by Elissa | Jan 4, 2017 | B.A.G. Book Swap, B.A.G. Meetings, bookbinding, Lecture, MailB.A.G., Vermont, Workshops
Next Meeting: Wednesday, January 11, 2017, 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: Adventures in Surface Design – A Group Exploration facilitated by Ann Joppe-Mercure
Join us in January as we explore and share ways of printing designs or images on paper. What are your favorite methods? Do you carve your own stamps? Have you discovered an interesting material or technique for creating stamps without carving? Do you use masks or rubbing plates?
Come and share it with us! Bring your favorite material or technique and, if possible, a sample of an image or design made with it. Ann Joppe-Mercure will facilitate the discussion as we share and learn from each other.
Please feel free to come and discover new techniques and ideas, even if you don’t have a technique to share. In February, we will have a hands-on printing extravaganza using some of the methods and/or materials shared in January to create beautiful prints and designs. possibly for use in a collaborative book.
Things to bring (optional):
- Your favorite tool and/or techniques for printing designs or images on paper
- A sample image or design made with the tool or technique
- Paper and pen for taking notes on all the cool new methods you’ll discover!
December Meeting Reflections
Honestly, I was floored by the incredible talent of the magical Sarah Frechette. Sarah, along with Jason Thibodeaux, gave us a special presentation of her marionette show, The Snowflake Man, with ‘backstage’ explanations and an inside view of how it all happens.
The glorious pop up book of ‘sets’ housed in a suitcase and the super detailed marionettes were brought to life in front of our eyes! We were entranced, just as I imagine every child who attends her shows must be. And when these children grow up and want to major in puppetry in college, I say ‘Yes!’
After the presentation, Sarah led us through the design and development process and encouraged us to make our own pop-up stages. Gosh, I was too full of awe to think of anything except a flying bird.
Another highlight of the meeting was the delivering of books for the Book Arts Guild of Vermont’s first book swap. Participants created a blank book or journal that incorporated recycled materials, meant for their swap partner. The results were spectacular! Let’s get more participation next time – it’s so fun.
Thanks to all who attended, to Elissa for heading up the book swap, and a special thanks to Sarah and Jason for giving us a look at their world. On to 2017. Whew.
You can view images from the meeting on the B.A.G. blog.
You can also view images of books from the Book Swap 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 (outlined in the sidebar of this newsletter), 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.
Book Arts News
*** The New England Chapter of the Guild of Book Workers is looking for volunteers for an upcoming Girl Scout event. They will be partnering with the Girl Scouts of Eastern Massachusetts offering programs for Cadette scouts (age 11-14) to earn a Book Artist badge. In addition, they will run a program for younger scouts.
The event will be held on Saturday March 25, 2017 at Camp Cedar Hill in Waltham, MA. They will run a 3-hour program for Cadettes in the morning from 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. and then have a 2-hour program for younger girls from 1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. You can volunteer for just one program or make a day out of it and do both!
For the Cadettes, 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.
The younger girls will have similar programming in a shorter time frame with only four rotations. 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.
*** On Thursday, March 9th, the North Bennet Street School is presenting a free lecture with Radha Pandey – Islamic World Papermaking.
The talk explores traditional Islamic-world papermaking history and technique, with a focus on contemporary practices in India. The Kagzi family is used as a case study to illuminate the introduction of papermaking in India and how it changed under British rule. The talk will also briefly cover how papermaking affected printing, publishing and literacy, and why it is relevant today.
Please register in advance as space is limited.
*** Snow Farm in Williamsburg, MA is offering two book/paper arts workshops this summer:
- June 9 – 11: A Cut Above: An Exploration in Papercutting with Beatrice Coron
Both beginners and advanced students alike will delight in learning about the long multi-cultural history of papercutting as well as the world of paper-cutters today. Explore the unique possibilities of papercutting techniques while making black and white, and color artwork. Demonstrations will include stenciling and working in 3D. Tips, tricks, and resources will be provided.
- June 11 – 17: Variations on the Accordion with Melanie Mowinski
There are so many ways to fold paper, Tyvek, and other materials into an accordion book! In this workshop, make models of star, storage, flag, pocket, circle, pivoting panel and other accordion structures. Paint papers to prep, create cover boards, fold papers, all with attention to structure, form, and ways of bringing accordions into your everyday life from journaling to travelogues and special artist books.
For more information or to register, please visit Snow Farm’s website.
*** Registration is now open for Haystack Mountain School of Crafts summer sessions. Haystack is located in Deer Isle, Maine. There are two book/paper arts workshops:
- July 30 – August 11: Raising Paper with Jocelyn Châteauvert
This workshop will explore the structural potential of handmade paper. Using traditional papermaking techniques as the foundation, participants will learn how beating, sheet thickness, and drying times influences and informs the ability for paper to become dimensional. Using relatively simple tools and processes we will imaginatively transform she
ets of handmade paper into three-dimensional forms that are strong and self-supporting. Previous experience with papermaking helpful but not required.
- August 14 – 26: Radical Bookwork: Re-purposing Found Books from Meaning To Structure with Doug Beube
This workshop is designed to challenge common assumptions about the nature of the book and to offer participants an opportunity to make their own bookwork from found books, which incorporates collage, installation, mixed media, painting, photography, sculpture, and writing. Students will primarily work with hardbound and softcover books by altering their physical structure. Although a few basic bookbinding structures will be demonstrated, this workshop is not about traditional binding; it is a mixed-media workshop on using the found book as raw and re-purposed material.
For more information or to register, please visit Haystack’s website.
*** John Vincent of A Revolutionary Press is looking for active papermakers in the Burlington area.
If you’re currently pulpy or know someone who is, please contact John at arevolutionarypress@gmail.com.
Book Arts Classes
*** The Eliot School is offering the Pop-Up Travel Journal with Susan Porter on January 15, 2017.
Incorporate photos, tickets, labels and other ephemera from your travels to create a pop-up book. The book begins as a simple square but opens into a dramatic, multifaceted container that includes pockets, windows, pop-outs and other paper forms. A variety of media and techniques will be used including printmaking, collage, painting and drawing.
For more information about the class, please visit the Eliot School’s website or click here to download the complete catalog.
*** From January 28 – 29 the North Bennet Street School is offering Bookbinding 101 with Amy Lapidow.
Students learn the foundations of bookbinding through hands-on experience and discussion of both adhesive and non-adhesive books. Learn structural elements, sewing variations, covering and cutting techniques using various materials, in addition to proper use of tools and equipment. Discussions throughout the course cover terminology, materials selection, and use. Structures covered include coptic, long stitch, and flat back bindings.
For more information or to register, please visit the NBSS website.
by Elissa | Jan 2, 2014 | B.A.G. Meetings, bookbinding, Exhibitions, MailB.A.G., Member News, Vermont, Workshops
Next Meeting: Wednesday, January 8, 2014, 6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
We meet at the Unitarian Universalist Society Church located at 152 Pearl Street in Burlington, VT. We will be in the Sophia Fahs Community Room, a large room located in the basement. Click here for more information on directions/parking.
Program: Waterfall Flip Book with Rebecca Boardman
Join us in January to ring in the New Year with a hands-on program in which we explore the creative possibilities of waterfall flip books and cards. Rebecca will share models she has created of some of the variations that are possible, and show videos of commercially made cards.
She’ll then lead us in constructing at least one version of this structure. As time allows we’ll all be challenged to come up with our own unique way of using this moveable structure, and then have fun sharing what we’ve all created.
Rebecca will bring templates for at least a couple versions of the waterfall flip book. Please bring the following tools and materials:
- X-Acto knife/cutting blade
- Cutting mat
- Straight edge to cut against
- Bone folder
- Quick Dry glue if you have it handy – (Rebecca will also bring some for us to use)
- Drawing implements, stamps, small punches, ideas for brief text – whatever you might want to use to create the content of this book.
December Meeting Reflections
December’s meeting brought out our brave members on a snowy evening. We shared resources, ideas, challenges and creative work. We created an informal support group to help each other work though problems with work in process. The feedback was generous and welcomed.
Our Guild members have such enthusiasm and appreciation of each other and our creative book projects. We are a lucky group!
You can view the list of resources on the B.A.G. blog.
You can view images from the meeting on the B.A.G. blog.
B.A.G. News
*** The Book Arts Guild of Vermont is happy to announce that the Spring exhibit will be hosted by the Rae Harrell Gallery in Hinesburg, in May. The show’s theme will be Nature: Beasts and Botanicals.
This broad theme can inspire fantastical, outlandish ideas as well as environmental, natural concepts. Find inspiration everywhere: on your daily walk, at your birdfeeder, on Pinterest, and at the library. Whether or not you have exhibited with us in the past, all members and friends are encouraged to submit work.
Deadline for submission will be April 1st, and we’re not kidding.
*** Vermont artist Jane Davies will be teaching a one day workshop in South Burlington on February 22, 2014. The workshop, Text and Image Collage, will allow us to explore the power of image/ word relationships as well as learn basic techniques and principles of collage.
We will create expressive pages that can be used for books, with found and created text, personal photos, and found/altered imagery. This will be a great way to jump start your ideas for the Spring exhibit, and to lose those winter blues.
- Date: Saturday, February 22, 2014, 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
- Location: Ridgewood Clubhouse, South Burlington
- Cost: $55.00
Click here to download the registration form.
*** B.A.G. member Elissa Campbell is teaching The Recycled Accordion Book at Studio Place Arts in Barre, VT on February 20, 2014 from 4:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
In this workshop, we will create an accordion book using recycled papers, books, and other found materials. This structure can stand up and be stretched out, making it perfect for display. You don’t have to spend lots of money on supplies to make a book – your recycle bin offers lots of creative possibilities!
To register, contact SPA via phone (802) 479-7069 or Email.
*** We want to know how we can best serve you! Within the next few weeks, you will be receiving a short survey about B.A.G. It is an online survey so there will be nothing to print out and mail – simply click on the link and answer a few short questions. We are striving to best meet the needs of our book arts community, and your feedback is both vital and greatly appreciated!
Book Arts News
*** The New England Historic Genealogical Society cordially invites you to a reception on Wednesday, January 15, 2014, from 6:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. to celebrate the 2013 opening of its conservation lab for the care and repair of materials held in its Library and Special Collections. A presentation by Deborah Rossi, NEHGS Conservation Technician, will be followed by group tours of the lab.
The Genealogical Society is located at 99 Newbury Street, Boston, MA in the first floor of the Treat Rotunda. Directions to NEHGS can found at AmericanAncestors.org/directions. R.S.V.P. by January 2, 2014 to drossi@nehgs.org.
Book Arts Classes
*** The Eliot School in Jamaica Plain, MA is offering Carousel Books with Johanna Finnegan-Topitzer on Sunday, February 23, 2014 from 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. This sculptural book opens to form several shadow box-style pages in the round, like a carousel or zoetrope. Create images by cutting, drawing and painting, then precisely cut, fold and assemble accordion pages.
For more information the class, please visit the Eliot School’s website or click here to download the complete catalog.
*** Haystack Mountain School of Crafts has announced their 2014 summer workshop lineup:
If you would like to receive a course catalog or be added to their Email list, please contact them at haystack@haystack-mtn.org or (207) 348-2306. Haystack is in Deer Isle, ME.
*** Now celebrating its 31st year, the Paper & Book Intensive is a working sabbatical for practitioners and motivated beginners in the book arts, papermaking, and conservation. PBI will be held at Ox-Bow in Saugatuck, MI from May 11 – 22. Available classes include:
Applications are being accepted online until April 15th, but acceptance letters are sent out in mid-February, so timely application is encouraged. For more information, please visit PBI’s website.
*** The Penland School of Crafts has announced their 2014 spring and summer workshop lineup:
- 4/20 – 4/26: The Artist as Traveler with Gail Rieke
- 5/25 – 6/6: Eastern Papermaking Possibilities with Aimee Lee
- 5/25 – 6/6: Forms in Paper with Elizabeth Alexander
- 6/8 – 6/20: Word, Image, Text, Books with Julie Leonard
- 6/22 – 7/4: Living Inside the Book with Sara Glee Queen & Kathy Steinsberger
- 7/6 – 7/18: Books with Bulk with Daniel Essig & Dolph Smith
- 7/20 – 8/5: Sculpting with Handmade Paper with Jo Stealey
- 8/10 – 8/22: Box Making & Enclosure Design with Sarah Bryant
- 8/24 – 8/30: Onion Skin Binding with Benjamin Elbel
Registration is available online. For more information, please visit Penland’s website.
by Elissa | Dec 21, 2013 | bookbinding
A number of resources were shared at the December 2013 meeting of the Book Arts Guild of Vermont. Links to these resources are listed below.
by Elissa | Jan 8, 2013 | B.A.G. Meetings, bookbinding, Exhibitions, Lecture, MailB.A.G., Member News, Vermont, Workshops
Next Meeting: Wednesday, January 9, 2013, 6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
DATE CHANGE: PLEASE NOTE THAT WE NOW MEET ON THE SECOND WEDNESDAY OF THE MONTH.
There will be no change in location – we meet at the Unitarian Universalist Society Church located at 152 Pearl Street in Burlington, VT. We will be in the Sophia Fahs Community Room, a large room located in the basement.
Click here for more information on directions/parking.
Program: Sharing and Support
Welcome to our annual meeting of minds! Perhaps you have an idea you’re not sure how to execute, or a project that has presented unexpected difficulties. Bring your questions or challenges and take advantage of the cumulative skills and wisdom of fellow B.A.G. members.
Bring book arts projects, either in process or completed, resources (books, magazines, web sites, blogs), favorite tools, sources of innovation, or anything else that inspires or connects you to the book arts. Perhaps you have a project begun at a meeting or in a class or workshop that you could share.
You are also invited to come with proposals for programs: speakers, projects, field trips etc. that you would like to see happen or that you would like to do yourself! This popular annual program will help us celebrate our eighth anniversary (!), so come, share and be ready to leave with a wealth of new creative energy.
Reflections on December’s Meeting
Our annual Pot Luck with Swap and Shop proved to be a delicious evening in many ways, with lots of exciting food to share, friends to meet, and book arts items to swap and purchase.
We were inspired by each others’ creativity in the culinary arts as well as paper arts, and enjoyed swapping recipes and news before shopping and trading for materials and gifts.
Thanks to all who attended for an enjoyable, relaxed evening during the holiday crunch.
You can view images from the meeting on the B.A.G. blog.
B.A.G. News
*** Please note that in 2013, our meeting date has permanently changed to the second Wednesday of the month. The change was made to resolve meeting/holiday conflicts.
Mark your calendars! Our 2013 meeting dates are:
- January 9, 2013
- February 13, 2013
- March 13, 2013
- April 10, 2013
- May 8, 2013
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- June 12, 2013
- 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. The official call for artists will go out soon, along with more details on the exhibit.
*** B.A.G. member Marcia Vogler asked us to share this with you:
Here is a book art project I found totally inspiring, and though you might as well.
The Icebook by Davy and Kristin McGuire is a miniature theatre show made of paper and light. An exquisite experience of fragile paper cutouts and video projections that sweep you right into the heart of a fantasy world. It is an intimate and immersive experience of animation, book art and performance.
*** B.A.G. member Elissa Campbell is teaching a brand-new class, Leather Pocket Journals, at Studio Place Arts in Barre, VT on 2 Tuesdays in February 12 & 19, 2013 from 4:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
In this workshop, you’ll learn 6 bindings that use only leather, paper, and thread – no glue needed! For each binding, you’ll sew 3 sections of folded pages into covers cut from one piece of leather. These bindings are very flexible and allow the books to open completely flat, making them perfect for use as sketchbooks or journals.
Each sewing technique creates a different decorative sewing pattern on the spine and we’ll try out different closure methods. No previous experience required – this is a great class for a beginner. You can even bring in your own leather to customize your book.
To register, contact SPA via phone (802) 479-7069 or Email.
Book Arts News
*** Now through January 19th, Burlington City Art‘s exhibit Constructed Conceptual brings together four different bodies of work in which paper and graphite drawings are uniquely cut, torn, rolled, twisted, folded, and painted to create dynamic sculptural objects, and alphabets of line and color.
Vermont-based artist and architect John Anderson challenges conventional definitions of drawing and sculpture by blurring the boundaries between two-dimensional drawing and three-dimensional space.
Burlington City Arts is located at 135 Church Street in Burlington, VT.
*** On March 5, 2007, a car bomb exploded on al-Mutanabbi Street, the ancient street of booksellers, poets and writers, located at the literary and cultural heart of Baghdad, Iraq. The attack killed 30 people and injured scores more.
As part of an international response to this event, the Cambridge Arts Council presents Al-Mutanabbi Street Starts Here, a three-part exhibition of 261 artist books made by 260 international artists from 24 countries.This exhibition events aims to bear witness to the events on Al-Mutanabbi Street, and to collectively affirm that the right to a free exchange of ideas and culture in public space is never to be taken for granted.
An opening reception will be held on January 14th at 6:00 p.m. at the CAC Gallery at the Cambridge Arts Council, City Hall Annex, 344 Broadway, 2nd floor, Cambridge, MA.
For more information about exhibit, event listings, images and video, please visit the project website.
*** The North Bennet Street School will present the lecture, Reflections of a Bookbinding Career with Sam Ellenport, on February 7th from 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Sam is a highly skilled bookbinder, collector, lecturer and writes about the history of bookbinding. His influence on the bookbinding field in New England cannot be overstated. He was instrumental in establishing the bookbinding program at North Bennet Street School in Boston, was the first Chair of the New England Chapter of the Guild of Book Workers and is past President of Harcourt Bindery.
The event is free and registration is available online.
Book Arts Classes
*** The New England Chapter of the Guild of Book Workers is hosting a Tyvek Toning Workshop with Dana Kull at the Northeast Document Conservation Center. The workshop will take place on Saturday, January 19th, from 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
You’ll learn what Tyvek is and the different varieties that are available. Students will learn how Tyvek takes color and experiment with different effects. Most important of all, Dana will discuss how you can use toned Tyvek in your own bookbinding projects. Each participant will leave the workshop with a number of colored pieces of Tyvek.
To register for the workshop, please send an Email to bookandtile@att.net – space is limited so please register early. The Northeast Document Conservation Center is located at 100 Brickstone Square in Andover, MA.
*** Haystack Mountain School of Crafts has announced their 2013 summer workshop lineup:
If you would like to receive a course catalog or be added to their Email list, please contact them at haystack@haystack-mtn.org or (207) 348-2306. Haystack is in Deer Isle, ME.
*** The Penland School of Crafts has announced their 2013 spring and summer workshop lineup:
Registration is available online. For more information, please visit Penland’s website.
*** Now celebrating its 30th year, the Paper & Book Intensive is a working sabbatical for practitioners and motivated beginners in the book arts, papermaking, and conservation. PBI will be held at Ox-Bow in Saugatuck, MI from May 12 – 23. Available classes include:
- Finesse the Sheet: Papermaking with Bernie Vinzani
- Pressure Printing: A Painterly Approach to the Press with Sarah Bryant
- The Three Ls: Limp – Link – Long; or Exploring Techniques Hidden In Libraries Across Europe with Adam Larsson
- Turning The Corner – And other useful leather covering techniques with Jeff Altpeter
- Page Design – It’s an Open Book with Paula Jull
- A Look at the World of Islamic Bookbinding with Yasmeen Khan
- Writing Tablets, Personal Almanacs and Calendar Books with Pam Spitzmueller
- BigAss Papermaking with Julie McLaughlin
- Daredevil Letterpress with Jessica Spring
- Ideas and Actions in Context and Construction with Tim Ely
Applications are being accepted online until April 15th, but acceptance letters are sent out in mid-February, so timely application is encouraged. For more information, please visit PBI’s website.
