Newsletter
November 2020
NORTHWOODS BOOK ARTS GUILD
ANNUAL MEETING
on Zoom
Saturday, November 14, 1-3pm
Zoom Invitation will be sent on November 12

Dear NBG Community,

Now that winter has arrived, I’ve been traipsing through the snow on my daily excursions with a renewed sense of wonder at the beautiful ways snow has sheathed every branch and limb, how snow has wrapped every surface. As I headed down the Goldstream Valley trail the other day, I was contemplating this “wrapping” and thoughts of my recent work with Japanese stab bindings came to mind. Two weeks ago, six NBG members joined me in a Zoom class to learn how to stitch a hemp leaf binding. We wrapped the spines of our soft-covered books multiple times to hold them together with this decorative stitch. Remembering that made me think about other meanings of “wrap”: how I wrap gifts, wrap bandages, wrap up a project, wrap my arms around people I love. I wear wraps, eat wraps, and keep secrets under wraps. As I type, text wraps around the page. Everyday, I try to wrap my thoughts around what it means to live through a pandemic. 

As this new season wraps our world in snow and winter light we find ourselves still navigating the restrictions of Covid, searching for ways to make connections with friends and family. I invite you to join me for two hours of positive connection with fellow artists at NBG’s Annual Meeting which will be held via Zoom this year. 

As you can imagine, we’ve had to make some adjustments and I know we will all miss the pleasure of being in each other’s company at an in-person gathering. One of things I have personally missed this year is our Show and Tell, being able to see members’ new artist book creations. I bet you have missed that, too, so please accept my invitation to share a piece you’ve created during 2020 at our Zoom Meeting. It will be wonderful to see what you’ve been working on and hear a brief description. Here’s a snapshot of what to look forward to at our Annual Meeting:   

  • Announcement of a Surprise Gift you can receive when you renew your NBG Membership for 2021 and/or make a donation to our Guild
  • Special Awards 
  • Election of 2021 NBG Board Officers
  • New Advisory Council Members
  • Fabulous News of Grant Funding
  • Books As Art III: Inspiration for our November 2021 Bear Gallery Show
  • Annual Report of 2020 Highlights
  • NBG’s new Proof Press
  • Show and Tell by Members

As I wrap up this month’s newsletter, I am smiling, looking forward to “seeing” you on November 14. All members will receive a Zoom invitation to the meeting on Thursday, November 12.

Warmest regards,
Susan Campbell
NBG President
WORKSHOP

Casement for Metal Edges: New and Improved!
with Margo Klass
on ZOOM

Work-along session: Sunday, November 22, 1-4pm 
Follow-up session: Monday, November 23, 5:30-6:30pm

Participants provide all materials
Members $50   Guests $60

Graduated metal edges require flat storage, especially as they travel with us to workshops and Guild meetings. In this workshop participants will create a sturdy casement, newly designed and improved to provide long lasting protection. Made of book board covered with book cloth and embellished with decorative paper, this casement makes an aesthetic statement while providing sturdy housing for your edges.

This will be a virtual work-along workshop. In the Sunday session participants will create their casement, step by step, long with the instructor while following printed diagrams and guide. In Monday's follow-up session we will finish up our work as needed, answer questions, and share our results.

The workshop will focus on a making a casement for a set of short edges (9" length). Measurements will be provided for making a casement for longer edges (18").

Upon registration, participants will receive a list of required materials and handouts.
#AreYouBookEnough
October theme: Child
by Ashley Thayer

For October's challenge, I wanted to make something interactive for my 15 month old to play with. Since he has absolutely zero patience to sit down and listen to me read from a book, I made a Jacob’s Ladder with depictions of classic fairy tales and nursery rhymes. Although not terribly complicated to construct, I still can’t wrap my head around how exactly it works!! 

November theme: Recycle
December theme: Legs
PBS FILM: THE BOOK MAKERS

THE BOOK MAKERS profiles an eclectic group of people who have dedicated their lives to answering the question: what should books become in the digital age? From the esoteric world of book artists to the digital libraries of the Internet Archive, the film spins a tale of the enduring vitality of the book. This documentary captures the painstaking but pleasurable process of creating hand-crafted books. THE BOOK MAKERS highlights the talent, dedication and skill of these book artists, and reframes the concept and purpose of the book itself.
VIDEO
Book Artist: Julie Chen

Julie Chen, proprietor of Flying Fish Press, is one of the most innovative American book artists. This video, produced as part of the Craft in America series, provides an in-depth look a several of her artist books.
NORTHWOODS BOOK ARTS GUILD
CALENDAR

Workshop
on Zoom
Casement for Metal Edges
Sunday, November 22, 1-4pm
Monday, November 23, 5:30-6:30pm

Letterpress Chapbook Project
ongoing

Set Book Project
ongoing
Learn about and support Northwoods Book Arts Guild!