Newsletter

APRIL 2025

BOOKS AS ART 4

An Exhibition of Artist Books by NBG Members

Bear Gallery

Fairbanks Arts Association

June 6 - 28, 2025

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

FOR PARTICIPATING MEMBERS

There are just two months to go before the opening of BOOKS AS ART 4! If you plan to enter books in the show, the following updates are for you:

• ABC Challenge books are due at the studio, noon - 3pm, Wednesday, April 16; more information about this project below.
• If you live locally, plan to deliver all other work for the show to the Bear Gallery at Intake: Sunday, June 1, noon-2pm.
• Every work submitted must be accompanied by an Intake Form; copies will be available at the studio and the Bear Gallery. Download the INTAKE FORM
• If you need to make special arrangements for sending work from afar, please contact Margo
• If you have questions about submitting work for the Hornbook Project, please contact Ashley.
• If you have questions about submitting work for the Automobile Museum Project, please contact Connie.
• All wall pieces must be ready to hang; all questions about installation can be directed to Margo.
• All NBG members are invited to participate in BOOKS AS ART 4.

Consult BAA4 GUIDELINES for details:

Submission requirements

Special Projects

Timeline

and much more

APRIL PROGRAM MEETING

*Change in Date*

Sunday, April 27, 1-3pm, ZOOM

We'll be sending out the Zoom Link on Friday, April 25

No Open Studio on Sunday April 27

Using Embellishments in Bookmaking

with Ashley Thayer & Margo Klass

This Program Meeting is the last one before the BOOKS AS ART 4 and will focus on embellishments, both decorative and functional. Join Ashley and Margo as they share some of the clasps, closures, and techniques for attachments they use in their books. There will be time for sharing examples of your favorite embellishments and exchanging information about tools and materials.

QR Codes for BOOKS AS ART 4

with Oralee Nudson

Understanding how QR codes can be used for the show and beyond. A QR code posted next to your book in BOOKS AS ART 4 is a digital link to information that can greatly expand a viewer's understanding of your book, a reading of it's text, or a video that shows the mechanics of how the book structure functions as it opens and closes. Join Oralee as she explains how and why you might want to provide a QR code for your books.

Northwoods Book Arts Guild

ABC Challenge

Inspired by Robert Bolick’s ABC book collection, NBG members are invited to make their own alphabet-themed books. Any structure/format/medium related to book arts is welcome! This will be a slow paced, stress-free project that will culminate as a display in the

BOOKS AS ART 4 exhibition at the Bear Gallery taking place in June 2025.

To check out Robert’s blog, visit http://books-on-books.com

LAST ABC MEETING: Sunday, MARCH 30, 4pm ---Zoom

Zoom Link will be emailed to those on Ashley's list. If you aren't sure if you're on her list, click the link below to email her.

DEADLINES During Open Studio

Wednesday, April 2, 2025, 12-3pm - LETTERS FOR LETTER QUILT

Wednesday, April 16, 2025, 12-3pm - BOOKS FOR ABC CHALLENGE

Intake for both deadlines will be at the NBG Studio or by arrangement with Ashley.

Nominating Committee Seeks Future Board Members

The NBG Nominating Committee is seeking members to serve on the NBG Board. Board members serve two year terms and assist with committees, special events, and leadership roles. Please consider supporting the Guild's mission by being a part of the NBG Board. The Nominating Committee Members (Connie Stricks, Oralee Nudson, and Chris Greenfield-Pastro) hope to hear from you soon. For more information email Chris Greenfield-Pastro.

NBG Board Member Descriptions

Book Club

Hope in the Dark by Rebecca Solnit

IN-PERSON: Sunday April 6, noon

at House of the Rising Bun (3525 College Rd.)

ZOOM: Monday April 7, 6:30pm, on Zoom



You are welcome to come to one or the other or both

Vanessa DeWolf will again host a second book for our Book Club. This book was selected because a number of us are concerned about the future and wanted to find a way to be hopeful in these very divided and difficult times. Also, for some of us the creative act is one that inherently questions our world and perhaps conversations from this book will inspire us to make relevant and vital books too.

Where to get the book? There are two copies in the NBG Library. It's also available as an e-book at the Fairbanks Public Library. It's available online in many forms: audiobook, used copies, etc.

Even if you only read a bit of the book, you are welcome to join us in this conversation, socializing and discussion.No need to register. For those joining via Zoom, click below to get the link.

ART-O-MAT

ALASKA HAIKU PROJECT

PRODUCTION WORKSHOP 

Monday, April 28, 10:30-12:30pm at NBG Studio

All NBG Members are welcome to join us getting a few dozen Alaskan Letterpress Haiku books ready for sale during the BOOKS AS ART 4 show in June. Assembling these tiny books is a great way to be in community and to hone your bookmaking skills. If you have questions & want to participate, please contact: Sherrill Peterson

ART-O-MAT

MARGO'S MAGIC JACOBS LADDER SERIES

PRODUCTION WORKSHOP

Saturday, April 12, 12-2pm at NBG Studio



All NBG Members are invited to stop by the NBG Studio on Saturday April 12th to help assemble Art-o-Mat artist books. We will focus on wrapping boards and foam for the Margo’s Magic Jacobs Ladder series, so please bring your Xacto knife equivalent, bone folder, corner miter tool, and enthusiasm to practice your basic book making skills. This will be a special “ABC” edition to debut in the June BAA4 exhibition and features lovely dyed Nepalese Lokta and Italian Florentine papers. Please contact: Oralee Nudson with any questions. Hope to see you there!

NBG Letterpress Studio

NBG New Member Cam Webb & Bruce Campbell

have been up to some letterpress work

Now is a great time to learn about Letterpress Studio and all the capabilities NBG offers.

For more information email: Bruce Campbell

The Northwoods Set Book Project now has a dedicated page on the Northwoods Book Arts Guild website. Watch the Set Book artists present their individual creative processes and read Set Book poet Christopher Lee Miles' stunning   Making Art Speech. The Northwoods Set Book Project is currently on exhibition in the Rose Berry Gallery of the UAF Museum of the North. The Northwoods Set Book Project

In the Fall of 2024, the University of Alaska Museum of the North (UAMN) opened the Northwoods Set Book Project, the first special community exhibit presented within the museum’s Rose Berry Alaska Art Gallery. It is an elegant display highlighting sixteen NBG artists and the books they created in collaboration with the UA Press Alaska Literary Series.

Display at the University of Alaska Museum of the North through June 1, 2025.

As part of this exhibition, UAMN Director of Exhibits, Design and Digital Media, Roger Topp met with Northwoods Book Arts Guild members Susan Campbell, Margo Klass, and Corlis Taylor and talked about the Book Guild and this special exhibit. Their conversation aired last month on KUAC and is now available on the UAMN website as part of The More You Look, a behind-the-scenes journey into museum collections, research, exhibits, and public.



Thinking Made Visible Exhibition closes this month

This wonderful exhibition of notebooks, notes, and sketches closes this month on

Thursday, April 27. Go check it out before it closes, there are many NBG Book Artists in the exhibition and Coptic-bound books for sale in the gift shop.

Collection of Southern Signs (1924) by Paul Klee, watercolor and ink.

Read The Signs: The evolution of writing in science and art

by Michele Banks

A really interesting article about the history of writing and the intersection of art and science. https://artologica.substack.com/p/read-the-signs

NORTHWOODS BOOK ARTS GUILD

CALENDAR

NBG Open Studio &

Boreal Book Arts Showcase Hours

note extended hours through MAY

Wednesdays, 12-3pm

Second Sundays, 12-3pm

(April 13, May 11)

Fourth Sundays, 12-3pm

(May 25) - No April 27 -

NBG Activity

Coptic Binders Meet Up

Thursday, April 10, 2-4pm

ABC CHALLENGE

FINAL MEETUP: Sunday, March 30, 4pm ZOOM

Zoom Link will be sent by email

DEADLINES:

Wednesday, APRIL 2 - Letter for Letter Quilt

Wednesday, APRIL 16 - ABC BOOKS

Make sure to email Ashley with questions.

SPECIAL NBG BAA4 Activity

Let's Go!

PROGRAM MEETINGS ON ZOOM

---Sunday, April 27, 2025, 1-3pm - ZOOM

Using Embellishments in Bookmaking - Ashley Thayer & Margo Klass

QR Code Demo - Oralee Nudson

COLLABORATION - MENTORSHIP - IN-PERSON AT NBG STUDIO

---OPEN STUDIOS: APRIL - MAY

Wednesdays ,12-3pm (expanded hours)

Second & Fourth Sundays, 12-3pm (No April 27 Open Studio)

NBG Book Club

Sunday, April 6, noon ---IN-PERSON

at House of the Rising Bun (3525 College Road)

Monday, April 7, 6:30pm ---ZOOM

Art-O-Mat Locations:

• April & May at UAF Summer Sessions office, Suite 216, Eielson Bldg
• June at The Bear Gallery

University of Alaska Museum of the North

The Northwoods Set Book Project

In the Rose Berry Gallery until June 1, 2025.

Learn about and support Northwoods Book Arts Guild!

 www.nwbookarts.org