Workshop Coming up Next Month

Developing a Narrative in Visual Artists Books

This workshop will focus on the development and use of narrative as it is used in contemporary book form. Class discussion will include narrative expression from a variety of sources such as current and historical fiction and painting, folk art, and ancient mythologies. There will also be references to popular contemporary art and culture, with an emphasis on visual artist’s books. The course will include class participatory exercises hands on studio assignments and class reviews. Attendees should bring a sketchbook, glue sticks, scissors and drawing/sketching supplies

Taught by Claire Owen

The workshop will be held July 11th from 10 am – 4pm with lunch break

Held at Claire's studio. (Germantown)

$80 members, $100 non-members

TOPICS OF DISCUSSION

Make Sense! or how far a narrative thread can be pulled.

Discussion will include the importance of linear flow to a narrative. Examples of work in which this is done successfully and when it has failed will be discussed. There will be discussion of pacing of information from a beginning point through “time” to a conclusion.

Terms of Engagement:

By what means does an artist engage the viewer in their story using the primary elements of IMAGE and/or TEXT. Do they use a reference to a specific public or private event; (911, Kennedy assassination, graduation, wedding?) Or do they give you a character to care about (or not) Are you (the viewer) being asked to consider a new context and meaning for a commonly understood truth?

Details Matter

Here the workshop will examine how to consider the effectiveness of the physical elements of a work in “delivering” the narrative to the viewer. If text is important, how is readability enhanced or compromised? If a specific time or place is important to the narrative, are the artist references accurate? With specific consideration to the book form, the individual elements of paper, cloth, page size, text style, and image, will be considered as part of the whole “voice” of the story.

If you want to attend this workshop, please email Jennifer Rosner: bindery@librarycompany.org

Fun Workshop

We had a really fun workshop this past weekend taught by Andrew Huot. We learned to make the Sliding Card Folder and the Magic Window. Click here if you would like to see a slide show. This was one of our Fast, Friendly, FREE workshops. They are usually held on a Saturday morning for about three hours. We would like to do more of them and are looking for willing teachers. Do you have anything you would like to share?

Fast, Friendy, FREE Workshop coming up!

Andrew Huot will teach us two paper toy structures. The Sliding Card Folder and the Magic Window will give you creative options for announcements, games, or artist books. Based on sliding mechanisms, these reveal or change the image when the viewer activates the mechanism.

Saturday, June 13, 2009
9 am - noon
The Library Company of Philadelphia
1314 Locust Street
Philadelphia, PA 19107

Bring the usual set of tools: scissors, ruler, cutting mat & knife. Bring colored pencils, markers or rubber stamps to decorate your creations. All other materials will be provided.

This workshop is FREE! But I need for you to RSVP if you are coming. The building is not open to the public and I want to know how many people I will be letting in. Please email me if you are coming: bindery@librarycompany.org

Hedi Kyle is Honored

Our own Hedi Kyle (DVC Program Chair) was honored yesterday with the presentation of a Festschrift. The hefty book, which was sponsored by the Delaware Valley Chapter, The Philadelphia Center for the Book, and The University of the Arts Book Arts/Printmaking Program, is filled with contributions from 35 book artists and contains both scholarly articles and personal tributes. Hedi's long career as an artist seems unabated and her new work is on display now at the UArts in the Rosenwald-Wolf Gallery as part of the Hybrid Book Conference.

Above: Two examples of Hedi's books in display at the Rosenwald-Wolf Gallery.