by Elissa | Oct 7, 2015 | B.A.G. Meetings, bookbinding, Call to artists, Exhibitions, Lecture, MailB.A.G., Vermont, Workshops
Next Meeting: Wednesday, October 14, 2015, 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: Light Up Your Books: LEDS and Other Cool High-Tech Twists with Jill Dawson
Dazzling foliage, plump pumpkins, and things that go bump in the night are all hallmarks of autumn in Vermont. In the spirit of celebrating the season’s delights, you are invited to participate in an electrifying, hands-on session where we’ll be playing with paper circuitry to add some spark to a greeting card or single-sheet mini-booklet.
Come experiment and play to discover how paper circuitry – in combination with bookbinding and the writing process – may be used as a tool for brainstorming and communicating ideas. Come armed with an idea for an autumn inspiration that you’d like to illuminate (and possibly write about).
Please bring scissors, clear tape, a bone folder, and colored pencils. Optionally, you may also want to bring along paints, markers, or collage materials.
All basic circuitry supplies will be provided.
September Meeting Reflections
Our September meeting was BAG’s annual trip to Special Collections at the University of Vermont. Prudence Doherty, public services librarian, hosted our meeting. She introduced us to numerous art books that were recently acquired for the artist book collection. She explained the process of selecting books to complement and extend the vision of UVM’s collection.
Our members and quests enjoyed being able to touch and explore the new books. We all came away with new appreciation for the art of the book.
Thanks to Prudence for her selection and guidance and thanks to UVM for valuing and collecting artist books.
You can view images from the meeting on the B.A.G. blog.
B.A.G. News
Spring Exhibit at UVM Living/ Learning Gallery
Announcing our Spring 2016 exhibit: Book Works, book-related works by the Book Arts Guild of Vermont! The exhibit will take place at the Living Learning Center gallery on the UVM campus from February 15 – March 18.
We encourage all members and friends to participate in this broadly themed show. Work can include new or time honored techniques, book-related pieces and sculpture, and generally any work that can be ‘read’. We would love to provide studio support at meetings prior to the show, where participants can seek help and advice on their projects, so bring in your work in progress to share with others.
After such a fantastic show last year at SEABA, we’re excited to see what comes next for everyone!
More details about the show to come!
Book Arts News
*** The American Printing History Association will have their annual conference, Printing on the Handpress & Beyond, on Friday, October 23rd, from 12:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. The conference, held at the Rochester Institute of Technology, will examine and show you the creative ways these earliest printing machines are employed today by printers, artists, scholars, and educators.
A vendor fair will take place at the Wallace Center on the 2nd floor. 21 vendors will be on selling their wares including rare books and limited editions, artists’ books, tools, supplies, crafts, and fine art related to paper, print, and book arts.
The event is free & open to the public. RIT is located in Rochester, NY.
*** On Thursday, October 22nd at 6:30 p.m., there will be an illustrated talk sponsored by The New England Chapter of The Guild of Book Workers and The Ticknor Society. Historical Bookbinding in the British Isles 1660-1800 will be presented by Stuart Bennett.
Bennett’s 2004 publication, Trade Bookbinding in the British Isles 1660-1800, examined booksellers’ and bookbinders’ records as well as thousands of historical bindings to offer a new analysis of how books came to be bound in early modern Britain. One reviewer called the study “a tool for the discerning book connoisseur [which] fills a long-standing gap in the bookbinding literature that, in retrospect, is as self-evident as a missing front tooth.”
The lecture is being held at the North Bennet Street School in Boston.
Book Arts Classes
*** Valerie Carrigan will be teaching Book Ornaments at the Messenger Press Studio at the Beaver Mill in North Adams, MA. The workshop will be on Saturday November 21, 2015 from 1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Learn to make miniature handmade books that also function as hanging ornaments. Through unique paper folding, hard covers, and the addition of a ribbon and bead, you will make beautiful structures that transform in shape from a book to an ornament. You will leave this workshop with a handful of book ornaments in a variety of sizes, colors and patterns! No experience necessary.
The workshop is sponsored by is 183 Art School of the Berkshires. To register, please call them directly at (413) 298-5252.
*** Masscribes is hosting a workshop with Susan Kapuscinski Gaylord on Saturday November 7th, at the Sportsman’s Club in Norwood, MA.
Book Play is an introduction to simple bookmaking and its possibilities for creative exploration. It is bookmaking at its most friendly and accessible – no rulers or precious papers, no designing or planning ahead. The emphasis is on freedom and possibility – how the simplest forms can be adapted, varied, and combined to unlock our creative juices. Using mostly recycled materials, we’ll make intimate books that fold and fan, hang and stand. Most of the time will be spent making books but there will be opportunities to add calligraphy.
For more information, please contact Nita Padamsee at padamseedesigns@verizon.net or Elissa Barr at penpusherink@gmail.com.
*** On October 17 & 18, the North Bennet Street School is offering Medieval Long- and Link-Stitch Bindings with Bill Hanscom.
Long-and link-stitches connect the text block directly to the limp parchment cover and can be used individually or in combination to create striking exposed-sewing patterns on the spine. After examining models and images of historical bindings, participants choose from a number of templates and create two structures using traditional techniques and features such as fore-edge flaps and string-and-button closures.
For more information or to register, please visit the NBSS website.
*** From January 26 – 31, 2016, Daniel Essig will be teaching Wooden Books – Greek & Centipede Binding at the North Country Studio Workshops in Bennington, VT.
Easily master the centipede stitch by first understanding the structure and workings of this ornate 7th century Greek binding. Using simple hand tools to begin, we will drill, shape, and smooth our wooden book covers. Sealing the covers with milk paint will create a leathery appearance. We will adorn our books with the centipede stitch using two different colors of thread. This elegant sewing structure, combined with wooden covers, opens a wide range of possibilities for both the beginner and the advanced bookbinder.
Applications are now available and the review process begins June 1st. For more information or if you have any questions, please visit the NCSW website.
by Elissa | Sep 3, 2015 | B.A.G. Meetings, bookbinding, Call to artists, Exhibitions, Lecture, MailB.A.G., Vermont, Workshops
Next Meeting: Wednesday, September 9, 2015, 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 UVM Special Collections
Librarian Prudence Doherty will guide us through some of the amazing artists’ books held in the Special Collections Department at UVM. 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
The small but committed group of book arts enthusiasts who met in August had the great fortune to see some of the beautiful work that two of our members have done at conferences over the last several months. Elissa Campbell impressed us with the medieval girdle book she made in Karen Hanmer‘s four-day workshop at the 2015 Focus on Book Arts Conference, which took place in June. Penne Tompkins then delighted us with some of the beautiful calligraphic artist books she made in Marina Soria’s four-day Calligraphy in Blossom workshop at The Passionate Pen Calligraphy Conference in July.
We then moved on to creative work time. Jill Abilock shared supplies from her July Miniature Books presentation for people to try their hand at making a tiny accordion book, others worked on personal projects and shared ideas, and everyone enjoyed each other’s company! Whether we actually got something done or just enjoyed the spirit of the meeting, the time passed quickly.
Studio Support and Workshop Time is a new meeting format introduced this year. We would love your feedback on meetings held so far, as well as any ideas you might have on ways to make this format even more useful and inviting.
Book Arts News
*** New City Galerie in Burlington is accepting submissions for BOOKBODY, a juried exhibition of art and books relating to book forms and the human body. There are two sections for consideration: books that consider or reference the human body (preferably small press); and unique book objects or sculptures that relate to the forms and structures of both the human body and the book. The show is November 6, 2015 to January 26, 2016.
The submission deadline is September 15th. Please send submissions to newcitygalerie@gmail.com.
*** On Thursday, October 22nd at 6:30 p.m., there will be an illustrated talk sponsored by The New England Chapter of The Guild of Book Workers and The Ticknor Society. Historical Bookbinding in the British Isles 1660-1800 will be presented by Stuart Bennett.
Bennett’s 2004 publication, Trade Bookbinding in the British Isles 1660-1800, examined booksellers’ and bookbinders’ records as well as thousands of historical bindings to offer a new analysis of how books came to be bound in early modern Britain. One reviewer called the study “a tool for the discerning book connoisseur [which] fills a long-standing gap in the bookbinding literature that, in retrospect, is as self-evident as a missing front tooth.”
The lecture is being held at the North Bennet Street School in Boston.
Book Arts Classes
*** Valerie Carrigan will be teaching Handmade Books: Painted and Sewn at the Messenger Press Studio at the Beaver Mill in North Adams, MA. The workshop will be on Saturday September 26, 2015 from 1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
In this workshop, you will construct a series of handmade books with watercolor covers and a variety of decorative sewing patterns. You will spend the first hour of our workshop making experimental watercolors – with pigment, salt and stencils – to be used as creative covers for our structures. Using these covers, you will learn how to create decorative sewing patterns exposed on the spines of your books. You will leave this workshop with a set of colorful and uniquely bound books and the knowledge of how to make more! No experience necessary.
The workshop is sponsored by is 183 Art School of the Berkshires. To register, please call them directly at (413) 298-5252.
*** Masscribes is hosting a workshop with Susan Kapuscinski Gaylord on Saturday November 7th, at the Sportsman’s Club in Norwood, MA.
Book Play is an introduction to simple bookmaking and its possibilities for creative exploration. It is bookmaking at its most friendly and accessible – no rulers or precious papers, no designing or planning ahead. The emphasis is on freedom and possibility – how the simplest forms can be adapted, varied, and combined to unlock our creative juices. Using mostly recycled materials, we’ll make intimate books that fold and fan, hang and stand. Most of the time will be spent making books but there will be opportunities to add calligraphy.
For more information, please contact Nita Padamsee at padamseedesigns@verizon.net or Elissa Barr at penpusherink@gmail.com.
*** From September 12 – October 5, the North Bennet Street School in Boston is offering Fundamentals of Bookbinding I with Amy Lapidow.
Students learn the foundations of bookbinding with hands-on experience and discussion. 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. Discussions throughout the course cover terminology, paper grain and folding, selecting proper materials and tools, and adhesives and their properties. 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.
*** From January 26 – 31, 2016, Daniel Essig will be teaching Wooden Books – Greek & Centipede Binding at the North Country Studio Workshops in Bennington, VT.
Easily master the centipede stitch by first understanding the structure and workings of this ornate 7th century Greek binding. Using simple hand tools to begin, we will drill, shape, and smooth our wooden book covers. Sealing the covers with milk paint will create a leathery appearance. We will adorn our books with the centipede stitch using two different colors of thread. This elegant sewing structure, combined with wooden covers, opens a wide range of possibilities for both the beginner and the advanced bookbinder.
Applications are now available and the review process begins June 1st. For more information or if you have any questions, please visit the NCSW website.
by Elissa | Aug 6, 2015 | B.A.G. Meetings, bookbinding, Call to artists, Exhibitions, MailB.A.G., Vermont, Workshops
Next Meeting: Wednesday, August 12, 2015, 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
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.
The meeting will begin with some group time, both for sharing – something you’ve made, a great resource or tool you’ve found, a source of inspiration – 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, or bring a project of your own to simply continue working on in the company of others.
Not sure of what to bring? No worries! Every Studio Support and Workshop Time session will have suggestions, resources or materials for a project. This session will offer the opportunity to continue exploring (or discover the pleasure of making) miniature books as presented by Jill Abilock in July. Jill will be on hand with samples and suggestions for miniaturizing a variety of book structures, and will also bring supplies (book board and paper) for anyone who would like to try their hand at creating a tiny accordion book.
You can also continue exploring the fun and fascinating possibilities: Folded Page Book Sculptures (as presented by Marilyn Gillis in January), of Exquisite Corpse Books (as presented by Rebecca Boardman in May), or rev up your creative juices and delight your friends by making collaged postcards (presented by Marcia Vogler in March). You can even combine techniques and collage a series of Exquisite Corpse images!
In addition to drawing paper, you might want to bring drawing tools (for Exquisite Corpse images) such as:
- Pens
- Pencils
- Colored pencils
- Markers, Sharpies, Gel pens, etc.
If you plan to collage or would like to make and decorate a mini accordion book, you might also want to bring:
- Glue stick
- X-Acto knife
- Scissors
- Cutting mat
- Bone folder
- Ruler
- Magazine, calendar, catalog and other collage materials you like to work with
- Paints, inks, and rubber stamps and anything else you enjoy using for decoration or embellishment
July Meeting Reflections
Our July meeting was full of little pleasures with the Miniature Book workshop lead by our own Jill Abilock. Jill has always loved small treasures and graciously shared her enthusiasm, tips and tricks for creating miniature books.
After marveling over examples of Jill’s small books we each created our own book measuring only 1.5 inches tall. Jill had all of our materials precut and lead us step by step in the process. We left with our miniature books safely tucked into pockets, bags or the palm of our hands.
Thank you Jill for sharing your wealth of knowledge and miniature bits of wisdom.
Book Arts News
*** New City Galerie in Burlington is accepting submissions for BOOKBODY, a juried exhibition of art and books relating to book forms and the human body. There are two sections for consideration: books that consider or reference the human body (preferably small press); and unique book objects or sculptures that relate to the forms and structures of both the human body and the book. The show is November 6, 2015 to January 26, 2016.
The submission deadline is September 15th. Please send submissions to newcitygalerie@gmail.com.
*** Geographies: New England Book Work, the New England Chapter of The Guild of Book Workers exhibition, is now on view at the Dartmouth College Library in Hanover, New Hampshire through August 21, 2015.
Geographies: New England Book Work includes bookbindings and artist’s books that relate to the theme of New England created by 26 of their members. Included are classic regional texts, books that make personal connections to the region, and New England history from a variety of perspectives, among other topics.
For more information on the exhibition and the complete schedule please read the post on the chapter blog.
*** The exhibit UNBOUND VOL. V is open now through August 22, 2015 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
*** Susan Bonthron of Otter Pond Bindery in Guilford, VT is offering Image & Word: Developing an Interactive Practice in collaboration with poet and writer Christian McEwen. The workshop will take place on August 29, from 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
In this workshop participants will explore a thoughtful, generative way to develop poems inspired by images and collect them in an unusual and simple book format. No bookbinding or poetry experience necessary.
For more information about the workshops, please contact Susan at susan.bonthron@gmail.com.
*** From January 26 – 31, 2016, Daniel Essig will be teaching Wooden Books – Greek & Centipede Binding at the North Country Studio Workshops in Bennington, VT.
Easily master the centipede stitch by first understanding the structure and workings of this ornate 7th century Greek binding. Using simple hand tools to begin, we will drill, shape, and smooth our wooden book covers. Sealing the covers with milk paint will create a leathery appearance. We will adorn our books with the centipede stitch using two different colors of thread. This elegant sewing structure, combined with wooden covers, opens a wide range of possibilities for both the beginner and the advanced bookbinder.
Applications are now available and the review process begins June 1st. For more information or if you have any questions, please visit the NCSW website.
*** The Eliot School in Jamaica Plain, MA is offering Artists’ Book Boot Camp with Annie Silverman on August 24 – 28, from 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Present your photographs, prints, collages or paintings in book form. Bring 2-D imagery you have generated to incorporate into your books. Learn basic folded and sewn bindings, discover a range of hard and soft cover options, and explore how to sequence your content. Forms will include pamphlets, multiple signatures, accordions, composites, dos-a-dos and French doors.
For more information about the class, please visit the Eliot School’s website or click here to download the complete catalog.
by Elissa | Apr 2, 2015 | B.A.G. Meetings, bookbinding, Call to artists, Exhibitions, MailB.A.G., Vermont, Workshops
Next Meeting: Wednesday, April 8, 2015, 6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
Please note that this month’s meeting will be held at the SEABA Center Gallery at 404 Pine Street in Burlington. Click here to get directions using Google Maps.
Program: Book Works Exhibit and Artists’ Talk
The Book Arts Guild of Vermont‘s annual member exhibit, Book Works, is now on display during the month of April. Please join us at the SEABA Center Gallery to view the incredible work and hear the artists’ inspiration and methods.
If you have a piece or pieces in the show, we would love to have you share a brief commentary about your work. The show looks fantastic, and we have already received rave reviews from those who have previewed it.
See you at the opening on Friday, and then again for the meeting on Wednesday!
March Meeting Reflections
Our March meeting was full of inspiration, creativity and comradeship. Marcia Vogler presented a very personal journey she has taken as an artist and a friend with her Postcard a Day commitment. She created a post card every day to send to a friend challenged by cancer. Her process of creating a collage to delight her friend and writing a short note enriched the her life and the life of her friend. Marcia shared her collection of postcards now returned to the artist. We were all inspired and filled with a sense of the power of art to connect and express caring.
For the workshop we all created individual postcard using special papers and magazine pages. Marcia demonstrated and talked us through her process so we all felt confident enough to start. The challenge set forth by Marcia was to not only make a post card but to send it. As Marcia said, “who doesn’t like receiving mail?”
Thank you Marcia for sharing your artistic and spiritual journey.
Look for Marcia’s Postcards at our Book Works exhibit.
You can view images from the meeting on the B.A.G. blog.
B.A.G. News
*** Announcing our Spring Show! Book Works, book-related works by the Book Arts Guild of Vermont
The Spring 2015 exhibit from the Book Arts Guild of Vermont is entitled Book Works, and includes work from members and friends interested in the structure and format of books. The artists redefine the normal concept of the book, using various mediums and techniques to construct or reconstruct pieces that tell a story, and can be ‘read’ in some way by the viewer. A group of books altered by folding and manipulating pages represents the outcome of the guild’s monthly meeting program where members share skills and encourage creative work. Other works represent the broad definition of the book as explored by painters, textile artists, and paper lovers.
The exhibit will take place at the SEABA Center Gallery at 404 Pine Street in Burlington during the month of April. The opening will be on First Friday Art Walk, April 3rd, and we will have a gallery talk on April 8th that will serve as our April meeting. We are thrilled to have a South End location for the show, and excited to have the opportunity to increase awareness of the book arts.
Help us get the word out! Click here to download the postcard as a jpeg file. Click here to download the postcard as a pdf file.
*** The Book Arts Guild of Vermont‘s show at SEABA is highlighted in the April edition of ART MAP BURLINGTON, a guide to art happenings in Burlington. Look for the dramatic black and white photo of Marcia Vogler’s altered book.
Book Arts News
*** The New England Chapter of the Guild of Book Workers is looking for volunteers for a Girl Scout Book Artist event on April 12th at Camp Rice Moody Lodge, 29 Rice Rd Reading, MA. This program will run from 1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
They will be partnering with the Girl Scouts of Eastern Mass. and the program is for Cadette scouts (age 11-14) to earn a Book Artist badge.
There will be an introduction and then five stations that the girls will rotate through which may include printing, accordion folds, a pamphlet, origami book, a scroll, decorating paper or a collaborative book, depending on the interests of the volunteers. Each rotation will last for about 30 minutes. If you have a book arts technique or project that you’d like to see done with the girl scouts please make some suggestions.
You do not need to be a member of the NEGBW to volunteer. If you would like to volunteer, please contact Todd Pattison at bookandtile@att.net.
*** The annual Book Arts Bazaar will be held on Sunday, April 12th from 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. at the Wishcamper Center on the University of Southern Maine’s Portland Campus. This festival with book artists, papermakers, bookbinders, printmakers, educators, and writers is dedicated to all things related to the book.
The event is sponsored by USM’s Kate Cheney Chappell ’83 Center for Book Arts.
*** Bookstock is looking for book artist vendors for their literary festival during July 24 – 26. Last year’s vendors were made up primarily of authors and publishers but they’re interested in adding more book artists this year. The festival is held in Woodstock, VT.
For more information, please contact Mitzi Wilson at Mitziw@hotmail.com or (802) 356-9957.
Book Arts Classes
*** From January 26 – 31, 2016, Daniel Essig will be teaching Wooden Books – Greek & Centipede Binding at the North Country Studio Workshops in Bennington, VT.
Easily master the centipede stitch by first understanding the structure and workings of this ornate 7th century Greek binding. Using simple hand tools to begin, we will drill, shape, and smooth our wooden book covers. Sealing the covers with milk paint will create a leathery appearance. We will adorn our books with the centipede stitch using two different colors of thread. This elegant sewing structure, combined with wooden covers, opens a wide range of possibilities for both the beginner and the advanced bookbinder.
Applications are now available and the review process begins June 1st. For more information or if you have any questions, please visit the NCSW website.
*** On May 9 & 10, 2015, Regina and Dan St. John of Chena River Marblers are teaching Boxes for Every Season and Occasion at Snow Farm in Williamsburg, MA.
Using simple tools and purchased or recycled cardboard, paper, and cloth, students will learn how to design, then make and decorate boxes and containers of all shapes and sizes. Learn about folding, scoring, creasing, and cutting, along with powerful templates, jigs, and approaches to accurate measurement without rulers. Cover the surfaces of the containers with various decorative materials and produce a unique 3-D work of art.
For more information or to register, please visit the Snow Farm website.
*** On April 25, 2015, the North Bennet Street School is offering a Secret Belgian Binding workshop with Erin Fletcher in Boston.
Students construct two variations of a non-adhesive structure known as a secret Belgian binding. This structure is simple and quick to construct. It opens flat and is perfect for blank journals, poetry or short stories.
For more information or to register, please visit the NBSS website.
