Our first workshop of 2016 was Magic Boxes taught by Emily Martin. In this one day class, Emily introduced the construction techniques of this unique box form. This intriguing variation on the Jacobʼs ladder makes a lidded box with divided compartments. The lid can be opened in two directions revealing different compartments depending on the opening direction chosen. The Jacobʼs Ladder is a 2,000-year old Chinese toy. It and its variations have many wonderful applications for contemporary artist bookmakers. Construction and operation of the Jacobʼs ladder was demonstrated and students assemble a model of the magic box using a variety of patterned Japanese papers.
Emily Martin is an artist, bookbinder, and proprietor of the Naughty Dog Press, Iowa City, IA and she teaches at the University of Iowa. Emily earned a MFA degree in painting, from the University of Iowa in 1979, having previously earned a BFA and MA in drawing and painting, respectively. She started the Naughty Dog Press in 1996 to produce her own limited editions of primarily sculptural and movable artist’s books. Martin joined the University of Iowa Center for the Book in 1998, to teach a variety of classes exploring artists’ books, including Movable & Sculptural Books, Paper Engineering & Pop Up Books and Artists Books. During her career she has produced over 35 limited edition artist’s books using a variety of production techniques including letterpress printing, intaglio printing, silkscreen printing, inkjet printing and photocopies. Martin’s books are included in public and private collections throughout the United States and internationally. See the collections page for the full list. Martin is very interested in the intersection of the book as an art form with the traditional craft of bookbinding.
Jefferson Building, 2nd Floor.
Karen Hanmer’s Springback Binding Workshop
We are very excited to welcome back Karen Hanmer to offer a workshop on the Springback Binding on October 15 and 16, 2016. Karen is a terrific teacher and her previous workshop with us a few years ago was a great success. We look forward to spending more time with her learning new binding techniques and acquiring tips on how to create beautiful books.
The nineteenth century Springback Binding with its enthusiastic opening is ideal for journals, guest books, sketch books, or any application where it is desirable that the book open flat, and then some. The book both opens and closes with a satisfying jolt.
The Springback Binding is also a perfect way to delve more deeply into traditional binding. The book features two-part “split boards,” reinforced “made” endsheets, and a “spring” made of layers of card and paper. With its robust aesthetic, the Springback Binding is a great way to begin working with leather. The paring requires minimalfinesse, and the modest leather headcap is easy to form.
Note: This is a fast-paced workshop for students who have some experience with traditional binding. Students should be comfortable sewing on supports and have successfully made books on their own outside a workshop setting.
When: Saturday and Sunday, October 15 and 16, 9:00 to 5:00
Where: Folger Shakespeare Library, Werner Gundersheimer Conservation Laboratory, 2nd Floor
Cost: $250 for members, $300 for non-members plus a $80 materials fee paid directly to the instructor
This workshop is close to full, please inquire at gbwpotomacchapter AT gmail.com.
In addition to the workshop, Karen will give a talk on her artist’s books and bindings in the Rosenwald Room, Library of Congress, 2nd Floor, at 3:00 PM on Thursday, October 13th. Entitled “Retro Tech”, the talk will discuss how her interest in history and the history of the book inspires and informs her work. We hope you can join us there as well.
The Potomac Chapter welcomed Jim Reid-Cunningham in February 18-20, 2017.
Vellum stiffboard bindings were common from the 16th to the 19th centuries throughout Europe. This course will explore a hybrid modern structure utilizing historical elements found in early versions of the vellum stiffboard binding, but with flexible joints that create less stress. This binding is sturdy and elegant, takes gold tooling well and is suitable for conservation re-bindings as well as for presentation and design bindings. Using this structure, students will create modern versions of the 17th century pierced vellum binding, with the design created by utilizing a punctured vellum cover revealing decoration on the boards beneath. This course will cover: lap link sewing on vellum tapes; back bead endbands; fabricating and decorating the boards; constructing a stiffboard case; creating a pierced vellum design; and covering in vellum.
Historical examples of pierced vellum bindings can be seen at www.reid-cunningham.com/piercedvellumbin.html
And some of the instructor’s at www.reid-cunningham.com/piercedvellumbia.html
James Reid-Cunningham studied bookbinding with Mark Esser at the North Bennet Street School and received the distinguished alumni award from NBSS in 2006. He spent thirty years as a conservator at Harvard University and the Boston Athenaeum, and served as the President of the Guild of Book Workers from 2006 to 2010. From 2009 to 2013, he was the adjunct lecturer on book conservation in the graduate art conservation department at Buffalo State College. He is a conservator in private practice in Cambridge, MA. His website is www.reid-cunningham.com.
When: Saturday,Sunday, and Monday February 18-20, 9:00 to 5:00
Where: Folger Shakespeare Library, Werner Gundersheimer Conservation Laboratory, 2nd Floor
Cost: $375 for members, $450 for non-members plus there will be a materials fee.
NOTE: This class assumes basic binding skills.
Animated Structures: Adding Moving Elements to Books
The Potomac Chapter is excited to announce a workshop on pop-up books with Thomas Parker Williams.
When: Saturday June 16, 2018.
Where: Glen Echo Park, 7300 MacArthur Blvd 20812
Cost: $125 for members, $150 for non-members. In addition, there will be a $45 materials fee payable in cash directly to instructor at the time of the workshop. We must receive your payment by May 31 for this workshop to run. Workshop registrations are extended to June 5!
TO RESERVE A SPOT, USE THE SECURE CREDIT CARD PAYMENT OPTION ON LINE: https://gbw.formstack.com/forms/animated_structures_adding_moving_elements_to_books
IF YOU PREFER TO PAY BY CHECK, please write to the gbwpotomacchapter [at] gmail [dot] com for the mailing address.
The Potomac Chapter is excited to announce a workshop with Gabrielle Fox focused on the FLOWING SPINE BINDING.
When: September 15-16, 2018 , 10 am-5 pm
Where: Glen Echo Park, Arcade Building, 7300 MacArthur Blvd, Glen Echo MD, 20812
Cost: $300 for members, $325 for non-members
TO RESERVE A SPOT, USE THE SECURE CREDIT CARD PAYMENT OPTION ON LINE: Follow the link to reserve your spot!
https://GBW.formstack.com/forms/flowing_spine_binding
IF YOU PREFER TO PAY BY CHECK, please write to the gbwpotomacchapter [at] gmail [dot] com for the mailing address.
The Guild of Book Workers Potomac Chapter was so pleased to welcome Hedi Kyle and Ulla Warchol in 2019 to teach a Two-Day Workshop on structures from their fabulous book THE ART OF THE FOLD! https://www.artofthefold.com/hedi-kyle. The event was held on November 16-17 2019, at the spacious studios at Glen Echo Park, Arcade Building
Potomac Chapter of the Guild of Book Workers 