#guild of bookworkers

[sosnastudios]

I Sing the Salmon Home: Poems from Washington State is an anthology of poems collected by Rena Priest inspired by the cycles, spirit, and wisdom of salmon. The book is bound bradel-style in salmon parchment drummed over mirrored boards, depicting salmon as they transform on their journey from saltwater sea to freshwater waterfall. The edges are graphite, with the top edge gauffered in the style of salmon scales.

Salmon parchment made and naturally dyed by the binder. Board. Original text block. Hook Pottery endsheets. Reflective mylar film. Graphite edges. Embroidery thread.

Part of the Guild of Bookworkers Traveling Exhibition: Night Circus, opening in Boston, MA in October, 2024.

[guildofbookworkers-blog]

Off the Shelf: Modern & Contemporary Artists' Books

A charming collection of books are available for view at the Baltimore Museum of Art. A free museum in the creative city of Baltimore, Maryland. The show, which is set up in a multi-room format, comes with a special Guild of Bookworkers connection! Potomac Chapter Chair, Vicky Lee was involved in the informational signage in the library room of the exhibit. The information on the structure of the book was well received and the subject of many conversations as the exhibit patrons were exposed to the process of bookbinding, some for the first time. When asked to comment on her involvement in the project, Ms. Lee gave a lighthearted and insightful response: "I was surprised to be contacted about creating a display and pleased that they wanted an educational display at the museum - that wasn't just for children!  I tried to get materials that already existed and instead of making a book from scratch I purchased one at a used book store.That way it had a decorative binding, gilt edge pages and type/print that could engage the viewer on many levels and highlighted (I hope) how all the different parts make and influence each other - even in an "ordinary book" - as well as in the case of the "artist book". -Vicky Lee There were a few iconic pieces (Gordon Matta-Clark), and many interesting text blocks to view, from such artists as Pablo Picasso and Joan Miró, but as a bookworker, there was not as much binding emphasis as I would usually like in a book show; I'll just be brief, I enjoy some extravagant gold tooling. But this isn't just a book show, it is an art show. It is great opportunity for understanding that connection. There are places where the finely made book can go that only a particular artist's mind will take it. The show is great for viewing the capabilities of using books, especially expensive show catalogs,  as a venue for interesting takes on the traditionally manufactured case bound book. The items had a variety of binding styles; accordion bindings, loose plates in a paper cover, pamphlet books, to simple yet traditionally forwarded fine bindings. I wish I had taken better notes at the show, but honestly, I didn't realize I was going to be writing a blog post on the subject when I went, and so I will 'silver lining' my inability to properly caption the attached photos by saying; "I enjoyed the use of textures and colors and international artist inclusion and lovely images and attempting to read some German. It was fun. You should go." It's open for another month. The museum is FREE. Also, you can park at the museum if you want to be close and pay $7, or you can park across the street for free and take a nice walk. ---Shannon Kerner for GBW 2017---

[athena-mae]

I recently took a great workshop on adhesive pre-coated repair materials with Sarah Reidell up at Dartmouth College. The two-day event was hosted by the New England chapter of the Guild of Bookworkers and was super comprehensive. Sarah is as knowledgeable as she is organized and we had a great group of conservators from institutions and private practice - see my write-up on Flash of the Hand!

[athena-mae]

This weekend I took down Bound Together. For as much anxiety as it caused me in the months leading up to it, I was a little sad to see it go. It was a huge amount of physical and emotional work and while I feel like there are things I might do differently with my second solo show, I know I put a lot of myself into this work and I'm really proud of that. 

Huge thanks to everyone that came to see the work. I was continually surprised and touched by all of the encouragement I got and the intimate conversations I was a part of as a result of it. Putting myself out there in a real way is something I don't have a lot of experience with, but it felt incredible. I'm extremely lucky to be surrounded by so many close friends and to be part of an artistic community as supportive as this one. 

Check out this member spotlight on the Guild of Bookworkers website for more insight into the pieces and my process! 

[athena-mae]

deFINEd BINDINGS: 26 Bindings of the Pictorial Webster's Dictionary

  I have a binding in an upcoming juried exhibition in Boston at the Bromfield Gallery! Bindings were selected from a bookbinding competition organized by the New England Chapter of the Guild of Book Workers. The exhibition features work from members of the Guild of Book Workers and represents an array of interpretations of the set book, Pictorial Webster’s: A Visual Dictionary of Curiosities.

An opening reception will be held on Friday October 7th, 6:30-8:30 pm.  All are welcome! The reception will feature awards sponsored by Chronicle Books and North Bennet Street School, and remarks by the creator of the Pictorial Webster’s, John Carrera of Quercus Press.

Exhibitors include:

Eric Alstrom, Patty Bruce, Lesa Dowd, Mark Esser, Madelyn Garret, Deborah Howe, Abigail Jones, Rachel Kadel-Garcia, Nancy Leavitt and Joelle Webber, Celine Lombardi, Athena Moore, Sabina Nies, Nancy Nitzberg, John Nove, Patricia Owen, Todd Pattison, Patricia Rosen, George Sargent, Patricia Sargent, Judy Sgantas, Sonya Sheats, Julie Stackpole, Andrew Thompson, Gerrit VanDerwerker, Katherine Westermann, and Stephanie Wolff.

A catalog for deFINEd BINDINGS will be available as a print on demand production. Please watch for publication and ordering information on the New England Guild of Bookworkers blog in the near future.  More information coming soon: deFINEd BINDINGS will travel to the West Coast this winter for a San Francisco showing at Chronicle Books.  Please stay tuned for details!

Bromfield Gallery 450 Harrison Ave Boston, MA 02118 www.bromfieldgallery.com

October 5-29, 2011 Gallery hours 12-5, Wed-Sat opening reception October 7th, 6:30-8:30