouraged. For more information, please visit PBI’s website.
