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President’s Note
Tools and Materials of the Trade
Tools of the Trade was the title of a craft session I attended at the Kachemak Bay Writers Conference in Homer last week. Hammer, chain, pike pole, mangle, lever, mixer, sextant, net, urn. I left that session thinking about the tools I had taken with me to the this gathering, a new notebook from England, the perfect size to fill completely at the conference, my well- used lacquered Waterman fountain pen purchased at Hops Hallmark 35 years ago. I carried a bottle of Japanese sepia ink to refill the converter in my pen because I knew I would be writing a lot and I was not wrong! I returned to Fairbanks with my book full of notes and writing starts, my head exploding with ideas.
As book artists we enjoy knowing about tools that help us achieve outcomes in convenient and efficient ways. Before I left for Homer, the NBG studio was a flurry of activity. Pietro Accardi was here from Nevada to teach five days of marbling workshops. I was fortunate to attend his Clamshell Box class before leaving town. We constructed a box from masonite, glue, paper, and fabric. I was intrigued by Pietro’s use of materials and tools commonly found at a hardware store. The beautiful covering we attached to our boxes, fabric he had marbled himself! Later that week he taught the technique. But prior to the marbling classes, he led a team to prepare handmade rakes and combs to use in the marbling process. Wood, glue, nails, pins, tape. Most everything needed is available locally. Very handy, these tools and materials of the trade. And the paper Pietro uses is available at print shops around town. Nothing fancy. Nothing expensive. If you decide to become a marbler, in time you might want to upgrade your toolkit. But for now, we are learning. I look forward to seeing the creations that evolve from the Accardi classes.
May was a whirlwind! June will give us time to catch our breath and practice what we have learned. Stay tuned.
Rebecca Morse
NBG President
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NBG GUEST ARTIST
Slideshow from
PIETRO ACCARDI WORKSHOPS
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Thank you to the three photographers:
Becky Litzinger, Oralee Nudson and Chris Greenfield-Pastro
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Introduction to Letterpress Printing with Bruce Campbell
Monday, June 22, 5:30-8pm & Monday, June 29, 5:30-8pm
At NBG Studio, in-person
Class Cost: Sliding Scale Materials Fee: $15
JOIN WAITLIST!
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Create your own calling card while learning the timeless craft of letterpress printing. In this class, you will hand-set type in a composing stick and print a small set of personalized cards on an antique platen press.
To keep the design process approachable, we will focus on the simple and elegant format of the traditional calling card—once used to introduce oneself in society with only a name. Today, you may choose to include your name, email, or social media handle.
Along the way, you’ll learn the fundamentals of handsetting type, including the use of the composing stick, leading, spacing, fonts and typefaces, nicks, and other essentials of the print shop. Cards may be printed on precut cardstock provided by the instructor or students may bring their own paper to experiment with. We’ll use linseed oil–based ink which takes several days to dry, and clean with food-grade vegetable oil rather than traditional solvents. Participants may choose to print their cards on one of three antique platen presses.
Day 1: Setting the type. Composing stick, leading, fonts/typefaces, nicks, and more.
Day 2: Inking the press. Makeready, registration, printing and cleanup.
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Celebrate the publication of
This Far North
Poems by Susan Campbell
NBG Founding Member
Published by Boreal Books,
an imprint of Red Hen Press
Book Release August 2026
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All NBG members are encouraged to participate
in this special exhibition of artist books!
DEADLINE FOR JOINING THE PARTICIPATION LIST:
Tuesday, June 30, 2026
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THE BROADSIDE PROJECT
What Matters: Broadsides from Alaska
Poetry | Imagery | Printing
Call for Poetry Submissions now open! April 3, 2026 - June 30, 2027
The NBG broadside project is gaining momentum as we move into the summer months. We expect to have a group of poems from which to choose by the end of June. If you are an image-maker waiting for a poem, be watching for an email invitation to view the poems in Google Drive.
Introduction to Letterpress Printing with Bruce Campbell
More information above, including how to join the waitlist
This is an opportunity to learn or review the basics of setting type and using the presses. Also, check The Folk School schedule for classes in printmaking offered throughout the summer.
Once we have enough momentum, we will announce a second in-person meeting
for interested participants.
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Horse by Aldona Jonaitis and Out of Another by Sara Tabbert
June 5 – June 27, 2026
First Friday: Friday, June 5, 5–7 pm
The Bear Gallery
Alaska Centennial Center for the Arts, 3rd Floor
Pioneer Park, 2300 Airport Way
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Tom Walker: Ebru Marbling Workshop
Traditional Turkish Paper Marbling + Contemporary Process
part of Beyond Boundaries, our 2026 summer exhibition at Gather.
June 6, 2026 | 12–2PM
714 3rd Avenue
This hands-on workshop introduces the traditional Turkish art of Ebru (paper marbling). Participants will explore the materials and process behind marbling including carrageenan, alum, and paint preparation while creating their own marbled works on paper. Tom will also share how this technique connects to his studio practice, bookbinding, and broader material-driven approach to painting.
SIGN-UP TO REGISTER
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June Printmaking Classes:
Introduction to Letterpress with Bruce Campbell
Monday June 22 & Monday June 29, 5:30-8:30pm at NBG Studio (Waitlist)
Beginning Woodblock Printmaking with Sara Tabbart
Saturday, June 27 - Sunday, June 28, 10am - 2pm
The Folk School’s printmaking classes take place in the basement of Cabin 66 in Pioneer Park, in our Print Shop. The shop is a growing facility, currently equipped for relief printing, monoprints, collagraphs, and printing etchings that have been made elsewhere. We are working toward adding more equipment for additional processes.
THE FOLK SCHOOL CLASS LIST
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WATERMEDIA APPROACHES FOR BOOK STRUCTURES
with Helen Schafer Garcia (San Diego, CA)
July 20-24, 9am - 3:30pm
This workshop will focus on two extraordinary multiple signature book structures. Students will work with the principles of watermedia surface design in the form of watercolor monotypes, dropped-in watercolor techniques, line symbolism, and collage imagery to develop context for the book structures.
The first circular book, “Circulos de la Vida,” will focus on watercolor and acrylic monotypes along with surface textures and pattern integration. The monotypes will reflect the circular concept with additional collage elements and text symbolism. This will be an open spine, coptic bound book with linen threads.
The second multiple signature open spine book, “A Sea on a Map,” will consist of stamp
carving, paper clay book covers, collage, and collaborative imagery. We will also stamp and embellish the stamp designs on vellum with color pencils, thereby bringing another dimension to the paper layers.
Fairbanks Summer Arts Festival Registration
| | | | Kalamazoo Book Arts Center is offering an online class in July, Write Poetry for Artists. It is geared to artists who wish to incorporate written words and language into their artworks. Check out kalbookarts.org for more information. | | |
NORTHWOODS BOOK ARTS GUILD
CALENDAR
Open Studio & Boreal Book Arts Showcase
Every Wednesday, 12-2pm
Paper Birches is open for your book arts needs!
NBG Studio
NBG SIGS - Special Interest Groups
Coptic Binders Meet Up
Septermber 11, 1-3pm
NBG Studio
Beginners Cohort
Starts up again in September, TBD
To Join: Vanessa DeWolf
NBG Letterpress Studio
By Appointment with Bruce Campbell
Art-o-Mat Location
June & July, 2026
The Bear Gallery
Alaska Centennial Center for the Arts, 3rd Floor
Pioneer Park, 2300 Airport Way
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Northwoods Book Arts Guild is a member project of the North Star Community Foundation and receives its nonprofit status through them. We are continually grateful for their support.
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