by Elissa | Mar 4, 2021 | B.A.G. Meetings, bookbinding, Call to artists, Exhibitions, Lecture, MailB.A.G., Vermont, Workshops
Next Meeting: Wednesday, March 10, 2021, 7:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
This month’s meeting will once again be held via Zoom, an online conference program. If you’ve never attended a Zoom meeting before, check out this video – it will go over the basics of how to join a meeting.
Stay safe!
The B.A.G. Board
Text Me!
Text is an important consideration when creating a piece, just as imagery, structure, and materials are. Our members often tell us that they struggle with incorporating text in their work.
We’ve heard you!
Our 2021 series of themed meetings – Text Me! – will focus on how to approach text in the book arts.
We’ll look at how to choose text, methods for adding text to the page, and determining where to put it. We’ll also be visiting Special Collections at both UVM and Dartmouth to look at how other artists approach text in their work.
We hope you’ll join us as we journey into the world of text!
Program: Text Me, Part 2 – Visit to Darmouth’s Rauner Special Collections
For our March meeting, Morgan Swan from the Dartmouth College Library will be joining us to present books from Rauner Special Collections Library, continuing with the theme, text me.
In the past, creating the opportunity for all Book Arts Guild members to visit the library at Dartmouth hasn’t been possible. Through the wonders of Zoom we are able to bring Morgan and some special books to B.A.G.!
We look forward to seeing you at the March 10th.
If you plan to attend the meeting, please contact Elissa so she can send you the Zoom meeting details.
February Meeting Reflections
What a great way to kick off our new initiative, Text Me!, with a presentation from Prudence Doherty, UVM Silver Special Collections Librarian.
My brain is still spinning from the many inspirational works she showed us relating to creative use of text. Just to remind you of a few, there was handwritten text, stitched text, text as part of the illustration, shaped text, typewriting, and woodcut text.
One of my favorite works was Woody Leslie‘s Parsely, which uses text to create, illustrate, and shape the story, while giving the reader both a sense of anxiety and humor. Now, does that bring up any questions you have, or give you ideas of what you might want to explore in our future meetings? Please let us know!
Thanks again to Prudence for her enthusiastic presentation. We are extremely lucky to be able to access her knowledge as well as the Special Collections library. And thanks to all who participated – it was our largest group ever in attendance!
B.A.G. Library Corner
As a further exploration of our text theme, this month’s library selection from the Spring 2013 issue of Bound & Lettered magazine features an inventive way to add words to a piece of work. Pablo Dugaz doesn’t write or print his words – he painstakingly cuts them, using a technique he calls “papercut calligraphy.”
The space between words is cut away with a blade; the remaining letters hold the sheet of paper together and the resulting negative space is the background for his text. Dugaz typically uses his own handwriting instead of traditional calligraphy fonts as the shape of the characters. His work is delicate, intricate, and stunning, and he enjoys seeing how elements such as wind and sunlight interact with his pieces.
You can check out and download the article here.
You can also purchase the full issue of Bound & Lettered here.
B.A.G. News
*** We’re thrilled with how many of you have become B.A.G. members for 2021! We just wanted to remind those of you who haven’t yet sent in your dues, this year’s dues have been reduced to $25.00. In the event that you send in $35.00, the difference will be refunded to you.
Book Arts News
*** On March 5th, the Antiquarian Booksellers’ Association of America is presenting The Intersection of Artists’ and Antiquarian Books, a conversation with Peter Koch and Gerald Cloud as part of the ABAA California Virtual Book Fair.
Peter Koch is perhaps best known as a printer, but he is also a student of classical philosophy, a teacher, a historian of the book, and an unrepentant bibliophile. In this conversation, Koch will discuss the objects that have for nearly 50 years informed his printing and his love of the book as a material object.
Topics will include typography, “fine press” vs. “artist’s book,” vertical reading, and concepts such as the third stream book and materialia lumina – a new vision of the book as a “total work of art.” The presentation will be grounded by images of Koch’s own printing and that of his peers, but also examples of early printed books that have been his lifelong inspiration.
For more information or to register, visit the ABAA website.
*** Focus on Book Arts has announced that they’re holding a free virtual conference from July 15 – 17, so save the date!
This three-day series of online events centered around the theme Where We Live will include featured speakers, a juried exhibit, artist reception, a challenge book, and vendor marketplace.
More information is coming soon. In the meantime, visit the FOBA website to get the basic details.
*** On March 25th, the Minnesota Center for Book Arts is hosting a virtual screening of The Re-creation of a Masterpiece: La Prose du Transsibérien, a documentary by Rosylyn Rhee, followed by an artist talk and Q&A.
Originally produced in 1913 by painter Sonia Delaunay and poet Blaise Cendrars, La Prose du Transsibérien pushed boundaries of book structure, painted imagery, and poetic expression. Having researched the book’s production since 2012, Kitty Maryatt debuted a new edition in 2018, which faithfully incorporates techniques used in the original.
Using letterpress printing and pochoir (stenciling) to reproduce her edition of La Prose, Maryatt develops insight into the creative and conceptual challenges faced by the original painter and poet, while attempting to discover why they did not complete their planned edition.
For more information or to register, visit the MCBA website.
*** The Kalamazoo Book Arts Center (KBAC) announced a call to artists for the non-juried exhibition The Illustrated Accordion, which will be held in the KBAC Gallery, April 9 – June 18. The exhibit will be both in-person and online.
Open to all emerging and established artists, this 13th annual exhibition focuses on books created in the accordion form. All media, variations, and interpretations of this style of book will be accepted and included in the exhibition.
The deadline for submission is March 26. For more information, check out the prospectus.
*** 23 Sandy Gallery has a call to artists for their upcoming juried show Unseen. The exhibition will be at form & concept in Santa Fe from August 11 – November 20.
When imperceptible phenomena burst into view, revolutionary change may follow. We learned this in 2020, as an invisible but deadly virus spread across the world, an urgent racial justice movement illuminated dark societal realities, and humanity’s long-simmering crimes against the environment unleashed fires and floods.
Unseen forces can shape our lives and surface in unexpected ways, often altering our behaviors and worldviews if and when we are made aware of them. This call for entries invites artists to submit work exploring the idea of the unseen – physically, psychologically, philosophically – and encourages artists to consider the theme through concept, structure, and material.
Deadline for submissions is June 3. For more information, check out the prospectus.
Stay-at-Home Fun
*** The Printing Museum is offering Paper Marbling with Tony Vela on March 11. A recording of the program will be made available to all registrants, so you can watch the program at your convenience if you can’t attend live.
They’ll start by going over preparation of materials, including the carrageenan bath, getting pigments to the right state ready for marbling, and treatment of the paper. Then they’ll demonstrate how to marble classic traditional patterns, as well as modern styles. Feel free to ask questions along the way in this interactive demonstration.
For more information or to register, visit the Printing Museum website.
*** BookArtsLA is offering Traditional Case Binding with Anne Covell on March 21. In this course, students will learn to create a flat back case binding, or what is commonly known as a hardbound book.
Fundamentals of text block preparation and sewing, endband decoration, case construction, and casing in will all be covered. Additionally, students will learn several different case bindings styles including full-cloth, quarter-cloth, and half-cloth bindings with corner triangles to round out their experience.
Discussion will center on materials and best practices in a bindery setting, and students can expect to leave this course with a greater understanding of skills and mechanics required to create a case bound book.
For more information or to register, visit the BookArtsLA website.
*** The Minnesota Center for Book Arts is offering Single Signature Sampler with Amanda D’Amico on March 25.
Inspired by needlework samplers, this virtual workshop explores several decorative sewing patterns for single signature books. Building on a simple pamphlet stitch, learn several stitches and execute them on a single, multi-signature book.
The result is a decorative and functional book that serves as both a reference for sewing and a specimen of achievement in and of itself. In addition to tools participants source themselves, the instructor will send a basic materials kit prior to the workshop, and will discuss alternate materials during work time.
For more information or to register, visit the MCBA website.
*** The Center for Book Arts is offering How to Conceptualize and Create an Artist Book with Maria Veronica San Martin on the following Mondays (4 sessions total): March 22, 29, April 5 & 12.
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 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 in order to level the class.
For more information or to register, please visit the CBA website.
*** The San Francisco Center for the Book is offering Image Transfers with Rea de Guzman on March 22 & 24.
Students will learn how to transfer laser prints onto various surfaces such as canvas, paper, and wood. The instructor will demonstrate how to prepare laser prints using matte and gel medium, and how to layer surfaces with acrylic paint onto prepared surfaces.
Emphasis will be placed on continuous experimentation and combination of techniques. Students will leave with the ability to continue working with these processes, which they can incorporate in future art projects outside of class.
For more information or to register, visit the SFCB website.
by Elissa | Feb 5, 2021 | B.A.G. Meetings, bookbinding, Call to artists, MailB.A.G., Vermont, Workshops
Next Meeting: Wednesday, February 10, 2021, 7:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
This month’s meeting will once again be held via Zoom, an online conference program. If you’ve never attended a Zoom meeting before, check out this video – it will go over the basics of how to join a meeting.
Stay safe!
The B.A.G. Board
Text Me!
Text is an important consideration when creating a piece, just as imagery, structure, and materials are. Our members often tell us that they struggle with incorporating text in their work.
We’ve heard you!
Our 2021 series of themed meetings – Text Me! – will focus on how to approach text in the book arts.
We’ll look at how to choose text, methods for adding text to the page, and determining where to put it. We’ll also be visiting Special Collections at both UVM and Dartmouth to look at how other artists approach text in their work.
We hope you’ll join us as we journey into the world of text!
Program: Text Me, Part 1 – Visit to UVM’s Silver Special Collections
Prudence Doherty from UVM Special Collections has graciously offered to present to us again as we kick off our series of meetings focusing on text in the book arts.
She has selected examples from the collection that illustrate the many creative and different ways artists have used text in their books. We are sure this will give us many ideas to use in our own books.
If you plan to attend the meeting, please contact Elissa so she can send you the Zoom meeting details.
January Meeting Reflections
What a great way to spend an evening with you all. I just loved seeing the mail art exchanged for the Winter Mail Art Swap, and sharing the wonderful artwork that was sent to me. It’s kind of addictive, and I hope you will join me in continuing to send cool stuff to friends and relatives just for fun.
And thanks to Debra Kraemer, we all know how to make a Mennonite Foldnote, from Creative Correspondence (2003) by Michael and Judy Jacobs, so we can send a note and envelope all in one! Brilliant and more fun than a plain ole white envelope. I’ve been making mine with used 2020 calendar pages (not that I had written anything on most of the pages).
Thanks for spending the evening with us, and we hope to see you again at the next meeting.
B.A.G. Library Corner
This month, we’re starting a new section to feature a part of the B.A.G. library! As the pandemic wears on, we’re looking for new inspiration and a new way to connect with the library resources as we remain physically distant from it. In the coming months, 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.
In connection with the February meeting’s theme of text, this month’s library selection comes from The Decorated Page by Gwen Diehn. A guest writer, Ann Turkle, takes us through some ideas for including writing within a book or art journal project. Some of her suggestions include list making, making collections of observations, micro-journal entries, and more.
You can check out and download the article here.
B.A.G. News
*** Support the Book Arts Guild of Vermont by becoming a member!
Big News!
Our 2021 dues have been reduced from $35.00 to $25.00 for one year’s membership since we are saving on meeting rental space.
The Book Arts Guild of Vermont is supported by its members and you have kept us going for fifteen years. Our organization is solely run by volunteers and we do what we do because we love the book arts and we love B.A.G.. We continue to be inspired by our community, and the enthusiasm and talents that you bring to our meetings.
Membership dues are our main source of income and we hope that you will show that you value what we have to offer – quality programming, future exhibits, and more – by becoming a member. You get so much value out of your $25.00 and attending just one meeting can give you your full money’s worth.
Just to give you an idea of where membership dues go, here’s a breakdown of B.A.G.’s annual expenses:
- Zoom subscription: $149.90 per year
- Rent: $50.00 per month when we can return to in-person attendance
- Presenter honorarium: $35.00 per meeting
- Website and email newsletter: $100.00 per year
- Presenter reimbursement for supplies: Varies
We hope that you will renew your membership to help us with our annual expenses. You can download our membership form and send it in with your payment by check of $25.00 made out to the Book Arts Guild of Vermont:
Book Arts Guild of Vermont
c/o Ann Joppe-Mercure
10 Brookwood Dr
South Burlington, VT 05403
Thank you so much for your continued support of the guild. We wouldn’t be here without you.
Book Arts News
*** The Kalamazoo Book Arts Center (KBAC) announced a call to artists for the non-juried exhibition The Illustrated Accordion, which will be held in the KBAC Gallery, April 9 – June 18. The exhibit will be both in-person and online.
Open to all emerging and established artists, this 13th annual exhibition focuses on books created in the accordion form. All media, variations, and interpretations of this style of book will be accepted and included in the exhibition.
The deadline for submission is March 26. For more information, check out the prospectus.
*** 23 Sandy Gallery has a call to artists for their upcoming juried show Unseen. The exhibition will be at form & concept in Santa Fe from August 11 – November 20.
When imperceptible phenomena burst into view, revolutionary change may follow. We learned this in 2020, as an invisible but deadly virus spread across the world, an urgent racial justice movement illuminated dark societal realities, and humanity’s long-simmering crimes against the environment unleashed fires and floods.
Unseen forces can shape our lives and surface in unexpected ways, often altering our behaviors and worldviews if and when we are made aware of them. This call for entries invites artists to submit work exploring the idea of the unseen – physically, psychologically, philosophically – and encourages artists to consider the theme through concept, structure, and material.
Deadline for submissions is June 3. For more information, check out the prospectus.
*** The Artery Art Gallery in Davis, CA has a call to artists for CONTENT: An Artist Book Exhibition, which will take place April 2 – May 3.
Artists Books typically defy classification, definition, and expectations. They are vessels and containers for an artist’s vision. To understand what an artists book is you have to forget your definition of a book. Whatever way your intent has led you to make an artist book, that’s the kind of book we are looking for.
Deadline to enter is February 28. For more information, check out the prospectus.
*** The University of South Dakota University Libraries is seeking entries for their sixth international biennial altered book exhibition, Bound and Unbound VI: Altered Book Exhibition, scheduled for display August 23, 2021 – January 3, 2022.
Bound and Unbound VI features an exhibit of altered books, which are a mixed media artwork that changes a book from its original form by altering its state or meaning. Books from any source utilizing any medium are eligible. All work must be original and executed within the last three years.
Deadline for entries is March 5. For more information, check out the prospectus.
*** Dedicated to ancient, modern and contemporary movable books, the POP-APP, International Conference will take place virtually from February 16 – 19. Sessions will be in both Italian and English, with slides available in English.
Thirty Italian and foreign speakers from the academic world and national institutions working in the field of bibliographical description and conservation will discuss the themes of the conference. Enhancement/use of such books will be explored by highlighting their didactic-educational potential, digital experimentations, the achievements of contemporary pop up designers and – on a historical level – their relationship with pre-cinema.
For more information or to register, please visit the POP-APP website (it’s in Italian, so give Google Translate a try).
*** From February 26 – 28, the 2021 Contemporary Artists’ Books Conference (CABC) will take place virtually, free to attendees. The conference will be presented as part of Printed Matter’s Virtual Art Book Fair.
The conference will focus on The Temperature of Art Book Criticism and Scholarship. As the scale of participation in and range of approaches to artists’ books and publishing have blossomed in recent years, now is a key time to develop new critical tools for assessing artists’ books and their broader impact on the cultural and artistic practice. Artists’ book criticism in the 21st century must contend not only with the book as an artistic medium, but also art books’ engagement with a range of cultural histories and publishing traditions.
Across 7 panels representing artists, scholars, writers from across the globe and from a wide range of backgrounds, the conference will explore these questions and look to progress the conversations on what artist book criticism and discourse can be. The subjects covered will include the roles of institutions, how artist books are functioning in times of crisis, perspectives on insider vs. outsider makers and marginalized communities, and the book in the face of oppression and censorship.
For more information or to register, visit the CABC website.
Stay-at-Home Fun
*** The Minnesota Center for Book Arts is offering Intermediate: Building Narrative in Artist’s Books with Radha Pandey on the following Saturdays (6 sessions total): March 6, 13, 20, 27, April 3, &10. This virtual workshop will focus on the juxtaposition of text and image, page layout, and pacing to create a narrative artist’s book.
Participants should have an idea of what they would like to work on. This can be something in progress that is stuck or an idea they would like to turn into a book but are not sure how to start. Depending on ideas and related discussions, book structures and writing exercises will be taught and assigned.
In addition, methods of low-tech image-making – hand-printing linoleum blocks, gelatin printing, pochoir, trace monotypes, and papercutting – will be demonstrated as needed.
Participants should have some binding experience.
For more information or to register visit the MCBA website.
*** The Center for Book Arts is offering Bookbinding for Teachers: Simple Bookmaking for ages 7+ with Stephanie Krause on February 18.
In this two-hour course, participants will learn how to make a few simple books that are kid-approved, low-mess, and high-impact, along with tips to teach in the classroom. This workshop is designed for teachers of 7 to 12-year-olds, with methods and techniques that may be modified to accommodate other age groups. We’ll be looking at non-adhesive bindings created by folding and stitching.
Using simple materials, the instructor will go over single-sheet origami pamphlets (how to make, modify, and connect them); simple pamphlet stitch with a wraparound-style paper cover; and beaded pamphlet stitch with a pocketed paper cover.
For more information or to register, please visit the CBA website.
*** The San Francisco Center for the Book is offering Roll-Up: Pop-Up Books (Level 1) with Shawn Sheehy on March 5 – 7.
You have explored the pop-up how-to books. You’re ready to make your own pop-up project. You are stymied by the question: “How do I adapt these classic, foundational structures to make MY OWN structures?”
This workshop will help you think through that problem by exploring three different structures at three levels: foundational, transitional, and transformational. To add to the fun, you will employ an innovative roll-up binding approach (think scroll rather than codex) for the pop-up folios. In the end you will have a tidy bound collection of study models that will propel you to the next step of pop-up invention. All are welcome!
For more information or to register, visit the SFCB website.
by Elissa | Sep 9, 2016 | B.A.G. Meetings, bookbinding, Exhibitions, Lecture, MailB.A.G., Member News, Vermont, Workshops
Next Meeting: Wednesday, September 14, 2016, 6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
The September 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 September we will not be meeting as usual on the second Wednesday at the Unitarian Church in Burlington.
Program: Visit to Special Collections at UVM
At this month’s meeting, University of Vermont Librarian Prudence Doherty will guide us through some of the amazing artists’ books held in the Special Collections Department. Not everyone knows that we have one of the finest collections of artists’ books in the nation, right here in Burlington.
Join us in a hands-on exploration that will stimulate your imagination and spark your creativity!
* Please bring a pencil, not a pen, if you plan to take notes.
August Meeting Reflections
We did a lot of sharing at the Studio Support and Workshop Time meeting. In fact, we hardly had enough time to get it all out there! We learned many new tips, tools, and techniques to invigorate our papers and surface designs.
We generated many new ideas for programs, and we agreed on a theme for next year’s exhibit – Correspondence. Don’t be scared, you don’t have to stick to the script on this one, but while you’re thinking of ideas for a new project, keep it in mind (and then send someone a postcard or letter.)
The time went by super fast, as we learned more about each other’s work, interests, and great deeds. Thank you to all those who brought their energy and ideas.
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 16 – 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. We will have an exhibit during the opening ceremonies on Friday September 16 as well as on Saturday during the day. During the exhibit time, we have also committed to demonstrating various book structures (not hands-on workshops).
Here are the opportunities for participation:
- Exhibit Artists’ Books: 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 bring it, along with your work, to the September 14th Book Arts Guild meeting (at Special Collections). If you cannot attend the meeting but would like to submit work, please email Marcia by Monday, September 12th to make arrangements to get your work to her.
- Volunteers at the Book Arts Guild table for set up and/or break down: If you would like to help set up the exhibit on Friday night event, please email Jill. If you would like to participate by volunteering for a 2 – 3 hour slot at the Book Arts Guild table on Saturday (9:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.), please email Marcia with your interest. If you would like to demonstrate a particular structure, please let us know. You won’t have to teach others to make the structure, just bring a book project you are working on and share your process with visitors.
*** B.A.G. member Nina Gaby has lots to share! Her work has been included in the book Memoir Your Way: Telling Your Story Through Writing, Recipes, Quilts, Graphic Novels, and More by the Memoir Roundtable, Sky Horse Publishing, 2016.
An essay made from her three dimensional book art work is a finalist in the DIAGRAM ESSAY CONTEST 2016 and may be published soon. And lastly, she’ll be exhibiting her work in the Vermont Technical College library this fall. She hopes to offer a lecture for the students.
She adds that she doesn’t mind bragging – “We work hard as artists with often little to show for it.”
*** B.A.G. member Elissa Campbell is teaching Leather Pocket Journals at Studio Place Arts in Barre, VT on October 13 & 20, 2016 from 4:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
You’ll learn how to create 5 bindings that use only leather, paper, and thread – no glue needed! For each binding, you will sew 3 sections of folded papers 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 will try out different closure methods. No previous experience required – this is a great class for a beginner.
To register, contact SPA via phone (802) 479-7069 or email.
*** The statewide Vermont Fall Open Studio Weekend is coming up next month with two weekends of artist studios – October 1 & 2 and October 8 & 9, 2016.
Two B.A.G. members will be participating in the event, each on different dates. Here’s the scoop:
- Amy Burns will be demonstrating at the Artists’ Mediums Art Shop in Cambridge VT on October 2 from 12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. She’ll be demonstrating the Coptic stitch, among other things. The shop is #2 in the tour guide.
- During the weekend of October 1 & 2, Elissa Campbell will offer demonstrations and studio tours in Montpelier. She also has a selection of bookbinding supplies available for purchase. Her studio is #65 is in the tour guide.
You can find maps and directions to studios on the VT Crafts Council website.
Book Arts News
*** 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.
*** In celebration of her 65th birthday, Susan Kapuscinski Gaylord is holding an Open Studio event on September 17, 2016 from 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Susan is the author of Handmade Books For A Healthy Planet and Multicultural Books to Make and Share.
Work from the past 38 years will on view in both her studio and her home at 311 High Street in Newburyport, MA.
For more information, please visit Susan’s 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.
*** Vermont artist Janet Wormser has a stash of Japanese paper she doesn’t need and she’s offering it for sale.
Here’s what she has:
- Hosho Natural 16.5″ x 22″
- Hosho Professional 24″ x 36″
- Tosa Kasagami 15.5″ x 19″
She also has a 14″ x 18″ portfolio (0.75″ spine thickness) for sale for $5.00.
Please contact Janet if you’d like more information or you’re interested in buying something from her.
Book Arts Classes
*** The Eliot School is offering the series Wild Journals with Susan Porter in October and November. Sessions will be held on Thursdays from 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Transform plain, store-bought, hardbound sketchbooks into gorgeously rich, densely colored, printed, cut and folded journals. These dramatic works of art can incorporate text, collage, found objects, windows, flaps and surface design.
The skills you learn can also be used in any form of handmade book. Expect to get messy. Bring an apron or work shirt to protect your clothing.
You can sign up for individual sessions or the whole series.
- Getting Started – Color & Paint: October 6, 2016
- Cut-outs, Pop-ups & Extensions: Thursday October 13, 2016
- Stamps, Stencils & Simple Printmaking: October 20, 2016
- Layers, Pockets, Windows & Tags: October 27, 2016
- Collaged Covers & Pages: November 3, 2016
- Story, Text & Narrative: November 10, 2016
For more information about the class, please visit the Eliot School’s website or click here to download the complete catalog.
*** 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.
by Elissa | Aug 4, 2016 | B.A.G. Meetings, bookbinding, Exhibitions, Lecture, MailB.A.G., Member News, Vermont, Workshops
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.
by Elissa | Apr 4, 2013 | B.A.G. Meetings, bookbinding, Exhibitions, Lecture, MailB.A.G., Member News, Vermont, Workshops
Next Meeting: Wednesday, April 10, 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: Edible Books and Postcard-a-Day with Marcia Vogler
For our April meeting, Marcia Vogler is serving up a double dose of creative fun. For the first part of the meeting, we’ll celebrate the International Edible Books Festival right here in Vermont. Simply combine your creative and culinary talents and bring a piece of edible art related to books.
Your creation can pun a title (The Brothers Karamatzoh, Grape Expectations); refer to a quote, scene, character or author (To brie or not to brie, Curd Vonnegut); look like a book or book form, or be a functional book made out of edible materials (Japanese sushi nori, Pop Tarts, etc.).
Of course, you are welcome to attend the meeting whether you bring edible book art to share or come to enjoy the creations, but here are some ideas to get your creative (and gastric) juices flowing:
- S’more and Peace
- Alice in Wonderbread
- The Bun Also Rises
- The Rosetta Scone
- Lord of the Pies
- Twelve Angry Gingerbread Men
We will visit each entry and try to guess the title before the artist reveals it! You may want to bring a camera and a notepad to record the humorous creations with their titles! Then, we’ll chow down on the truly edible creations. For more inspiration, visit the International Edible Books Festival website or Google “edible books”.
During the second part of the meeting, we’ll make someone else’s day special (and keep the USPS in business!) by sending a ‘Postcard a Day.’ Marcia will share her inspiration for a daily practice of collage and written word, and how it has helped her to stay in touch with both herself and an ailing friend. A simple collage can be made quickly in an abstract manner, or as a representational piece.
Using painted papers, magazine tears, used calendar pages, or simply paper scraps, we will put together mail art to be shared with others. Marcia has sent an original postcard almost everyday since August 2011, to friends receiving chemotherapy and/ or radiation treatments. She continues because it has become an important part of her day. Examples of her work can be found here and here.
Please bring:
- Glue Stick
- X-Acto Knife
- Scissors
- Cutting mat
- Collage materials
- Paints, inks, and rubber stamps and anything else you would like to use to embellish your card(s)
Reflections on March’s Meeting
For many book artists, text is a difficult aspect to handle. In our March meeting, Donna Stepien presented a unique and fascinating view of the power of text and letters.
Beginning with an overview of applying mindfulness as a tool to find meaning in our work, Donna led us through some history of typography and principles of graphic design. She then shared the extraordinary work of students in her college-level typography class. Each student designed and constructed a book using only the words of a chosen poem to create visual and emotional impact.
We were all impressed with the level of sophistication in the work, and came away with ideas for incorporating text in a more mindful manner in our own work.
You can view images from the meeting on the B.A.G. blog.
B.A.G. News
*** B.A.G.’s 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.
Members are encouraged to submit work for this exciting show. This is a great opportunity to get your work out there, whether you are a first time exhibitor or a seasoned artist. The theme is very accessible, and brings up many references that are unique to each person.
Beyond the reference to the Wizard of Oz, the idea of ‘home’ can suggest family, rooms, objects, memories, and dreams, just to mention a few. Start now with some brainstorming and word association techniques presented by Stephanie Wolff at the September meeting, and generate content for your book.
The exhibit will be in SPA’s Third Floor Gallery from June 4 – July 6, 2013. The deadline for submissions is May 1, 2013. You can download the entry form here. Forms will also be available at the April meeting.
Book Arts News
*** A Book Arts Bazaar, presented by the Kate Cheney Chappell ’83 Center for Book Arts in conjunction with Maine Reads and the Maine Festival of the Book, will take place on April 7th, 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the University of Southern Maine. The Bazaar will feature book artists, papermakers, bookbinders, printmakers, educators, writers, and all things related to the book.
The Wishcamper Center is located at 34 Bedford Street on the University of Southern Maine’s Portland Campus. For more information, please contact Rebecca Goodale via Email or phone: (207) 228-8014.
*** In conjunction with the release of the Book Arts Studio Handbook by Stacie Dolin and Amy Lapidow, The New England Chapter of the Guild of Book Workers is arranging an online exhibit of bindings on or inspired by the book. The exhibit will be posted on the New England chapter website.
The entry deadline is May 1, 2013. Participants will have to submit a jpeg of their binding along with description information. If you are interested in participating in the exhibit or need more information, please Email bookandtile@att.net.
*** The New England Chapter of the Guild of Book Workers has released their calendar of events for the first half of 2013. Other events may be in the works, but they wanted to distribute information so you can save the dates for any programs you are interested in.
Events will be posted on the NEGBW blog and further information will be included there. If you’d like, you can subscribe to the blog and receive notifications of new posts by Email. On the right side of the blog’s home page, fill out your Email address under “Email Subscription” and click on the “Sign Me Up!” button.
Book Arts Classes
*** Martha Kearsley will be offering a Drop-spine Box (aka Clamshell Box) workshop on Saturday, April 20, 2013 from 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. at the University of Southern Maine.
The drop-spine box is a remarkably useful structure and can be easily adapted from its original purpose of housing books to create elegant and expressive portfolios. Owing to time constraints, students will build a drop-spine box from pre-measured and cut materials, but will also be provided with the skills, models and information to design and create their own boxes.
For more information or to register, please call (207) 780-5900. The workshop will be held at the Wishcamper Center Multi-Purpose Room at 34 Bedford Street on the University of Southern Maine’s Portland Campus.
*** The New England Chapter of the Guild of Book Workers presents Making Bone Tools and Objects with Jim Croft on Saturday, April 20, 2013 from 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. at the North Bennet Street School.
Participants will learn how to shape and polish elk and deer bone using various hand tools. Bone may be shaped into tools, small sculptures or both. Bone carving will also be demonstrated. Raw bone will be available in many shapes and sizes, everything from usable scraps to large pieces. Jim will teach sharpening if anyone wants. Bring tools you would like to show and light work gloves.
A $20.00 materials fee will cover the use of bone-working tools such as rasps, files, sandpaper and drill bits in addition to either one large bone or several smaller pieces. Additional bones may be purchased on an individual basis if desired by participants.
For more information, please download the registration form or contact Todd Pattison via Email: bookandtile@att.net.
*** The New England Chapter of the Guild of Book Workers is also hosting two workshops in June with Paul Johnson in Maine (one workshop will be repeated):
- Spirit House – A Three Dimensional Pop-Up Model: In this workshop, you will make a 3D pop-up spirit house from paper. There are no folds – the whole structure (comprising over thirty separate parts) is made from hinges and dovetails joints and will fold down flat.
- Book as Architecture: In this workshop, you will make a pop-up gazebo in which there are no folds and therefore no paper ‘fatigue’. All sections are fastened together using a range of paper hinges, locks, and dovetail joints. Sections can be modified and redesigned as the model develops – you simply take out one section and replace it with another.
For more information, please download the registration form(s) below or contact Todd Pattison via Email: bookandtile@att.net.
