by Elissa | Jan 3, 2020 | B.A.G. Meetings, bookbinding, Call to artists, Exhibitions, MailB.A.G., Member News, Vermont, Workshops
Next Meeting: Wednesday, January 8, 2020, 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.
Welcome to According to Accordions!
Often underestimated, the accordion book has more to it than meets the eye. This structure provides endless possibilities for construction, and multiple options for display and presentation. Starting with our January meeting, we will begin a multi-meeting exploration of the accordion book structure.
Prepare to be inspired by the versatility and potential of accordions!
Program: According to Accordions, Part 1 – Simple Accordions with Dorsey Hogg
In this month’s meeting Dorsey Hogg will lead us in making a simple accordion book. We’ll begin with the basics of the folded structure, and move on to more elaborate variations in the following meetings.
As an introduction, we’d like to invite you to bring books you’ve made with an accordion structure for a show and tell.
All materials will be provided, but please bring the following:
- Cutting mat
- X-acto knife
- Scissors
- Pencils or pens if you wish to work on the pages
- Glue stick
December Meeting Reflections
December’s meeting was full.
Full of fun, giving, selling and time for socializing. Everyone brought a wrapped handmade ornament and we had a gift exchange, followed by a lively sharing. As each ornament was presented “oohs” and “ahs” followed.
Then the meeting was opened up with members putting out goods to sell and a treasure table full of items free for the taking. We all left with new goodies and the warm feeling of fellowship with friends we admire.
You can view images from the meeting on the B.A.G. blog.
B.A.G. News
*** Support the Book Arts Guild of Vermont by becoming a member!
The Book Arts Guild of Vermont is supported by its members and you have kept us going for more than ten 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, field trips, exhibits, and more – by becoming a member. You get so much value out of your $35.00 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:
- Rent: $50.00 per month
- Presenter honorarium: $35.00 per meeting
- Website and email newsletter: $100.00 per year
- Presenter reimbursement for supplies: Varies
If you’ve done the math, you’ll see that we need a minimum of $910.00 (not including supply reimbursement) to cover our annual expenses.
We hope that you will renew your membership or join us as a new member at the December meeting. If you will not be at the meeting, you can download our membership form and send it in with your payment.
Thank you so much for your continued support of the guild. We wouldn’t be here without you.
*** Announcement: Spring/Summer member exhibit, Page Turners: Artist’s Books by the Book Arts Guild of Vermont
Our spring/summer exhibit will take place later this year and all members are invited and encouraged to contribute new or old work. The theme, Page Turners, is open-ended, allowing for unlimited interpretation.
Our exhibit location has yet to be determined, so stay tuned for more details.
*** Nina Gaby has been chosen to exhibit Unsent, an artist book using porcelain bound with wire, in the national exhibit Mixed Media opening at Nazareth College in Rochester, NY on January 24, 2020.
The exhibit features works across various mediums to showcase what the new generation of mixed media artists are doing while advancing the public’s awareness and appreciation of this interdisciplinary field.
For more information about the exhibit, visit the Nazareth College website.
*** Elissa Campbell is teaching the Secret Belgian Binding at Studio Place Arts in Barre, VT on February 10 & 11.
The not-so-mysterious Secret Belgian binding was developed to have the appearance of a Japanese stab binding, but also to have the ability of opening flat. The structure was invented by Anne Goy in the mid-1980’s and was relatively unknown until Hedi Kyle introduced it to the United States.
The text block is sewn is first, before attaching the covers with an intriguing woven sewing pattern – no glue is needed! This hard cover binding is perfect for use as a journal or sketchbook.
You will receive a detailed handout and resource list for all materials we use. Some previous experience with bookbinding is helpful, but not required.
Register online or contact Studio Place Arts at (802) 479-7069.
Book Arts News
*** Helen Hiebert has reinvented her Twelve Months of Paper Calendar as a planner, The Paper Year: A 2020 Creative Project Planner. Each month features a paper craft project along with a list of materials and tools you’ll need to complete each project, plus step-by-step photos, templates and easy-to-follow instructions.
Helen also has a curated paper pack that includes everything you need to complete all of the projects – no need to source materials on your own!
Elissa is working on getting a group order together so folks can take advantage of available discounts.
Here’s the scoop:
- If 10+ people order the planner, the discount is 50% – $12.50 each.
- If we get 2+ people ordering the paper pack, the discount 10% – $22.50.
- If 10+ people order both the planner and the paper pack, the total discount is 50% – $25.00
You can check out the planner and all of the completed projects at the December meeting (Elissa made ’em all). If you’re interested, please contact Elissa.
*** From February 20 – April 30, the North Bennet Street School will be hosting the exhibit Drop Dead Gorgeous: Fine Bindings of La Prose du Transsibérien Re-creation.
The remarkable book by poet Blaise Cendrars and artist Sonia Delaunay, La Prose du Transsibérien et de la petite Jehanne de France, was produced by letterpress and pochoir in 1913. It was a landmark achievement for its time with its unprecedented format, avant-garde typography and abstract imagery, and remains vibrant and modern today.
Kitty Maryatt of Two Hands Press has been researching the production of La Prose du Transsibérien since 2012. In 2018, she debuted a new edition of 150 copies, which faithfully incorporates techniques and methods used in the original.
At the same time, Maryatt and her underwriters commissioned fine bindings by notable design binders from around the world. These bindings, along with Maryatt’s La Prose du Transsibérien Re-Creation, have resulted in a traveling exhibition titled Drop Dead Gorgeous: Fine Bindings of La Prose du Transsibérien Re-creation.
The NBBS is located in Boston, MA.
*** The New England Chapter of the Guild of Book Workers will be celebrating 40 years in 2020 and to commemorate this milestone, they are inviting members to submit work to their upcoming 40th Anniversary Exhibition. They encourage submissions of all types of book work (this includes bindings, artist books, calligraphy, printmaking, paper making, etc.) to showcase the diversity of their membership.
In order to submit work, please fill out an Intent to Enter form. The deadline to submit the form is February 14, 2020. Submissions will be accepted from July 1 to July 31, 2020.
Entrants must be members of the New England Chapter of the Guild of Book Workers and carry a membership throughout the entire run of the exhibition.
For more information about the rules and regulations and deadlines, please visit the NEGBW website. You can also contact Erin Fletcher at newenglandgbw@gmail.com with any questions.
Book Arts Classes
*** From February 29 – March 1, the North Bennet Street School will be hosting a workshop with Kitty Maryatt on the technique of traditional French pochoir. Since this is an introduction, the focus will be on problem-solving and experiencing the joy of vibrant and true color.
This workshop will introduce the basics of printing multiples through aluminum stencils. The steps involve the following: trace the imagery that you want to reproduce, develop a registration system, identify and separate the colors, cut aluminum plates by hand, mix gouache colors, prime the French pochoir brush and apply the liquid in a swirling fashion.
The instructor will bring a pre-designed image with plates already cut so that participants can immediately learn the brush techniques. Afterwards, participants will select or create an image to be reproduced and go through the steps to make an edition of that image.
The NBBS is located in Boston, MA. For more information or to register, please visit the NBSS website.
*** On Sunday, February 9, 2020, The Eliot School of Fine and Applied Arts in Jamaica Plain, MA is offering Star Books with Cristina Hajosy.
A handmade star book can be presented as an artist’s book or as a hanging ornament. Excite viewers with the visual movement and performative qualities of this unusual book structure. Learn basic bookmaking techniques and experiment with hand-marbled papers, mixed media and collage scraps to customize your books.
For more information about the class, please visit the Eliot School’s website.
*** Maine Media Workshops + College is offering 2-Day Letterpress Single-Sheet Books with Valerie Carrigan from February 15 – 16, 2020.
This weekend workshop celebrates books made from single sheets of paper. You will learn to fold a variety of book structures, ranging from simple to complex in nature.
These versatile and fun structures are ideal for photographers and printmakers interested in presenting their work a in new and fresh way. Creative enclosures, also folded from single sheets of paper, will be made to house all book models.
All skill levels welcome in this workshop.
Click here to register. Maine Media Workshops + College is located in Rockport, ME.
by Elissa | Mar 7, 2019 | B.A.G. Meetings, bookbinding, Exhibitions, MailB.A.G., Member News, Vermont, Workshops
Next Meeting: Wednesday, March 13, 2019, 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.
Picture the Possibilities: Imagery for Books
Join us in our multi-month exploration of various methods and materials for adding imagery to your books. Whether you have an illustrator’s hand or stand proudly in the stick-figure league, you can create books rich in imagery through techniques as diverse as collage, mark-making, and even stitchery.
Join us for an adventure in learning that’s bound to add richness and dimension to your work!
Program: Imagery for Books Part 2 – Hand-Drawn Mark Making with Marilyn Gillis
Marilyn Gillis will lead this month’s meeting with a series of activities for making hand-drawn marks. Marilyn has used hand-drawn mark-making extensively in her mixed media art for the past ten years.
She will bring examples to illustrate a variety of techniques, but this will be a “hands-on” meeting where you will have fun exploring on your own.
Please bring the following:
- Pencils
- Black ink pens
- Calligraphy pens (if you have them)
- Graphite pens such as Lyra (if you have them)
- Black markers
- Small sharp scissors or X-Acto knife
February Meeting Reflections
It’s been a long tough winter, but we finally managed to hold a meeting on a day without snow, or at least just a dusting. To introduce the B.A.G. theme for the next few months, Imagery for Books, Marilyn Gillis and Marcia Vogler (me) presented an evening filled with collage: examples of our own work, tips and techniques, and equipment and materials.
Although Marilyn and I have completely different points of view, we managed to paste together a great evening. Everyone had a chance to view the pieces we brought and share in the generous giveaways brought by members. To round out the meeting, we participated in a round robin collage-a-thon, passing papers, glue sticks, and scissors to each other during a timed session. Fun was had by all.
Thanks for coming, everyone, and special thanks to Marilyn for a great presentation.
You can view images from the meeting on the B.A.G. blog.
B.A.G. News
*** Support the Book Arts Guild of Vermont by becoming a member!
The Book Arts Guild of Vermont is supported by its members and you have kept us going for more than ten 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.
The Board of Directors recently met to plan the year ahead and decided to give members a picture of B.A.G.’s annual expenses.
Here’s the breakdown:
- Rent: $50.00 per month
- Presenter honorarium: $35.00 per meeting
- Website and email newsletter: $100.00 per year
- Presenter reimbursement for supplies: Varies
If you’ve done the math, you’ll see that we need a minimum of $910.00 (not including supply reimbursement) to cover our annual expenses.
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, field trips, exhibits, and more – by becoming a member. You get so much value out of your $35.00 and attending just one meeting can give you your full money’s worth.
We hope that you will renew your membership or join us as a new member at the February meeting. If you will not be at the meeting, you can download our membership form and send it in with your payment.
Thank you so much for your continued support of the guild. We wouldn’t be here without you.
*** Announcing the Book Arts Guild of Vermont’s annual exhibition!
The S.P.A.C.E. Gallery in Burlington has kindly offered to host our annual show this year. We are excited to be in a wonderful space in Burlington from June 7 – 29! The title for the show will be Bound to Happen, and is open to any interpretation from the artists.
Here are some important dates:
- Entry due date: May 31, 2019
- Exhibit dates: June 7 – 29, 2019
- Opening reception: June 7, 2019, 5:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
More details will be offered at a later date, but let’s get working!
Have questions? Please ask Marcia.
*** Art on Main in Bristol, VT has two book arts classes coming up that are being taught by B.A.G. members. Here’s the scoop:
Watercolor Exploration Flag Book with teacher and bookmaker Dorsey Hogg will take place on Saturday, March 30th from 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. with a lunch break.
In this workshop you will explore a variety of watercolor techniques to create beautiful papers. Then you will use those papers to build a flag book with interlocking accordion spines. If you are new to watercolor painting and book arts, then this is a great place to start – if you are an experienced water colorist and paper artist then come and share your expertise with us. We’ll see what new ideas we can discover together!
Suminagashi – Paper Marbling and Japanese Bookbinding with bookmaker Jane Ploughman of Ploughgirl Press will take place on Saturday, April 6th from 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Japanese marbling or Suminagashi is the practice of gently floating pigments on the surface of water using a brush or brushes to create beautiful delicate designs on paper. Students will be introduced to this Japanese marbling using traditional techniques with a variety of inks. Each student will be able to experiment with different types and sizes of paper. These papers can be used for all types of paper crafts including bookbinding, calligraphy, cards, etc.
Students will also sew a small notebook using a traditional Japanese stab binding pattern. Each student will learn at least one pattern and be shown others for inspiration. Simple bookbinding techniques and resources will be provided. All materials are provided. No experience needed.
Both workshops are being held at ARTSight Studios at 6 South Street in Bristol, VT. Please contact Art on Main to register at (802) 453-4032.
Book Arts News
*** Now through May 3rd, the Bromer Gallery is hosting A Visual Feast: The Art of Laura Davidson and David Esslemont. The exhibit brings together prints, watercolors, woodcuts, calligraphy, drawing, and bookbinding to create a tableau of book artistry.
Based out of Boston’s Fort Point neighborhood, Laura Davidson centers her work on past-made-present, using found objects and soft textures to imbue her work with nostalgia. She expresses her talents through a range of media, including books, drawings, prints, paper mosaics, and paper sculptures.
David Esslemont, born in England and currently a resident of northeast Iowa, focuses much of his artistic attention on the interaction between nature, art, and humanity. He often directly engages with nature in order to best present its nuanced beauty, and participates in his own visual narratives in his series of “food” books.
The Bromer Gallery is located at 607 Boylston Street in Boston, MA.
*** The North Bennet Street School will host an exhibition, Bound Together: Bookbinding by the North Bennet Street School Community, from March 28 – April 30. This unique gathering of exquisite hand-bound books showcases the talents of their students and alumni, and offers insight into their renowned bookbinding program.
On March 28th from 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m., there will be an information session and open house in the NBSS bindery, which will be followed by an opening reception for the exhibit.
The NBSS is located at 150 North Street in Boston, MA.
*** The New England Chapter of the Guild of Book Workers is looking for volunteers to teach simple bookbinding techniques and creative content at two upcoming Girl Scout events. Through these events, NEGBW volunteers will be helping Cadettes earn their Book Artist badge and potentially inspiring future bookbinders.
The first event will be held on Sunday, March 24, 2019 at Camp Rice Moody in Reading, MA. The second event will be held on Sunday, May 19, 2019 at Camp Cedar Hill in Waltham, MA. Each event generally lasts from 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. and carpooling can be arranged.
If you are interested in volunteering or have any questions, please contact Lauren Telepak at negbwprograms@gmail.com.
Book Arts Classes
*** The New England Chapter of the Guild of Book Workers is hosting a one-day paste paper workshop with Madeleine Durham on either March 23rd or 24th. The workshop will take place at the Washington Street Art Center in Somerville, MA.
In this workshop you will learn the brush technique that Madeleine has developed over the last many years. You will learn what kind of brushes work best and how to hold them so that you create a variety of lines, shapes, and patterns. You will also learn tricks for blending colors.
You will leave the class with a basic knowledge and ability to create straight lines, wavy lines, subtle blending techniques and geometric patterns. Madeleine’s paste paper technique is delightfully spontaneous. Come to class ready to have fun!
Registration is available online. Due to the limitations of the NEGBW’s registration system, you will not be able to choose between the two available days. After you register, please contact them with your preferred date.
*** From March 16 – April 13, the North Bennet Street School is offering Fundamentals of Bookbinding I with Erin Fletcher.
Students will learn the foundations of bookbinding by combining hands-on exercises and discussion. The class starts by exploring non-adhesive structures: soft cover pamphlet, Coptic, historical longstitch and link stitch. The class ends with a look at case bindings, with the creation of two hardcover flatback bindings. Students also learn different structural elements, sewing variations, covering and cutting techniques using various materials, tools and equipment.
Throughout the course discussions will cover terminology, paper grain and folding, selecting proper materials and tools, and adhesives and their properties. Please bring a notebook with you to class. All tools and supplies are provided for this class.
For more information or to register, please visit the NBSS website.
*** Erin Fletcher is also teaching Focus on Case Bindings at the North Bennet Street School from April 8 – 12, 2019.
Explore case binding structures through repetition while experimenting with minor changes in technique with each book. The course covers structural elements, sewing variations, covering, and cutting techniques using various tools and equipment. Discussions cover terminology, paper grain and folding, selecting proper materials and tools, and adhesives and their properties.
Students have ample time to repeat each technique in order to achieve precision and accuracy. Time will be dedicated to working on personal projects during the latter half of the workshop. While some materials can be supplied, students should bring the bulk of the materials required for their work.
For more information or to register, please visit the NBSS website.
*** On Sunday, March 17th, The Eliot School in Jamaica Plain, MA is offering Altered Books with Cristina Hajosy.
Transform books, old or new, into art objects. The book becomes a canvas, a sculpture or a reliquary of personally meaningful content. Draw inspiration from the book’s author or contents or purely use the book as a structure. Incorporate paper cutting, collage, bookmaking and other processes. The instructor will have books on hand or bring your own, along with small objects and images to include.
For more information about the class, please visit the Eliot School’s website or click here to download the complete catalog.
by Elissa | Jan 3, 2019 | B.A.G. Meetings, bookbinding, Exhibitions, MailB.A.G., Member News, Vermont, Workshops
Next Meeting: Wednesday, January 9, 2019, 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: Mini Leather Journals with Elissa Campbell
Start the new year by adding a Keith Smith 3-signature binding to your collection!
In this hands-on presentation, Elissa will teach you Keith Smith’s Triple Parquet binding, using leather for the cover. This three signature binding creates a lovely decorative pattern on the spine. The book also has an integrated closure that coordinates with the sewing.
All materials will be provided, but please bring the following tools:
- Bone folder
- Awl
- Scissors
- Pencil
- Ruler
- Bookbinding or tapestry needle
Optional (for punching small holes in leather):
- Japanese screw punch with a 1.5mm bit
- Eyelet hole punch with a 1/16″ bit
December Meeting Reflections
It was another joyous meeting, filled with lively participation and creative spirit. With Jill Abilock‘s guidance, we cut and folded up some beautiful snowflakes and origami ornaments. Even the simple snowflake that we have all made (thousands of) before received a new look at technique and precision. Thanks, Jill, for sharing your techniques and patterns!
The 2nd Annual Holiday Ornament swap proved to be just as fantastic as the 1st. The sweet creations showed just how talented you all are! I’m already planning for next year’s ornament.
Thank you all for participating, showing up, and caring. Happy Holidays!
You can view images from the meeting on the B.A.G. blog.
B.A.G. News
*** It’s time to renew your annual membership!
The primary mission of the Book Arts Guild of Vermont is to act as both an educational and creative resource in the field of book arts. Our monthly meetings are $5.00 an evening or free with a $35.00 annual membership. Your membership supports the mission of the Book Arts Guild, pays for our rented space, provides opportunities to exhibit and supports honorariums to presenters.
In addition to the benefits you receive (you can check them out here), your paid membership also enables us to cover expenses such our website and email newsletter – key tools for keeping our book arts community in touch and informed. A special membership benefit this year is that you don’t have to pay to submit work to our annual, non-juried book arts exhibition. You’ll also receive a personal thank you from Ann Joppe-Mercure (priceless).
If you have a skill, a passion, a favorite technique or a body of work that others would love to learn about, and then take the leap and volunteer to share it with us as a presenter. If you present at a B.A.G. meeting, you receive free membership for the year. Think about it – we know you have something to share!
If you would like to become a supporting B.A.G. member, click here to download our membership form.
*** Congrats to Dorsey Hogg on the recognition she got in the December 19th issue of Seven Days (and what an awesome photo)! Dorsey Hogg Turns Books Into Sculptures details how she got her start in altered books and shares her creative process. Yes folks, she does it all by hand.
Book Arts News
*** The Children’s Museum of the Arts in New York City is currently hosting A Way With Words: The Power and Art of the Book, an exhibition that presents artworks which draw attention to the long and remarkable history of the book. The show is open now through April 29th.
The exhibit showcases the transformation of everyday books into expressions of identity, community, environmentalism, memory, and reconstructed narratives. Families will see unconventional treatments such as cutting, weaving, tearing, burning, and shredding, as artists transform books into sculptures, animation, drawings, and paintings that capture the book’s significant history and power to inform the public. Children and their families will also create their own artworks inspired by the exhibition.
The exhibit includes works by Cara Barer, Doug Beube, Long-Bin Chen, Casey Curran, Brian Dettmer, Ann Hamilton, Andrew Hayes, Lisa Kokin, Guy Laramée, Mike Stilkey, and Robert The.
*** Also at the Children’s Museum of the Arts is an art installation by Rachel Marks. The Bridge Project: Naturae Liber creates an immersive installation in which families will be invited to see and hear the story of the unnatural forest. With each step into this otherworldly plant life, objects seem familiar yet peculiar. A once recognizable structure, the book, becomes overthrown with cutting, ripping, painting, sanding, and stacking, transforming to create vegetation, vines growing and fungi popping out of windowed portholes.
This site-specific installation of a peaceful forest will be completely constructed head-to-toe from donated used books. The viewers will be invited to walk down the paper trail and immerse themselves in the tranquil and calming environment. Naturae Liber will feature tree trunks created from old book covers, a waterfall created from hundreds of attached pages, live foliage hanging from the ceiling and delicate paper mushrooms growing out from the walls and windows.
*** Now through January 15, 2019, the Bromer Gallery is hosting Goldman and Lee: Shadow and Color, featuring Jane Goldman‘s watercolors and editioned prints from her Audubon Series, together with the color woodcuts of Jim Lee.
The gallery was launched by Bromer Booksellers to mark its fiftieth year as a leading specialist in rare books. It will operate in conjunction with the book shop, and will feature original art, edition prints, and related material, executed by artists whose work is centered upon the idea of the book as art. This new endeavor is a natural extension of Bromer Booksellers’ long history as specialists in the art of the book.
*** The New England Chapter of the Guild of Book Workers is looking for volunteers to teach simple bookbinding techniques and creative content at two upcoming Girl Scout events. Through these events, NEGBW volunteers will be helping Cadettes earn their Book Artist badge and potentially inspiring future bookbinders.
The first event will be held on Sunday, March 24, 2019 at Camp Rice Moody in Reading, MA. The second event will be held on Sunday, May 19, 2019 at Camp Cedar Hill in Waltham, MA. Each event generally lasts from 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. and carpooling can be arranged.
If you are interested in volunteering or have any questions, please contact Lauren Telepak at negbwprograms@gmail.com.
Book Arts Classes
*** On February 2 – 3, the North Bennet Street School is offering Italian Paper Bindings with Bill Hanscom.
Explore the history and use of inexpensive paper-covered book structures beginning at the advent of the printed book in Europe and continuing through the industrial revolution of the nineteenth century. Participants will create four models of bindings commonly used in the Italian region including a plain wrapper, laminated case wrapper, basic long-stitch, and paper case. Models will incorporate decorated and handmade papers, as well as historically-employed sewing techniques and end-sheet constructions. Structural variations and decoration will be examined through images and historical examples from the instructor’s collection.
For more information or to register, please visit the NBSS website.
*** The Eliot School in Jamaica Plain, MA has two book arts classes coming up this winter. Here’s the scoop:
Stab-Bound Books with Dan Paret will take place on 2 Sundays, January 27th and February 3rd, 2019 from 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Stab-bound books are a satisfying and accessible project for beginning book makers. Start with a small partial-cover book and move on to a larger, fully-covered book. You’ll consider a variety of options, including cloth and paper choices, binding patterns, thread sizes and colors. Leave with two carefully made books and an understanding of how to continue your bookmaking journey.
Paste Paper with Cristina Hajosy will take place on Sunday February 17, 2019 from 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Paste paper is traditionally used for endpapers and book covers, offering a textural and colorful alternative to marbling. See some historical and contemporary approaches, then create your own. Start with a traditional method, then learn ways to make more creative and painterly versions.
For more information about the classes, please visit the Eliot School’s website or click here to download the complete catalog.
by Elissa | Mar 12, 2013 | B.A.G. Meetings, bookbinding, Call to artists, Exhibitions, Lecture, MailB.A.G., Member News, Vermont, Workshops
Next Meeting: Wednesday, March 13, 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: Mindfulness and Responsibility: Self-Ownership and Public Display of Poem Books with Donna Stepien
Join us in March when Donna Stepien shares the impact of incorporating a mindful presence in the classroom as a catalyst for the self-empowerment and creative ownership of students.
Donna will share poem books created by students in her junior- and senior- level college typography courses. Each book included a poem that had deep personal meaning for the student, on such topics as passion, war, reaction to an abortion, autobiographical description of miscarriage, and struggle with gender identity. As part of the assignment, students were required to read aloud the poem they chose and describe their response to it.
When Donna saw the content of the books included controversial and sensitive topics, she realized her role would be to facilitate self-awareness of students’ vulnerability, personal exposure, and accountability in their artwork, both to themselves and to the audience.
Students presented their – and responded to others’ – work with maturity, empathy, professionalism, respect and interest. Afterwards many expressed their thanks for the book project, saying that it helped them realize capabilities they didn’t know they had.
Reflections on February’s Meeting
At our February meeting, Dorsey Hogg shared a slice of her artistic life, and gave us a view of how moving to another country provided her with both inspiration and practical applications for her book projects.
As she discussed her work, she passed her pieces around, allowing members to handle and appreciate the pleasures of her multiple accordion, flag, and woven paper structures. Her use of recycled materials like movie posters and how she came across them gave us all new ideas on how to work with materials at hand.
At the end of the evening, we made our own multiple accordion structure under Dorsey’s tutelage, and took away both a model and inspiration.
Thank you, Dorsey, for providing us with an evening of insight and wonderment.
You can view images from the meeting on the B.A.G. blog.
B.A.G. News
*** Our 2013 meeting dates are:
- March 13, 2013
- April 10, 2013
- May 8, 2013
- June 12, 2013
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- September 11, 2013
- October 9, 2013
- November 13, 2013
- December 11, 2013
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*** 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. Registration forms will be available both at the meeting on 3/13/13 and on the website.
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.
Book Arts News
*** On Saturday, March 16th, the New England Guild of Book Workers member Sam Ellenport will be hosting a viewing some of the most spectacular bindings ever created. Member and collector Philip Maddock has been intrigued by the creation and, ultimately, the destruction of the original Irish Parliamentary Bindings. He will speak about the replicas, which have been created with bookbinder Trevor Lloyd and toolmaker Stewart Field.
The Irish parliamentary records were bound in spectacular fashion in the 18th century, and have been viewed by many as one of the astounding achievements in the history of bookbinding. After they were destroyed when the Records Office was blown up in 1922, the only evidence of them was from rubbings and photographs. Philip has worked for years identifying the tools, having them cut, and working with Trevor Lloyd to create replicas. On display with these bindings are others from the 18th century, as well as many of the tools used for decoration.
Time: 10:00 am
Location: Club of Odd Volumes
Address: 77 Mount Vernon Street, Boston, MA 02108
The visit is free for members of the New England Chapter of the Guild of Book Workers. To register for the visit please email bookandtile@att.net.
*** Aimee Lee, a Korean-American artist and Fulbright scholar, will be giving a free lecture at the North Bennet Street School in Boston, MA on April 4th from 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. Lee will share her search to learn more about traditional papermaking and its related crafts. Hanji, Korean handmade paper, although relatively unknown outside Korea, provides key links among other papermaking styles and traditions. Her recently published book, Hanji Unfurled: One Journey into Korean Papermaking is available through The Legacy Press.
Aimee Lee is an interdisciplinary artist who works in paper, book, performance and installation arts. She holds a BA in Visual Arts from Oberlin College, an MFA in Interdisciplinary Book and Paper Arts from Columbia College Chicago and conducted post-graduate research on hanji in Korea on a Fulbright grant.
Registration to attend the lecture is available online.
*** Open now through May 28th is the exhibit A Place of Reading: Three Centuries of Reading in America in Neilson Library Level 3 at Smith College.
A Place of Reading illuminates the places in which early Americans read books, newspapers, and other publications. It features books, prints, broadsides, watercolors, lithographs, etc., from the collections of the American Antiquarian Society (AAS). The exhibition was curated by Cheryl Harned, a history graduate student at the University of Massachusetts Amherst.
A supplementary exhibition, Cultivating the nobler part of her nature: Books for Women and Girls in Early America is also on view outside the Mortimer Rare Book Room, just down the hall from the Book Arts Gallery. The exhibition showcases the sorts of books read by the fairer sex: cookbooks, books on bicycling (proper for women? what to wear?), biographies of women, health and beauty tips, travel accounts, and more. This exhibition was curated by seniors in the Book Studies Concentration at Smith.
For more information about either exhibition, please contact Barbara Blumenthal via Email or phone: (413) 586-2906.
Book Arts Classes
*** The biennial Focus on Book Arts Conference (FOBA) has announced their 2013 workshop lineup. This year, the conference has expanded to include five days of workshops for both the beginning and the experienced bookbinder.
Workshops include:
In addition to the workshops, you can schedule a 20-minute one-on-one session with gallery owners and studio artists Alicia Bailey and Laura Russell. Alicia will offer one-on-one critique sessions of your work and Laura will separately offer consultations on the business and marketing side of being a book artist.
Another new offering this year is the opportunity for you have professional photographs taken of your work during the conference. Local professional photographer Stephen Funk will be on-site Wednesday and Sunday to photograph your work. He has offered to schedule 30-minute sessions, enough time for 2 to 6 shots, depending on your work.
Registration is now open. Elissa Campbell has attended FOBA three times and will be going this year – feel free to contact her with any questions. The conference is held in Forest Grove, OR.
*** Book Arts at the Stone House will be offering workshops from July 29 – August 4, 2012 in Freeport, Maine. Spend seven days beside the sea attending a series of book arts related workshops, filled with a wide range of topics including monotype prints, book binding, inventive fold books, book design, calligraphy, sewing, and narratives.
During this course, each participant will have the opportunity to work with 8 different instructors in half-day and full-day workshops. Every participant will be exposed to a variety of approaches and opinions from a stimulating group of professional artists.
Please visit the website for more details on the location and how to register.
*** The Eliot School in Jamaica Plain, MA is offering Leather-Bound Coptic Books on 2 Sundays, March 10th & 17th from 1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. This simple, elegant, exposed–spine, sewn book dates back to the 2nd century AD. Learn the basics of coptic binding to create a beautiful leather–covered blank book.
Registration is available online. For more information, please visit the Eliot School’s website or click here to download the complete catalog.
by Elissa | Mar 11, 2013 | B.A.G. Meetings, bookbinding, Vermont
Dorsey Hogg sharing one of her handmade folded books
