February-March news

The second meeting of the Chattanooga Book Arts Collaborative (CBAC) was held on February 20 at Create Here. Seventeen people attended, some repeating from the first meeting, and others attending for the first time. The list of interested individuals now tops 50 names. Several group members showed some of their own book arts work, which helped to inspire the rest of the group and illustrate the wide variety of materials, binding techniques, purposes, and content available in the book form.

At the February CBAC meeting, we were joined by Jane Muller, an artist and elementary educator from Columbia, SC. Jane showed and described a rich and inspiring variety of her own book creations, as well as examples of her students’ work.

“Content” is of great importance in Jane’s work, and this focus was an excellent contrast to the concentration on “form” that followed in the meeting. Two folded forms (the “male/female” and “folded hugs”) were demonstrated to the group, and each participant was able to make his or her own version of these forms. Examples of some of the "male/female" forms made during the meeting are shown below:

 

The next meeting of CBAC will be Sunday, March 20.

For details, go to http://www.chattanoogabookarts.blogspot.com/

On a personal note, several things have happened since my last blog entry. I have prepared a written “artist plan,” outlining the goals and actions that will guide my work in the coming months. The plan focuses on finding inspiration for my own work; building my skills and expertise; having access to tools, equipment, and materials; and continuing to build CBAC. I will be upgrading my board shear, the original purchase of which was made possible by my MakeWork grant. The new shear will arrive later in March, and it will have a spring gauge, in addition to a back gauge, making it easier for me to cut greater quantities of book board to exact specifications, including narrow strips of board used for book spines and box dividers.

I have joined the Asheville BookWorks Co-op and will be traveling to Asheville more regularly to attend Co-op meetings. Book making resources are shared through the Co-op’s Yahoo Group, and this information and the connections through the Co-op will help me build my skills and expertise. I plan to participate in the small book exchange at BookWorks this fall. I will also be studying more with book artist Dea Sasso later this month.

January was a busy month!

The first meeting of the Chattanooga Book Arts Collaborative (CBAC) was held on January 16th. Twenty two people attended and made long-stitch books. Some were experienced bookmakers; others were trying the craft for the first time. This was a great turnout, and the next meeting on February 20th promises to be interesting, as well. Details about the upcoming CBAC meeting are found at: http://www.chattanoogabookarts.blogspot.com/

      

Thanks to writer Rebecca Miller, CBAC got great exposure with an article in the Community News section of the Chattanooga Times Free Press on January 26, 2011. The article is at http://community2.timesfreepress.com/news/2011/jan/26/new-collaborative-covers-book-art/
Several more interested individuals have been in touch as a result of the article.



I worked on a couple commissions, one a journal for a friend who is traveling to Iona, the other a photo album in a clamshell box for an auction in Seattle.

 



And in late January, I was able to study with bookbinder Dea Sasso for three days in her bindery in Asheville NC. The experience was an amazing education about materials, equipment, book restoration, and clamshell box making. I expect that this will be the first of many visits to Dea’s bindery.

The word is out about CBAC

We are expecting at least 20 people (maybe more like 30, if everyone I've heard from attends) for the first meeting of the Chattanooga Book Arts Collaborative on January 16!  There will be plenty of people coming for their first try at book-making, and there will be a number of people who have enjoyed book arts for some time.  For those who have been making books for a while, we're asking that they bring samples of their work.  This means we'll have a mini-exhibition that hopefully will inspire everyone who attends. 

If you're reading this blog and are interested in the book arts, please check out http://www.chattanoogabookarts.blogspot.com/ and let me know if you're interested in attending.

Chattanooga Book Arts Collaborative meetings will begin on January 16, 2011

It's official!  The Chattanooga Book Arts Collaborative (CBAC) will have its first meeting on Sunday, January 16th, from 2:00-5:00 p.m. at Create Here.  CBAC will meet on the third Sunday of each month.  At each meeting, there will be a free workshop/demonstration.  On January 16th, I will be demonstrating long-stitch binding, a versatile binding that can be used in a variety of applications.  All levels, from novice to professional, are invited to be a part of Chattanooga's new book arts community.

For more details, visit http://www.chattanoogabookarts.blogspot.com/.

Chattanooga Book Arts Collaborative & other news

Last month, a few of my friends who make books got together at my house to talk about building a community of book artists and forming a group to support the growth of the book arts in Chattanooga. The goals for such a group would be to (1) offer regular teaching/learning opportunities for local book artists to develop their skills; (2) create demand for book arts supplies that could be stocked by a local art supply store; (3) develop an interested group of book artists who would support local presentation of book arts workshops by visiting artists; (4) organize and promote local book arts exhibitions; and (5) build the number of local book arts patrons.


While at the John Campbell Folk School last month, I met a member of the Knoxville Book Arts Guild (KBAG). She referred me to Bob Meadows, an accomplished book artist and one of the founders of KBAG. Bob has conducted several workshops/demonstrations in Chattanooga, and his work is carried at the River Gallery. He graciously told me about KBAG, and offered ideas about forming a similar group in Chattanooga.

So…plans are starting to take shape. A new group – the Chattanooga Book Arts Collaborative (CBAC) – will start meetings in January. We are still working to identify a location for regular monthly or bi-monthly meetings (probably on a weekend day); we hope that meetings will be free and open to the public. At each meeting, one CBAC member will lead a book arts demonstration and workshop; supply lists will be distributed in advance. Members will be encouraged to bring examples of their work for “show and tell” at each meeting, offering a fresh source of inspiration to the group. Book art “exchanges” within the group and with other book arts groups (such as KBAG) may be featured. Eventually, we hope that an exhibition of members’ work can be organized, as well.


Plans for CBAC will be finalized later this month, and promotion of the January meeting will begin soon. Already, as the word is getting out, we have identified at least ten people who are interested in being a part of the new group. Stay tuned for more information… and if you are interested in participating in the CBAC, please email me at nsbernhardt@aol.com.  All levels, from beginner to advanced, are welcome.

Other news…

I presented another book-making workshop during October. The group of four women made accordion books tied with ribbons, as well as small books with folded pages inspired by a Bob Meadows creation that opens to form a star shape.

And finally, I send a special thanks to Tony Mines for including me in educational workshops presented by art supply manufacturer representatives at Art Creations. Books offer the opportunity to incorporate all sorts of materials and techniques … so I was happy to learn about simple gold leaf and about encaustic paints. These new materials may just show up in some books soon!

Bookbinding Class

In late September, three women gathered in my studio for the first of what I hope will be many classes in bookmaking. In the three hour introductory class, each student created a four-signature long-stitched album, using papers, book cloth, and binding materials of their choice. A second class for the same group of students is planned within the next month.  I am working on a list of class topics and plan to have it available in the near future.

"Old Books. New Books." at the John C. Campbell Folk School

The past week at the John C. Campbell Folk School in Brasstown, North Carolina was full of gifts. The “Old Books. New Books.” class, taught by the amazing Dea Sasso, assisted by Judith Beers, was like “learning on steroids.” In five days, the class of twelve students learned how to construct three types of new case bindings for books – flat spine bindings, as well as library binding (French groove) and tight (English) joints for curved-spines. Each requires careful precision and attention to detail, a joy for someone like me who revels in the “neat and tidy.”

From Dea’s thirty years of bookbinding experience, we were instructed about adhesives, bookbinding tools, sewing signatures, cerfing, ploughing, endsheets, endbands, lining out, various types of papers, book cloths and boards, working with leather, using presses, making book cloth, hot gold stamping, hand tooling, and sources for materials. Even though I have been making books for a long time, much of this material was new to me. I believe I’ve learned a tremendous amount about best practices in bookbinding. At the end of the week, I came home with five new quarter-bound books, one with a leather-covered spine and the rest with flat spines covered in book cloths.

Using the understanding gained about book structures, we also worked on conserving, restoring, and repairing “old” books, including bibles, music scores, and library books. I conserved by mother’s bible, the cover of which had deteriorated significantly over time. This was my first experience with conservation work, so I was a bit nervous about working on a piece of such sentimental value. Dea was an excellent teacher, guiding me along the way. Photos below show the bible in its original condition, in process (using moriki paper and wheat starch to stabilize the cover), and after conservation. I am eager to get more experience in this area.

Original condition

Conservation work in progress

After conservation

Each of the other members of the class brought varied experiences and perspectives. Seeing the different restoration projects in progress showed many of the techniques that can be utilized to preserve important books. I also learned about the Knoxville Book Arts Guild, which can serve as a model for a book artists’ group in Chattanooga. I experienced a teaching style that easily accommodated the needs of students at different levels, yet left room for each student’s creative spirit. And, I went home with a book full of contacts and ideas that will help me implement my grant project in Chattanooga!