Opening reception Oct. 4 during Art Hop, 6 to 9 p.m.

S)Edition, Melissa Jay Craig. Cast and hand-shaped abaca, embellished with cotton rag

Melissa Jay Craig is a Chicago based artist whose sculptural book works, paper sculptures, and installations are exhibited internationally.  Her work is included in many museum collections and rare book libraries and she regularly offers workshops at national arts centers including the Penland School of Crafts, the Morgan Paper Conservatory, and Women's Studio Workshop. She writes: "In my work, I imply narratives authored by our beleaguered planet, set forth in a language long overlooked by humanity's intellectual arrogance.  I perceive this as a language of dichotomy, of adaptation, of infinite cyclical renewal, of double-edged humor, of fierce, disturbing beauty and always, of the ultimate triumph of time." Website: www.melissajaycraig.com

Workshop: 

Kozo and Color

Melissa Jay Craig, Reap, Cast kozo, kozo hanji with joomchi, hemp cords.

Sat., Oct. 5, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. with lunch break

Kozo fiber, the inner bark of the paper mulberry tree (Broussonetia papyrifera) makes beautiful, ethereal yet strong papers, but is also a fascinating material in and of itself; its strands separate into luscious lace-like patterns and it takes on deep, vibrant color wonderfully. Come and see for yourself in this workshop where we will discuss methods for dyeing, and work with the fiber in both 2D and 3D applications. All levels of experience are welcome.

Waterstreet Coffee Joint is donating 20% of the proceeds from Anniversary Blend Coffee to the Kalamazoo Book Arts Center during the month of October. We were one of the nonprofit organizations lucky enough to be chosen as part of Waterstreet's "Giving Back" program to celebrate 20 years in their downtown location.