Newsletter
SEPTEMBER 2022
|
|
Dear NBG Community,
As we turn toward the autumn equinox, the forest offers rich colors and the scent of change, the exuberance of summer shifts toward senescence. For me, this time of year is weighted with a sense of loss. Events of this past week, though, have recast that feeling into the joy of celebration. Two wonderful things have happened for NBG!
Our Guild received a Rasmuson Foundation 2022 Project Award! When the Rasmuson Foundation press release came out, it specifically mentioned NBG:
Special thanks to Oralee Nudson for all the energy and tenacity she put into writing the proposal. Please see Oralee’s article (below) about the details of this award. Oralee will make a presentation about this award and what it means for NBG at our program meeting later this month.
Last Friday, In a Time of Change- Boreal Forest Stories opened in the Bear Gallery. This exciting exhibition includes a stunning contribution from NBG: Boreal Herbarium. This three volume set of 28 botanical drawings was created by fourteen NBG members: Laurel Herbeck, Chris Greenfield-Pastro, Mary Maisch, Corlis Taylor, Magdeleine Ferru, Karen Stomberg, Leila Pyle, Mary Liston, Yumi Kawaguchi, Dawn Crass, Sherrill Peterson, Pat Sheehan, Susan Campbell, and Ashley Thayer. The time, effort, and creativity these members devoted to this project exemplifies the talent that suffuses our Guild. Special thanks to Laurel Herbeck and Chris Greenfield-Pastro for the leadership that brought this project to fruition.
Along with the Boreal Herbarium, the individual work of ten Guild members is also showcased in the gallery: Charlotte Bird, Nancy Hausle-Johnson, Mary Bee Kaufman, Oralee Nudson, Connie Stricks, Kes Woodward, Margo Klass, Ree Nancarrow, Karen Stomberg, and myself, Susan Campbell. This unique exhibition will run through September 30. The Bear Gallery is open Monday-Saturday, 12-6pm. For more information about In a Time of Change- Boreal Forest Stories, visit their website: itoc.alaska.edu.
Coming soon, on September 24 & 25, Corlis and Laurel will teach a brand new class: The Ultimate Foldable- Zhen Xian Bao (ZXB) or Chinese Needle Thread Pockets. Details and how to sign up are shown below.
I hope many of you can join us for our September Zoom Program meeting, 1-3pm on Sunday, September 18 (details below). Oralee Nudson will share details about the Rasmuson Grant Art-o-Mat Project. Chris Greenfield-Pastro will lead a special pop-up accordion activity.
With warmest regards,
Susan Campbell
NBG President
|
NBG BOOK CHALLENGE
September-October theme:
Mythical
Email a photo of your completed work and a brief description to Ashley Thayer.
Participants will be featured on our website. Below is Magdeleine Ferru's "In My Garden There Is" created for the July/August Challenge theme "Garden".
|
|
Program Meeting
Sunday September 18, 1-3pm
On Zoom
Look for Zoom link on Friday, September 16th
Pop-Up Accordion Activity
with Chris Greenfield-Pastro
Join us for an opportunity to learn a basic pop-up technique to construct a fractal-like structure which can be used for cards or bookmaking. Be ready to measure, cut, fold, and invert!
Materials needed:
One piece of copy paper (sizes vary.) We will use an 8”x10” piece of paper.
Scissors or X-acto knife
Measuring tools
Bone folder
File folder (We will cut it to fit your folded structure at the end.)
Double stick tape or Mactac
|
|
WORKSHOP
Chinese Needle Thread Pocket
(Zhen Xian Bao)
with Laurel Roos Herbeck and Corlis Taylor
Saturday and Sunday, September 24 & 25
10am to 4pm
Class fee: $180
Materials fee: $10
Location: Northwoods Book Arts Guild Studio
Caribou Building, Suite 205
3550 Airport Way, Fairbanks, Alaska
The Ultimate Foldable: Zhen Xian Bao (ZXB) or Chinese Needle Thread Pockets are traditionally made in remote South West China by Miao, Dong and other minorities for storing embroidery thread and needles. These beautiful, lovingly made decorative folders (similar to a wallet) contain multiple folded pockets, secret mini-books and places for treasures.
In the two day class we will make patterns, practice box folds (rectangular, square and twist), then make a finished Zhen Xian Bao. We will bring lots of samples, and references. This structure lends itself to a variety of lightweight and Asian papers for the boxes, as well as lovely papers and cloth for covers. We will provide some basic papers, but feel free to dip into your stash for those special washi, khaki, or similar soft heavier papers.
Instructors will provide decorative papers and cover weight paper – St Armand, color handouts and other supplies.
Participants please bring the following:
Papers: 1. Bring an assortment of decorative papers – Lotka or Japanese papers, old maps,
lightweight scrapbook papers – you need at least 6 that are at least 8 1/2 by 11.
2. Several sheets of plain copy paper or other scrap paper for practice folding
Book Making Supplies: Bone folder, Xacto knife, Ruler, Cutting Mat, Scissors, Pencil, Double stick tape, glue stick
NOTE: Please email the instructor to indicate your preference regarding the wearing of masks by class participants. If one person feels more comfortable with masks on, all will wear masks. To allow plenty of personal space, this class is limited to six participants.
|
|
RECOGNITION
Northwoods Book Arts Guild
Rasmuson Foundation 2022 Project Award Recipient
The Northwoods Book Arts Guild is pleased to announce they have been selected to receive a Rasmuson Foundation 2022 Project Award! This award will support NBG's participation in the North Carolina based "Art-o-Mat" project. The Art-o-Mat project refurbishes and stocks retired cigarette vending machines with small works of original art. As a contributing Art-o-Mat artist, the grant will allow NBG to purchase materials to create small books and bring a "mobile" Art-o-Mat vending machine to Interior Alaska.
An introduction to this new project will be presented in the September 18th NBG Program Meeting. However, the call for creative participation begins now! We need to name the machine! Efforts have begun for ordering and shipping Fairbanks' first Art-o-Mat machine. The 1950's National Vending machine (shown below) will be refurbished including its panels sent to an auto body shop for a professionally painted finish. The color chosen for the "mobile" machine is Sherwin Williams #6767: Aquarium. If a name for NBG's new machine comes to mind, please click the button below to email your idea to NBG Board Member and Project Director, Oralee Nudson. All ideas are welcome!
|
|
|
|
View NBG Members'
Artist Books
Bear Gallery at Pioneer Park
September 2-30, 2022
The spectacular three volume "Boreal Herbarium" is currently on display at the Premiere Exhibit, In a Time of Change: Boreal Forest Stories. View this impressive work and many others created by NBG Members at the Bear Gallery in Fairbanks, Alaska during the month of September.
|
|
NORTHWOODS BOOK ARTS GUILD
CALENDAR
NBG Open Studio & Boreal Book Arts Showcase Hours
Wednesdays, noon-2pm
NBG Program Meeting
Sunday, September 18, 1-3pm
Workshop
Chinese Thread Book
September 24-25, 10am-4pm
|
|
Learn about and support Northwoods Book Arts Guild!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
