DVC

Upcoming Fast, Friendly, Free Workshop

2011-12-07T11:14:00.002-05:00

A members event! Parking will be free starting at 11 am, so feed your meter accordingly...

Call for Books

2011-07-15T10:24:00.002-04:00

The Decorated Book: Continuing a Tradition
The Athenaeum of Philadelphia is a library and museum founded in 1814. Its legacy collections, surviving from the 19th and early 20th centuries, include rich holdings in designed bindings. The Decorated Book invites artists, through the medium of the book, to explore and respond to book covers from the legacy collections of the Athenaeum. Selected items from the designed binding collections, including work by Margaret Armstrong, Olive Grover and the studio artists of Decorative Designers, are emphasized in this call. The proposed books may be editioned or one-of-a-kind, artist books, book objects, altered books or zines but must in some way respond to the specified items from the designed binding collection posted on the Athenaeum website and on view at the museum.
Click here for more information

Two DVC Members in Exhibition at the Center for Book Arts NYC

2011-07-06T11:27:00.003-04:00

The Center for Book Arts is pleased to present:
The Un(framed) Photograph: Artist Members Annual Exhibition
Organized by Alexander Campos, Executive Director, and Doug Beube, Mixed-Media Artist and Photographer, Curator of the Allan Chasanoff Book Works Collection, and Adjunct Professor in the Department of Photography at Parsons New School of Design

Where: The Center for Book Arts, 28 W. 27th Street, 3rd Floor, New York, NY
When: July 6 - September 10, 2011
Admission: Free

NEW YORK, NY—The Un(framed) Photograph, featuring current members of CBA's artistic community and other invited artists whose work will further the discourse, focuses on how the art of photography, the photographic process, and related media, such as video stills, are used to convey content, form, text, and image within a broader context of book arts practices. Artworks featured in this exhibition represent a broad range of book and related arts, including but not limited to books, prints, sculpture, mixed-media installation, new media, and performance art.

The Un(framed) Photograph is organized by Alexander Campos, Executive Director, and Doug Beube, Mixed-Media Artist, Photographer, and Curator of the Allan Chasanoff Book Works Collection. The artists featured in this exhibition are Rosaire Appel, Aileen Bassis, Rosemarie Chiarlone, Deborah Phillips Chodoff, Paul Clay, Katherine D. Crone, Brian Dettmer, Joyce Cutler-Shaw, Andrea Diodati, Ipek Duben, Colette Fu,Thomas Jackson, Nicholas Kahn & Richard Selesnick, Pelagia Kyriazi, Margarita Lypiridou, Franco Marinai, David Maroto, Anna Mavromatis, Louise McCagg, Scott McCarney, Heidi Neilson, Leah Oates, Suzanne Pastor, Maureen Piggins, Maria G. Pisano, Laura Russell, Rocco Scary, Peter Sramek, Sally Tosti, Tricia Treacy, Elysa Voshell, Ellen Wallenstein, Thomas Parker Williams, Dennis Yuen, Ewa Monika Zebrowski, and Philip Zimmermann.

Workshop Opportunity

2011-06-30T15:09:00.002-04:00

DVC Member Lisa Heller has made a very kind offer to Delaware Valley Chapter members: we can take the Beatrice Coron Workshop at the Cheltenham Art Center for their member price. Click here for more information

Some Interesting Local Events

2011-06-23T12:42:00.002-04:00

Open Book & Bookbinding Workshop

Saturday, June 25, 1:00-5:30pm

Each year our Open Book event brings artists presenting new publications to The Print Center. This year we will explore the collaborative process, by highlighting new books that were collaboratively made. It will be a wonderful opportunity to collect books, meet the artists and have them personally inscribe their books.

Artists, Collectives & Organizations include:

Alice Austin & Jon Snyder

Book Bombs

Cantab Publishing

Holly Holly Hobby Hobby

Just Seeds

Machete, published by Marginal Utility, Inc.

Philagrafika

Purgatory Pie Press

Space 1026

We will also have copies of Darius D. Himes and Mary Virginia Swanson's new, Publish Your Photography Book.

Bookbinding Workshop

In conjunction with The Print Center's Open Book event, artists Anni Altshuler and Leah Mackin, who make up the collective Holly Holly Hobby Hobby, will give a free bookbinding workshop where you can make your own summer activity book.

Tintype Photobooth:
Keliy Anderson-Staley

Keliy Anderson-Staley, Jeff , 2010, Wetplate Collodion Tintype

Saturday, June 25, 1:00-5:30pm **SOLD OUT**

Come and have your portrait made! Become a part of photographer Keliy Anderson-Staley's ongoing portrait series when she sets up a tintype studio in The Print Center's garden. Tintypes are unique photographic images exposed directly onto blackened metal, and were the leading mode of photography in the 1850's and 1860's.

The Philadelphia area once had many commercial portrait studios, and this event honors that history while celebrating the current role antiquated processes are playing in contemporary practice. Both metal plates and digital prints of the images will be available for a fee.

Current Exhibition on View

On view through Saturday, July 30

85th Annual International Competition: Printmaking

Anthony Lazorko, Moon Light Motel, 2010, Woodcut

Jurors:

Emi Eu, Director, Singapore Tyler Print Institute, Singapore

Sarah Suzuki, Associate Curator of Prints and Illustrated Books, Museum of Modern Art, New York

Exhibiting Artists:

Katie Baldwin, Philadelphia, PA

Anders Bergstrom, Brooklyn, NY

Annie Bissett, Northampton, MA

Tonia Bonnell, Denver, CO

Daniel Brewer, Philadelphia, PA

Nicholas Brown, Seattle, WA

Victoria Burge, Philadelphia, PA

Simond Chew, Singapore

Ann Conrad, New Canaan, CT

David Curcio, Watertown, MA

Kip Deeds, Newtown, PA

Sarah Dekker, Philadelphia, PA

Karla Hackenmiller, Athens, OH

Brian Johnson, Austin, TX

Nils Karsten, Brooklyn, NY

Anthony Lazorko, Mesilla, NM

Kakyoung Lee, Brooklyn, NY

Kristine Mallari, Denton, TX

Jiha Moon, Atlanta, GA

Kae Murakami, Kanagawa, Japan

Sarah Nicholls, Brooklyn, NY

Jonathan Nicklow, Evergreen, CO

Matt Phillips, Brooklyn, NY

Jenny Wiener, London, England

Rick Wright, Philadelphia, PA

The Print Center's 85th Annual International Competition: Printmaking features new works by several of the finest contemporary artists from around the world. The Print Center's Annual International Competition is one of the most prestigious exhibitions of its kind and is the oldest juried exhibition for printmaking and photography in the United States.

All events are free and open to the public and will take place at The Print Center unless otherwise noted. To register for any of these events, contact Eli VandenBerg at: evandenberg@printcenter.org or 215.735.6090 x1.

The Print Center
All events are FREE and open to the public and will take place at The Print Center unless otherwise noted. Please visit The Print Center's website, www.printcenter.org, for more information on exhibitions and programs.

HOURS: Tuesday-Saturday 11:00am-5:30pm

Review of DVC Exhibition

2011-06-16T12:46:00.003-04:00

Our current exhibition - Philadelphia Artists' Books Travel to Venice - got a very nice review in the Weekly Press. Click HERE to read it.

Philadelphia Artists' Books Travel to Venice

2011-06-10T11:43:00.006-04:00

Here are pictures of the Philadelphia opening on Friday, June 3rd. We had a really good turnout. Eriko Takahashi was awarded the purchase prize and her book will become part of the Clarence Ward Art Library at the Oberlin College. The books will travel to Venice this coming fall.
Click here to see the pictures.

Be sure to see the Philadelphia version of the exhibit!
Athenaeum of Philadelphia
219 S. 6th St.
Philadelphia, PA
June 3-30
M-F 9-5
Second floor exhibition area

Todd Pattison Talk Coming up

2011-05-23T13:52:00.003-04:00

Hi Everyone,
Don't forget about Todd Pattison's talk next week. If you would like to come, please RSVP (see below) Also note that the talk is next door to the Library Company in the Cassatt House at 1320 Locust

How do you Bind 3,000 Books in a Day?
Benjamin Bradley and the
Art of Manufacturing Publishers’ Cloth Bindings

May 31, 2011

Location: The Library Company of Philadelphia
Cassatt House
1320 Locust Street
A reception will precede the talk at 5:30.
The talk will begin at 6 p.m.
(This event is co-sponsored with the Library Company of Philadelphia.)
Please let us know if you are coming!

click to RSVP

How Do You Bind 3,000 Books in a Day?

2011-04-20T12:28:00.008-04:00

Benjamin Bradley
and the
Art of Manufacturing Publishers’ Cloth Bindings
A talk to be given by Todd Pattison
May 31, 2011

Although he was not the "first publishers' binder" as he was sometimes credited, Benjamin Bradley was certainly the most successful bookbinding manufacturer in New England. Before his death in 1862 he employed 120 workers and was turning out 3,000 books a day. He grew his business not only by embracing new technologies and changes in workflow, but also by making his bindings appealing to buyers, which led to increased demand from publishers. This talk will examine not only the bindings that he produced but also how bookbinding changed in the 1830-1860’s from small shops to large manufacturing businesses that were necessary to keep up with the increased production in the printing and publishing of books.

Location: The Library Company of Philadelphia
Cassatt House
1320 Locust Street

A reception will precede the talk at 5:30.
The talk will begin at 6 p.m.
(This event is co-sponsored with the Library Company of Philadelphia.)
Please let us know if you are coming!

click to RSVP

Wire-Edge Binding Workshop Coming Up

2011-03-21T11:38:00.005-04:00

An Introduction to Wire-Edge and Gutter-Wire Bindings
with Graham Watson
April 16-17, 2011 9:30 am – 5 pm
$200 members $250 non-members
(and a small materials fee yet to be determined)
The Library Company of Philadelphia, 1314 Locust Street, Philadelphia, PA 19107

This workshop will demonstrate the fundamental methods and materials for two related binding structures: the wire-edge binding and gutter-wire binding, and show a variety of examples based upon these techniques. The wire-edge structure is a versatile approach to binding single sheets or boards in a codex form which opens freely and lies flat while open. The gutter-wire structure offers similar advantages with more traditional folded signatures. The two basic methods can also be combined, offering creative possibilities for working with a mixture of signatures and single sheets, attaching unconventional cover materials, or integrating dissimilar materials in one structure. Workshop participants will complete a model which incorporates both the wire-edge and gutter-wire methods in one piece, providing practice with the essentials of each, and a glimpse of the possibilities of using both methods in tandem. Tools and materials particular to these structures will be discussed, as well as the fabrication of jigs and other aids which would be helpful when considering an edition utilizing these methods.

Graham Watson is a book artist who translates experiences within nature to a reflective contemplation of humanity’s interactions with our environment, and the perception of place defined within a greater natural order. His work is informed by interests in the natural sciences, and a background which includes music, graphic design, photography, and writing. Graham holds an MFA in book arts and printmaking from the University of the Arts, and a BA in graphic design from American University.

If you would like to hold a spot, please send a check made out to:
The Guild of Book Workers
Mail the check along with your contact information to:
Alice Austin
The Library Company of Philadelphia
1314 Locust Street
Philadelphia, PA 19107

Some Local Book Exhibits

2011-03-14T10:13:00.006-04:00

There are two book arts exhibitions in the Delaware Valley.
Click on the links below for details.

In Wilmington:

The Book: A Contemporary View

In Philadelphia:

Haunted Philadelphia: Photography and Pop-ups by Colette Fu

DVC Annual Meeting 2011

2011-03-08T11:50:00.003-05:00

Thursday, March 10th 5-7 p.m.

The Library Company of Philadelphia
1314 Locust Street, Philadelphia PA, 19107
5:00 - 5:30 Wine and Cheese
5:30 – 6:00 Meeting
6:00 - 7:00 Fun group activity: a memory based drawing game
-accordion book provided.
We hope you can make it! Bring a friend!
Please RSVP by email or phone:
215-546-3181 (ask for Jennifer Rosner)

Fast, Friendly, Free Event

2011-01-20T09:46:00.002-05:00

Downsize your stash….bring some STUFF.. We will organize a trade and take turns choosing materials. Think of it as an exchange.

Some ideas: Bookcloth, Paper, Thread, Boards, Buttons, Beads, Bones, Maps…. and other paper items.

Anything that you think might inspire someone’s book projects.

Bring your basic tools and make something with your newfound materials!

Who: Delaware Valley Chapter Members

When: Saturday January 29, 2 pm

Where: The Library Company of Philadelphia

1314 Locust Street

Phila. PA 19107

This is a members-only event

Click HERE to RSVP by if you can come

2010-12-02T10:48:00.002-05:00

Fast, Friendly, Free

Paper Folding Workshop

With Eriko Takahashi

Saturday, December 11

2-4pm

Library Company of Philadelphia

1314 Locust Street.

RSVP

This is a DVC-GBW members-only event.

Nag Hammadi - Two Events

2010-10-08T10:36:00.008-04:00

Julia Miller is coming to town and we have two events coming up.

Lecture:
Early Book Structures and the Nag Hammadi Codices
Co-Sponsored by the Delaware Valley Chapter of the Guild of Book Workers and the Library Company of Philadelphia
Held at the Library Company
1314 Locust Street
Friday, October 29th
Reception 5:30, Lecture at 6:00
Please RSVP to the Library Company (scroll down)

Workshop:
Nag Hammadi Codices: Single Quire Bindings
Sponsored by the Delaware Valley Chapter of the Guild of Book Workers
There's still space!
Click here for more details.

Workshop in October

2010-09-30T13:25:00.005-04:00

THE NAG HAMMADI CODICES: Single Quire Bindings

A workshop with Julia Miller

Saturday, October 30, 2010

9:00 am to 5:00 pm

Hosted by the Library Company of Philadelphia

1314 Locust St., Philadelphia

Members: $100 Non-Members: $125

Materials Fee: $35

The purpose of the class is to learn about early single quire structures, understand their importance to the early history of the codex, and touch on the use of such structures up to the present. The class will make a small replica binding of one of the Nag Hammadi Codices, which date from the 4th century C.E., using a variety of materials, including paper, leather and papyrus. The class will study the history of the find and learn about the structural variations among the 10 most intact extant covers. Leather paring skills are not necessary. Time permitting, participants will also make a sampler of the variety of tie and wrapping band attachment systems used on the Nag Hammadi codices. Images of eleven covers and models of several of the extant 11 covers will be available for examination. Handouts will include a reading list and other information on the Nag Hammadi bindings.

Julia Miller is now a book conservator in private practice after being a senior conservator on the staff of the University of Michigan conservation lab for ten years. Her focus has shifted from bench conservation to researching and teaching models of historical bindings. For several years she has volunteered her time to describe historical binding structures for two rare book collections at the University of Michigan. She has taught the Nag Hammadi workshop many times, including at the Paper and Book Intensive (2006), the Montefiascone School in Italy (2007), the University of the Arts (2008), and the Delaware and NY Chapters of GBW. She has traveled to Egypt twice in order to study the original covers of the NHC and to work on a conservation survey at the Coptic Museum, Cairo. She received aconservation publication fellowship from the Kress Foundation and FAIC in 2008 and has completed her handbook on identifying and describing historical bindings, to be published by The Legacy Press in November, 2010. Julia has received a fellowship at The Library Company to study and develop a typology of American scaleboard bindings based on examples in the collection.

SPACE IS LIMITED - SEND A CHECK TO HOLD YOUR PLACE

Click here for registration form

(scroll down for form)

Questions? bindery@librarycompany.org

Used Equipment for Sale

2010-09-17T11:30:00.001-04:00

Jack Bendror, owner of Mekatronics, Inc., is selling some used/antique hand bookbinding equipment.

The items can be viewed at:

http://www.mekatronicsinc.com/machines/used_equipment/index.html

Scroll down past the used machines section to see the "antique" items.

Jack can be reached at:

office@mekatronicsinc.com

"Marking Time" at Lafayette College - Easton, PA

2010-09-15T12:31:00.003-04:00

September 5 – October 24

In September and October, the Skillman Library at Lafayette College is host to the exhibit, “Marking Time.” The exhibit showcases the diverse talents of Guild members and was curated by Guild Exhibitions Chair Karen Hanmer and juried by Jeffrey Altepeter, Melissa Jay Craig, and Peter Verheyen. The show opened at the Minnesota Center for Book Arts in Minneapolis in May 2009 and will have traveled to nine venues across the country before closing at Emory University in March 2011.

The show features 50 works interpreting the theme of “time,” ranging from contemporary books of hours to celebrations of nature’s cycles to considerations of the end of time. Stunning leather bindings stand alongside edgy contemporary bindings that have been dyed, collaged, or incorporate photographs or handwriting. The show includes work in the codex format, complex folded structures, wooden constructions, hand-held toys, and sculptural objects. Text and imagery is produced by the most ancient and the most modern mark-marking methods—calligraphy, painting, woodcut, letterpress, and digital output.

An opening reception will be held on Sunday, September 26, from 2-4 pm in Skillman Library. At 3 pm in the Gendebien Room, exhibit curator Karen Hanmer will give a presentation. Hanmer is a Chicago book and installation artist, whose work is included in the collections of the Tate Britain, the National Museum of Women in the Arts, the Library of Congress, Graceland, and a number of college and university libraries, including Lafayette.

Questions: 610-330-5148 or archives@lafayette.edu
Directions: http://www.lafayette.edu/visit/maps-directions/
Also on exhibit: “Quilts in Glorious Color” by Liza Prior Lucy of New Hope

TUCSON

2010-08-10T12:19:00.005-04:00

If you are planning to attend the GBW Standards Seminar this year, and haven't registered yet, please do so now! There's still space. If you are undecided, take a look at the great line up of presentations. It is going to be a really good conference. Click on the logo above for more information.

Fast , Friendly, Free Workshop Coming Up!

2010-06-24T11:56:00.008-04:00

Faux Gold Labels
instructor- Jennifer Rosner

Saturday, July 17. 9:30 am to noon
Library Company of Philadelphia
1314 Locust Street
Philadelphia, 19107

Learn to make paper gold labels with your computer and a laminating machine.
A members only workshop.

to RSVP click

HERE

Bookbinding Equipment for Sale

2010-06-11T11:14:00.002-04:00

Hello Everyone,
I had a call from someone who is selling her father's bookbinding equipment. Below is the information that she sent me along with her contact information:

Here is the list of bookbinding equipment we have for sale.

Interested parties may contact me a vjebinder@gmail or phone 508 853 2055.

BOOKBINDERY MACHINERY

1. Board Cutter – Manual Shears

2. Cutting Machine, Electric with extra knives

3. Job Backer, Manual

4. Job Backer with Roller

5. Press, Max opening 5-12 feet ( includes boards and cabinet and logs to shorten distance

6. Press, Max opening 4 feet (includes boards and cabinet and logs

7. Press, Table top model, 13"x13" top plate & 15"x15" bottom plate (includes boards

8. Glueing Machine, Hot, Electric (includes glue

9. Turning-In Machine sold

10. Case Making Gauge

11. Stamping Machine, Hot stamping, Kensol ( prefer to sell both kensols together includes type, pallets, chaises

12. Stamping Machine, Hot stamping, Kensol

13. Oversewing Machine ( includes sectioner, needles and punches

14. Numbering Machine

15. Hole Eyelet Punching Machine (includes various punches

16. Metal top table

17. Warmer, for type and pallets

18. Electric Glue Pots

19. Paper Jogger

Additionally, there is a residual Inventory of Binding Materials – (binders boards, end sheets, cover materials (in sheet sizes and in rolls), etc.).
And a quantity of Chases and Pallets and a large quantity of Type for the Kensols.
There are also worktables and steel shelving

Cor Aerssens Workshop

2010-05-12T10:27:00.004-04:00

We want to let our members know about an educational opportunity. This is a non-guild workshop.

REFRESHING DUTCH BINDINGS
September 25 and 26, 2010
9:30 - 4:30
Library Company of Philadelphia
1314 Locust Street, Philadelphia 19107
Workshop fee: @200.00 plus a charge for materials

Three different simple bindings developed over the years by Cor Aerssens using only paper and thin cardboard.

The simplified "Groninger Binding" is a full cardboard binding that doesn't need covering and is beautiful in its simplicity with the natural cardboard, no endpapers, and no adhesives. It could be used as a conservation binding.

The Silly Binding is a version of the "crisscross binding", formerly the "Secret Belgian Binding" by Anne Goy. The sewing threads of this non-adhesive binding are partially hidden in the "boards" and are visible on the spine.

The Wrapper Binding is a response to a book structure by Hedi Kyle. The wrapper provides its own sewing bands that bundle the loose sheets into a book block. It is basically a non-adhesive binding, but in this workshop the pages will be extended using double-sided tape.

If there is time left there will be a short explanation on the use of colored beeswax on cardboard and paper. Beeswax can function as a protective coating and add decoration.

We can have 8 students maximum.
Please email Hedi Kyle to enroll by clicking

HERE

Paul Johnson Workshop Video and Photos

2010-05-09T10:38:00.009-04:00

We were fortunate that the volcano dust cleared in time to have Paul Johnson make it to Philadelphia this week. As you can see by the video and photos, great fun was had by all who came into contact with him!

Upcoming...

2010-04-19T12:26:00.006-04:00

Paul Johnson Talk

Friday, May 7 5:30 - 6:30 pm
Library Company of Philadelphia
1314 Locust Street
Philadelphia, PA 19107
FREE

Mr. Johnson will bring a suitcase of pop-up books to show us. Some of the books are his own and some were made by others, including children. He will discuss the endless power of the book as an aesthetic, architectural form and its special fascination for people of all ages.
Please RSVP to Jennifer Rosner by clicking

 HERE
or call Jennifer at: 215-546-3181

Reminder - Annual Meeting

2010-03-22T13:06:00.003-04:00

Please come to the
Delaware Valley Chapter
of the
Guild of Book Workers
Annual Meeting

Wednesday, March 24th
5-7 pm
Library Company of Philadelphia
1314 Locust Street

See the Exhibit!
Philadelphia on Stone: The First Fifty Years of Commercial Lithography, 1828-1878
Exhibit Curator, Erika Piola will give a gallery talk.

Catch up with friends!
We will have some wine and cheese and time to socialize.

Participate in your chapter!
We will have a short meeting to review the past year and plan upcoming events.

If you haven't already, please click below to

RSVP

Building By The Book: Book Artists Respond to Architecture & Design

2010-03-01T14:10:00.003-05:00

In conjunction with Philagrafika 2010: the Graphic Unconscious:

The Athenaeum of Philadelphia, collaborating with the Philadelphia Center for the Book, presents an exhibition of contemporary book arts produced in response to Athenaeum research collections.

See the work of artists Aimee Denault, Karen Hanmer, John Magnan, Claire Owen, Pia Pizzo, and Donald Rattner.

March 1 - May 1, 2010
Free Admission

Hours: Monday-Friday, 9:00AM-5:00PM
First Saturdays, 10:00AM-2:00PM

DVC Annual Meeting 2010

2010-02-22T13:17:00.004-05:00

Annual Meeting 2010
March 24, 2010 5-7 p.m.
The Library Company of Philadelphia
1314 Locust Street, Philadelphia PA, 19107

5:00 - 5:30 Wine and Cheese
5:30 - 5:45 Exhibit* curator Erika Piola will give a brief gallery talk
5:45 - 6:15 Meeting
6:15 - 7 More Socializing
We hope you can make it! You can RSVP HERE
Or by phone: 215-546-3181 (Jennifer Rosner)

*Philadelphia on Stone: The First Fifty Years of Commercial Lithography, 1828-1878. The Library Company is a Philagrafika 2010 site. The work of contemporary lithographers Kip Deeds and Roberta Delaney will also be on display.

A Few Additions to the Last Post...

2010-01-27T10:44:00.003-05:00

Date for the Paul Johnson Workshop:
Saturday, May 8th, 2010. 9 am - 5 pm.
see this post for more details.

Also: Paul Johnson Lecture:
Free! He will show and discuss his work.
Friday, May 7th. 5:15 pm
Library Company of Philadelphia
Save the date. We will post about this again.

Upcoming Workshop

2010-01-21T10:14:00.005-05:00

THE BOOK AS ARCHITECTURE:
Workshop with Paul Johnson

In this workshop we will make a movable 3D book without folds. All the sections, including a pop-up building are constructed by using dovetail and mortise and tenon paper joints. Thus paper fatigue is eliminated as well as the tendency for multiple folded units to ‘spring’ upwards. The book lies perfectly flat. We begin the workshop by making several different types of applied paper joints and this leads to an architectural construction in which these joints are employed.

Participants should bring scissors, a ruler or straight edge, a bone folder, an X-acto knife and cutting mat, a glue stick and white glue and, if desired, colored pencils, markers and decorative papers. The paper used for the main construction of the models will be supplied by the instructor.

Fees: $80 members of the Guild of Book Workers, the Athenaeum, and the Philadelphia Center for the Book; $110 all others.

To register please visit the Athenaeum's website. (scroll down)

Upcoming Exhibition & Other News

2009-12-23T11:02:00.008-05:00

Transforming the Ordinary:
Bookworks by Hedi Kyle
Jan 16 though March 28th 2010.
James A. Michener Art Museum
138 South Pine Street
Doylestown, PA 18901

Over her long career as a book artist, Hedi Kyle has pushed the envelope of what is considered a book. Transforming the Ordinary: Bookworks by Hedi Kyle, will showcase examples of her innovative book structures including the Flag Book, the Spider Book and the Blizzard Book.
Read the entire press release here.

Special programs:
Hedi and her daughter Ulla Warchol will teach: Intergenerational Bookmaking Workshop
Hedi will teach: Tranforming the Ordinary: A Teacher Workshop

Show and Bestow Exhibition extended!
This exhibit at the main branch of the Free Library will remain open until Jan 13, 2010. Don't miss it!

2010: Two Workshops Coming Up

2009-12-18T11:44:00.007-05:00

Fast, Friendly, Free Workshop: Paste Papers
Saturday, Jan 16, 2010. 9 am to noon.
Library Company of Philadelphia
1314 Locust Street
The staff at the Library Company has been making paste papers for many years. Come learn how it is done and see some of their inventive ideas for making and using these decorated papers. (Members only.)
Click

HERE

to sign up

The Book as Architecture- A Workshop with Paul Johnson
Saturday May 8, 2010 (save the date)
9 am to 5 pm
The Athenaeum of Philadelphia
219 S. 6th Street

Paul Johnson creates amazing books from single sheets of paper that are architectural in structure with nothing added, nothing taken away, and no glue. In this workshop we will make a movable 3D book. All sections are constructed by using dovetail and mortise and tenon paper joints. Visit the Athenaeum's website starting in January to sign up.

Three Local Exhibitions!

2009-12-16T09:39:00.006-05:00

We are so fortunate to have so many exhibits going on here in the Delaware Valley. During the holidays you may want to make some time to see some of these exhibitions:

ON TOP OF THE WORLD: BOOK ARTISTS FROM AUSTRALIA
Don't miss this rare opportunity to see exciting work from Australian book artists. Hosted by Gallery 633 at The University of the Arts, the exhibition showcases a variety of artists. From printmakers and paper makers, to fine book binders and photographers, all working with the structure of the book as a means of expression. The show will be open from December 8, 2009 through January 30, 2010.

On Top of the World: Book Artists from Australia, was curated by Tara O’Brien after a recent trip to Australia. The show represents book artists from the east coast between Sydney and Brisbane. These artists come to the medium of book art with strong backgrounds in printmaking, paper making, and ceramics. Even though many of them work in relative isolation within their own country, there are common themes including the land, ecology and aboriginal people.

This gallery is sometimes locked. Please email Dan Corrigen to arrange a time to see the exhibit. df.corrigen@gmail.com

Werner Pfeiffer (censor, villain, provocateur, experimenter): Book-objects & Artist Books
On Exhibit: September 8, 2009 - February 12, 2010
Kamin Gallery, 1st floor, Van-Pelt Dietrich Library Center
University of Pennsylvania, 3420 Walnut Street, Philadelphia (picture ID needed)
Werner Pfeiffer, a sculptor, printmaker, and painter renowned for his insightful and moving book-objects and artist books, masterfully constructed and beautifully printed, is collected by private and institutional collectors around the world. This exhibition highlights two distinct groups of works commenting and reflecting on the place and role of the book in the twenty-first century.
Gallery hours: Monday-Friday, 9am-5pm
Saturday, by prior arrangement, noon-4pm
Call for details: 1-800-390-1829

Show and Bestow

Art and Print Department Galleries
on the 2nd floor of the Free Library of Philadelphia
1901 Vine St.
The collection of artists' books gathered in honor of Ruth Hughes, will be on display from
November 20 - December 30, 2009. Many Delaware Valley Chapter members are represented and there are eighty books on display in twelve cases. After the exhibition, the collection will be donated to Oberlin College's Clarence Ward Art Library and will be exhibited there in the spring.
See the Free Library website for hours.

2009-11-23T11:01:00.003-05:00

Saturday, December 5, 2009

10:00 am to 4:00 pm

Free Library of Philadelphia

1901 Vine Street

Don't miss Philadelphia Center for the Book's most successful annual event! Book, Paper, Scissors is an artists' book fair, free and open to the public. This festive event features prints, artists' books, handmade paper, zines, origami, blank books, and paper sculpture and jewelry. If it's paper-based art, it's here. Come and buy, or just be inspired! You will find many affordable and interesting gifts for everyone on your list. Book and paper workshops will also be offered at the Library the day of the fair. Also, many Delaware Chapter members have rented tables!

Show and Bestow Opening

2009-11-17T11:49:00.005-05:00

You are cordially invited to the opening reception of

“Show and Bestow"

Monday November 23rd 6-8pm

Art and Print Department Galleries on the 2nd floor of the Free Library of Philadelphia

1901 Vine St.

The collection of artists' books gathered in honor of Ruth Hughes, will be on display from November 20 - December 30, 2009. Many Delaware Valley Chapter members are represented.

After the exhibition, the collection will be donated to Oberlin College's Clarence Ward Art Library. The exhibition will coincide with Book, Paper, Scissors, an annual artists' book fair sponsored by the Philadelphia Center for the Book.

This year the fair will be held from 10:00 am until 4:00 pm on Sat., December 5th.

For more information about the exhibition please call 215-686-5405. For more information on Book, Paper, Scissors, please visit the Philadelphia Center for the Book's website.

Image above:

Tiptoe Through the Cosmos

Susan Viguers

Shandy Press, 2008

2009-11-13T09:43:00.006-05:00

Vessels of Possibility: Revelation and Interchange
Works by Pati Scobey and Julia Miller

Presented at
the University of the Arts Printmaking Gallery
6th floor of Anderson Hall
333 S. Broad Street, Philadelphia, PA.
Friday, November 6 to Friday, November 20, 2009.
Monday through Friday from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm.

Curated by Sally Faulkner and Donna Globus, graduate students in the MFA Book Arts/Printmaking Program. The show presents the broad approach to both the book and the print of these longtime friends. Through the investigation of historic binding structures and the influence of time and handling, Julia Miller’s work invites viewers to a wider understanding of the book. Her work reveals what can happen when an artist takes the material history of a form and uses it as a medium. Pati Scobey’s imagery of nature in her work is a response to her home territory in rural Michigan. She layers a distinctive vocabulary of marks in colorful patterns that reveals itself much like a well-loved landscape. Together, this pairing shows not only delight in the traditional form of the book but also the book’s resilience and adaptability to history.

(above, left: A is for Aurochs, an Alphabet of Old Words, 4” x 5” x 1.25”, Julia Miller. Right: Evening Sussurus, 6” x 24”, Pati Scobey)

Pati Scobey Workshop This Fall

2009-09-09T12:56:00.008-04:00

The Printed Page: Hand Printing Techniques
November 14 & 15
University of the Arts
333 S. Broad Street
Philadelphia

Investigate the interaction of image and sequence while experimenting with hand printing techniques. Students will learn a form of water- based printing that will allow them to develop a vocabulary of interchangeable printing components comprised of collagraphs and individual stencils. These components will be used as improvisational tools during the printing process. Printing instruction will emphasize the manipulation of inks and color to achieve desired results. The workshop will culminate in each participant’s creation of a print series or printed pages for a future book.

Workshop Fee: $200
Materials Fee: $35 (payable to the instructor)

To hold a spot, make a check out to:
The Guild of Book Workers
and mail it to:
Alice Austin
Library Company of Philadelphia
1314 Locust Street
Philadelphia, PA 19107
Please include your name, email address, and phone number.

A Reminder: FFF workshop coming up!

2009-08-26T09:14:00.005-04:00

Please sign up for our Fast, Friendly, Free Workshop.

Michelle Dauberman will teach:

Insect Pamphlet:
This insect inspired structure is a fun, simple and elegantly designed 2-hole pamphlet. Utilizing a creative approach to sustainability you can reuse found/scrap materials like wallpaper, Mohawk paper and wax thread to create this organic book/pamphlet structure. Pamphlet materials will be provided. You will need to bring the following tools to the workshop: Knife, sewing needle, scissors, Japanese hole punch and awl.

Cube and nested triangle structure:
Inspired by Platonic solids and the geometry of 3-D space, this form uses a clear medium (ink jet transparency) to expose the elegant simplicity and beautiful relationship of shape and structure as it relates to the cube and nested triangle. Pre-printed ink jet transparencies/templates will be provided. You will need to bring the following tools to the workshop: Knife, bone folder and metal ruler.

Saturday, September 12, 2009
9am - 12pm
Held at the Library Company
1314 Locust St.

RSVP by clicking HERE!

CALL FOR ENTRIES

2009-07-31T09:25:00.003-04:00

BUILDING BY THE BOOK:
Book Artists Respond to Architecture and Design

As part of Philagrafika 2010: the Graphic Unconscious, the Athenaeum of Philadelphia, in collaboration with the Philadelphia Center for the Book, is issuing a call for entries for book artists to respond to selected works from the Athenaeum’s legacy research collection of architecture and design.

Entry & Submission Summary:
Athenaeum curators have chosen ten books from their collections that are available to view both on site and online. Artists residing in the United States are invited to submit proposals for a book that they will create in response to one of the selected books. The proposed books may be editioned or one-of-a-kind, artist books, book objects, altered books or zines. The proposal must be for newly created work, directly responding to a specific book from the Athenaeum collection. Six of the proposals will be chosen, and these six artists will make their proposed books, which will be exhibited in the Athenaeum gallery in March and April during the Philagrafika 2010 festival. A generous grant from the Beneficia Foundation underwrites this competition and exhibition and will provide these six artists with a stipend of $500 to help offset the cost of the book production. The artists’ books will be exhibited along with their Athenaeum counterparts. The Athenaeum books are available to view by appointment during regular Athenaeum hours and online. Athenaeum staff are available in person and at 215-925-2688 to consult with artists about the books to which they are responding.

Visit the Athenaeum's website for project details and to view books.
Deadline for proposals is September 25, 2009.

“Show and Bestow” - The Ruth Hughes Collection of Artists’ Books

2009-07-23T12:58:00.002-04:00

“Show and Bestow” - The Ruth Hughes Collection of Artists’ Books
A call to donate artists’ books to a new collection at Oberlin College
Preceded by an exhibition at the Free Library of Philadelphia, 1901 Vine Street
November 20 – December 30, 2009

Cancer affects everyone. Recently my friend Ruth found out that her life will be cut short by cancer. Help celebrate life! Please donate a book in her honor to a collection I am assembling that will become a part of the Special Collections at her alma mater, Oberlin College. Your art work will be exhibited first in Philadelphia and then at Oberlin College.

Books due by November 13th to:
Alice Austin
c/o The Library Company of Philadelphia
1314 Locust Street
Philadelphia, PA 19107

Please include name, email and mailing address for recognition.
Also, include a short description of your book.
Questions? Ask ALICE

Another Fast, Friendly, and FREE Workshop

2009-07-13T12:52:00.010-04:00

Michelle Dauberman will teach:

Insect Pamphlet:
This insect inspired structure is a fun, simple and elegantly designed 2-hole pamphlet. Utilizing a creative approach to sustainability you can reuse found/scrap materials like wallpaper, Mohawk paper and wax thread to create this organic book/pamphlet structure. Pamphlet materials will be provided. You will need to bring the following tools to the workshop: Knife, sewing needle, scissors, Japanese hole punch and awl.

Cube and nested triangle structure:
Inspired by Platonic solids and the geometry of 3-D space, this form uses a clear medium (ink jet transparency) to expose the elegant simplicity and beautiful relationship of shape and structure as it relates to the cube and nested triangle. Pre-printed ink jet transparencies/templates will be provided. You will need to bring the following tools to the workshop: Knife, bone folder and metal ruler.

Saturday, September 12, 2009
9am - 12pm
Held at the Library Company
1314 Locust St.

RSVP by clicking HERE!

Workshop Coming up Next Month

2009-06-17T14:20:00.003-04:00

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

2009-06-15T12:48:00.003-04:00

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!

2009-06-04T13:44:00.007-04:00

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

2009-06-04T09:29:00.013-04:00

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.

Hybrid Book Conference Events

2009-05-19T12:42:00.005-04:00

Come one, come all to the Hybrid Book Fair
Friday and Saturday, June 5 and 6
1-6 in the Greshman Y. (401 S. Broad St.)
The Fair is free. Please come visit us at our chapter table!

There is also an exhibition:
The Hybrid Book: Irma Boom, Gunnar Kaldewey, and Hedi Kyle
The show will be up from June 2 to June 30
Rosenwald-Wolf Gallery (333 S. Broad Street).
Hours: Monday-Friday 10-5, Wednesday 10-8, Saturday and Sunday 12-4.

Hedi Kyle and Gunnar Kaldewey will be interviewed in the opening event of the conference:
6 PM, June 4 in Solmssen Court, Hamilton Hall (320 S. Broad)

For more information click here.

Please come to these interesting events!

(book pictured above is by Hedi Kyle)

Progressive Book Party Fun

2009-05-04T06:44:00.007-04:00

The Progressive Book Party was such fun! We all brought an accordion book along with a dish for the potluck. After a delicious meal we cleared the table and this is what we did: Each person had two minutes to draw a picture on the first panel or spread of their book. Then they passed it to the person sitting next to them who had 20 seconds to look at the picture before covering it up. Then they had 1 minute to draw what they saw. Or in many cases, what they thought they saw! The drawings began to evolve into something else. For example, a drawing that started as an umbrella turned into a flying bat. Very entertaining!

Progressive Book and Potluck Dinner

2009-04-09T13:28:00.003-04:00

A potluck dinner and evening of drawing fun at Alice's house
May 1, 2009
5:30 - 8:30
RSVP! (click here and we will send you Alice's address)

Bring something to eat, something to drink and a book to draw in. Your accordion will need at least eight pages. Below you will find instructions for an easy accordion which is put together with a glue stick. This is just a suggestion. Make what you like. The book you bring will be passed around and each person will make a drawing in it.
Hope to see you there!

Accordion with Glue Stick

Paper is 5 1/2” high x 25” wide - 2 pieces

Fold tab of 3/8” at one end.

Fold paper in half, keep folding. (Each section is 3 1/16” wide)

Cut tab off one accordion

Open out accordion with tab, glue tab (with glue stick), fold up accordion with tab under.

Line up the two accordions, one on top of other, press down hard. Open and use bone folder to press tab again.

Covers

Cover is a 2-ply board 3 1/4” x 5 5/8”

Decorated paper is one inch larger.

Lay board on back of paper - centered. Glue corners and fold over.

Glue edges of paper, fold over and rub down with bone folder.

Attach Cover to Accordion

Interleave last page of accordion with waste paper. Glue four edges of accordion. (Throw out waste paper)

Pick up accordion and center over inside of cover. Press down. Flip over.

Glue other side. Open and using bone folder press paper firmly

An Opportunity

2009-04-06T06:40:00.005-04:00

An Opportunity for Members of the Delaware Valley Chapter of the GBW

The Delaware Valley Chapter is taking a table at the book fair being held during the

Hybrid Book Conference at the University of the Arts on June 5th & 6th.

This is a great opportunity:

-it is free for DVC members

-you can sell your work

-your work will be eligible for purchase prizes

-your work will be seen by conference attendees

Time line:

Mail the intent to exhibit form to Claire Owen: by May 8 FOR BOOKS ONLY

Claire Owen

6129 Greene Street

Philadelphia, PA 19144

Delivery of book: Friday May 22

Bring it to:

The Library Company of Philadelphia

1314 Locust Street

Philadelphia, PA 19107

215-546-3181 (Jennifer Rosner)

DVC Members: email me if you did not get the intent to exhibit form as an email attachment last week.

Annual Meeting

2009-03-20T09:06:00.008-04:00

We held our Annual Meeting on Wednesday, March 18, at the Library Company with 11 people in attendance. (A record!)

The meeting resulted in several ideas for upcoming events:
- a Fast, Friendly, Free workshop with Andrew Huot sometime this Spring.
- a potluck dinner that will include a round-robin bookmaking activity.
- a Fall workshop.
Details coming soon....

We topped off the evening with a folding project. Alice Austin taught us all how to make Vade Mecums. It was a very enjoyable evening!

Hybrid Book Conference at the University of the Arts

2009-03-10T08:52:00.009-04:00

Hello Delaware Valley Chapter Members

The chapter will be having a table at the Hybrid Book Conference at the U of A on the weekend of June 4-6. I’ve volunteered to drive this effort, and at this point I’d like to know how many of you are interested in having work displayed at the table. I also think that we should have a display of business cards and/or brochures of member’s services. You can email me directly, so I can start to get an idea of how many of you are interested in this. As we move closer I’d also like to know if any of you could help me at the conference by sitting at the table, even if for only an hour or two. This is a good opportunity of our chapter to have some visibility during this event.

My best

Claire Owen

claireowen@verizon.net

Codex Book Fair Berkeley, CA

2009-03-08T22:07:00.003-04:00

The second biennial book fair, Considering the Book as a Work of Art, took place on the campus of the University of California, Berkeley February 8 - 11. Around 140 artists from around the country and the world rented tables, showed books and attended the symposium. The talks took place in the mornings and the fair in the afternoons. I rented a table and also attended most of the symposium. My favorite talks were Karen Bleitz and Ron King. Karen makes books with machines, pop-ups, and magnets which become dynamic stages. Ron King formed Circle Press in 1967 and gave a great talk about his life and work. He might be best known for a pop-out alphabet poster that you can still buy. While his work is often graphic and mixes bold silk screen with the text, his new work is a series of sculptural Logbooks made of logs. Since there were so many artists at the fair, the opportunity to meet and talk to people was endless. The Codex organizers have done a great job creating a friendly forum for everyone who loves books!

The Codex web site is: http://www.codexfoundation.org

by Alice Austin

Shanna Leino Workshop

2009-02-09T09:17:00.000-05:00

A marvelous time was had by all at the 12th Century Coptic workshop with Shanna Leino last weekend, January 17 and 18. The workshop was held at The University of the Arts, and was filled with fantastic personalities, not the least of which was the sparkling and witty Shanna.
Ten students were whipped into action as they made cover boards from laminated papyrus, sewed text blocks with a 4 needle Coptic stitch, pared leather for covers and trim—all this in the first few hours. Shanna’s humor directed them well through each daunting step, and she provided sugary snacks at the appropriate afternoon hour to keep them going.
The students left on Saturday evening with a sewn book in hand, and homework: work on their leather covers! (I didn’t, and was significantly behind the next day).
One of the beautiful things about this particular structure is the appliquéd leather cover. Simple designs were boned onto the covers using a template, and then parts of the design were cut away. Additional pieces of leather, in contrasting or similar colors, are attached to the back, and then stitched, creating an appliqué. There was much excitement about this step, and minds were racing as to what they could do with this. (Hedi was already thinking paper and Tyvek…)
Sunday came, headbands were sewn, covers continued to be worked on, and as the grand finale: a lesson in hardware-making. Shanna demonstrated how to make brass pegs for the books. The pegs are inserted into the double cover after the leather is put on, and combined with a leather toggle, provided a nice closure. Muscles were worked out as the students huffed and puffed to get their pegs made. It was a beautiful site. Denise Carbone was particularly excited about her peg.
In two short days, ten beautiful leather bound books were completed, many jokes were made, and spirits were generally high. You’d be hard-pressed to find a comparable experience. Thank you to the Guild and thank you to Shanna—hopefully she’ll be back in Philadelphia soon!

by Erin Sweeney

Shanna Leino Workshop

2009-02-09T08:57:00.000-05:00

Photos courtesy of Alice Austin