Dear NBG Community,
This morning, as I put together information for the Hemp Leaf Binding Workshop (see below), I ruminated on the word ‘bind’. By late afternoon, I was still following that thread as I walked along the Skarland Trail behind my house. It was intriguing to think of all the meanings, positive and negative, associated with ‘bind’. As a bookmaker, I want to focus on the positive meanings. While we continue to thread our way through these unsettling times, I realize that we are all looking for new ways to do what thread does in a handmade book: to bind, unite, join, stick together, protect, strengthen, decorate, connect. I hope you each are finding respite in your creative work, that you are discovering new ways to do what thread does in the hands of a bookmaker.
AN INVITATION:
Your NBG Board is continually seeking ways to strengthen the mission of our organization. With this goal in mind, we have decided to create an Advisory Council, an inclusive group of folks who will provide advocacy, support, and guidance to the Guild’s current Board. While Advisory Council members would not be expected to take on major leadership roles, they would be expected to assist the Guild in one or more areas, which could include programming, exhibitions, education, outreach, and fundraising. If you are interested in becoming more involved in NBG activities, please send your name, contact information, and statement of interest in joining the Advisory Council to me by November 6: susancampbell.2ak@gmail.com. Please don’t hesitate to let me know if you have questions or would like more information about this new opportunity.
SAVE THE DATE: Saturday, November 14, 1-3pm, NBG’s ANNUAL MEETING
Like millions of people around the world, we are all learning to adapt, in big ways and small ways, to the ongoing restrictions of the Covid pandemic. This year, NBG’s Annual Meeting will take place on ZOOM. I hope you will join me on November 14 for a couple of hours of online connection with kindred book artists. The NBG Board is planning a variety of things for this meeting. One highlight will be Show and Tell. I am always delighted to see artist books that my NBG friends have made and I encourage you to share something you’ve created during this past year. More information about the annual meeting will be in the November Newsletter, but I wanted to give you a heads-up now so you could Save the Date and think about what you might like to bring to the meeting. Thank you for your consideration!
With warmest regards,
Susan Campbell
NBG President
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WORKSHOP
Hemp Leaf Binding
with Susan Campbell
on Zoom
Demonstration Session: Sunday, October 18 1-4pm
Follow-up Work Session: Wednesday, October 21 5:30-6:30pm
Participants provide all materials
Members $50 Guests $60
All proceeds support NBG
Hemp Leaf Binding is one form of the rich tradition of Japanese Stab Bindings developed over hundreds of years. In this ZOOM workshop, participants will watch step-by-step demonstrations, while following along on the provided comprehensive directions, to create a soft-covered journal. A video of the session will provide assistance as participants construct their books at home. The follow-up work session will provide time to review, answer questions, and share work.
Materials that will be provided include: A brief history of Japanese Stab Bindings; a Bibliography of books available in the NBG and Noel Wien Libraries; directions, measurement guides, and templates for the hemp leaf binding along with two variations of Tortoise Shell stab bindings.
Upon registration, participants will receive a list of materials and pdfs of all directions and diagrams. After the ZOOM Demonstration Session, participants will have access to the video.
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New Display installed in Rasmuson Library
#AreYouBookEnough Challenge
Northwoods Book Arts Guild artists have been participating in a monthly global Instagram challenge called “Are You Book Enough,” run by Sarah Maker of Editions Studio in Seattle, WA. The current display includes artist books created in response to challenge themes in 2020 by NBG members Ashley Thayer and Mary Maisch. For artist book inspiration in every media visit the Instagram site at #areyoubookenough
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#AreYouBookEnough
September theme: Weathered
by Ashley Thayer
Weathered is a subject near and dear to my heart. Forget brand new and shinny, I prefer worn with a bit of character. The covers of this months book are from a piece of wood trim I found buried in my yard almost 8 years ago that’s been sitting in my garage ever since (I knew it would come in handy one day!!) The pages are eco dyed using a rusty old baking sheet, a bit of accelerated foxing if you will. I love the way it mimics the fallen leaves on the ground. The spine is a scrap of leather I had leftover from a previous project, and keeping the book closed is a corroded key that I picked up from a antique shop years ago.
October theme: Child
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The Folk School
NBG has a long standing partnership with the FS. This section of the newsletter includes announcements of TFS classes that may be of interest to the NBG community.
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Easy Relief Printing: Online Kit Class
Sara Tabbert, Instructor
Cost $25
Materials fee $40
This “kit class” presents a simple printmaking method for all ages. The class includes a pre-recorded video, written instructions, and an optional Zoom meeting.
Registration required by October 16.
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Block Printing: Online Kit Class |
Sara Tabbert, Instructor
Cost $25
Materials fee varies $20-45
This all-inclusive print class will introduce you to making linocuts, a printmaking method that can easily be done at home
Registration required by October 16.
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Timothy Ely: Line of Sight
Timothy Ely began making books as early as 1957. He is now one of our most important book artists. An interest in art, UFO images, alchemy, science, comic books and odd religious arcana led him from painting and design into bookbinding. Timothy Ely, in collaboration with Doug Garnett and Sam Q. Garnett, has produced a documentary of his work and process.
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Hand Bookbinders of California
Members' Exhibition
The Hand Bookbinders of California (HBC) celebrates its 48th year in 2020 with a members’ exhibition at the Arion Press in San Francisco. HBC is an organization of individuals dedicated to preserving and passing on the traditions of fine binding and book arts. The annual exhibition showcases the diverse talents of its members; this year, it includes over 40 unique book structures.
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NOVA
A to Z: How Writing Changed the World
Just as writing changed the course of human history, the evolution of paper and printing revolutionized the spread of information. The printing press kicked off the Industrial Revolution that fast-tracked us to the current digital age. But as the 4,000-year-old tradition of penmanship falls out of favor, should we consider what might be lost in this pursuit of ever more efficient communication? (Premiered September 30, 2020)
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NORTHWOODS BOOK ARTS GUILD
CALENDAR
Workshop
on Zoom
Hemp Leaf Binding
Sunday, October 18 1-4pm
Wednesday, October 21 5:30-6:30pm
Letterpress Chapbook Project
ongoing
Set Book Project
ongoing
SAVE THE DATE
NBG Annual Meeting
on Zoom
Saturday, November 14 1-3pm
Book Challenge theme: Recycle
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Learn about and support Northwoods Book Arts Guild!
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