OPENING DAY!

Exhibition Banner

No, it's not for Reds baseball, it's for Bookworks XV. A quick visit to the installation this morning in the Atrium of the Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County, 800 Vine Street, was enough to make me want to go back and spend lots more time leisurely enjoying the varied takes on books by members of the Cincinnati Book Arts Society (CBAS). The exhibition runs through September 7 and it's FREE, so return visits with friends and family will be easy.

Book by Gabrielle Fox

Book by Judith Serling-Sturm

If you are intrigued by these images, plan to join CBAS book artists when they will talk about their inspiration, materials and creations at two walk-throughs in the Atrium scheduled for Sunday, June 22, 2 p.m., and Sunday, August 3, 2 p.m. In addition, there will be a bookmaking demonstration on Sunday, July 27. Details can be found on the Library's website: www.cincinnatilibrary.org
Look under Programs & News/Exhibits.

Cases full of books

And let us know what you think of the show when you check out CBAS at https://www.facebook.com/cincinnatibookarts

A Workshop with Gabrielle Fox: Full Leather Over An Exposed Spine

Gabrielle Fox/photo by Beth Gilbert

CBAS members and book artists are invited to this two-day workshop presented by Gabrielle Fox, a founding member of our organization. The author of The Essential Guide to Making Handmade Books, Gabrielle is internationally known as a leading expert and artisan in the binding, conservation and restoration of fine books. Her career has included training and teaching in many distinguished institutions in the United States and Great Britain.  Besides having earned many awards and commendations, her work has appeared in numerous exhibits.  For more about Gabrielle Fox, and to see some of her wonderful work, go to: http://gabriellefox.com

Description of Workshop:

The full leather binding you will complete is a variation of an exposed sewing structure with a full leather spine protecting the spine stitching and creating a natural combination of tight back and hollow all in one structure.     

Based on the Multi-Section Pamphlet in Gabrielle's book The Essential Guide to Making Handmade Books, this variation provides the strength & flexibility of a tight backed book with the ease of a hollow tube. Best of all is the full leather spine that protects the inner layer of exposed sewing. This can be titled or decorated as in a full leather traditional binding.

The delight of this structure is the ease with which it opens and the possible variations that can be used for both design and conservation binding. 

You will complete one full-leather binding, with leather onlays, if you choose, in this two-day class.

Dates:       Saturday and Sunday, May 31 and June 1, 2014.

Time:        9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. (Lunch 12:00-1:00)

Place:        College of Mount St. Joseph, Art Department

                   5701 Delhi Rd, Cincinnati, OH 45233

                   Specific directions will be sent to registrants prior to the workshop.

Cost:         $120 for the cost of the 2-day workshop + $30 for materials 

                   payable at the start of the workshop.

What to Bring:   Items noted on Supply List.  Brown bag lunch.

Details:               •Space is limited to ten participants.  

                            •Deadline for reservations is Monday, May 19, 2014

To obtain a Registration Form and Supply List, contact Margaret Rhein at paperpeg@gmail.com and put "FOX WORKSHOP" as your subject line.

Please note that the supply list for the workshop includes some preparation prior to the workshop. 

 

CBAS Member has NY Show

Our own Diane Stemper (Oxford, Ohio) is on her way to New York City this week to help install an exhibit of her work as a Featured Artist at The Center for Book Arts. Titled Diane Stemper—Sample Close at Hand, the exhibit opens April 18 and runs through June 28.

Diane Stemper's Universal Sample, intaglio & letterpress

Artist Statement: The works in "Sample Close at Hand" reference Charles Darwin, medical collections and biological studies, codified in a series of prints and artist books and books built into petri dishes. The dish references a culture of microorganisms and serves as a metaphor for the cultural context of science qnd the connection between our relationship with nature and science.

Diane Stemper's Cell: Compendium, books in petri dishes

So...if you're headed to NYC in the next couple of months, be sure to drop in and take a look. The Center for Book Arts is located at 28 W. 27th Street, 3rd floor. And send us some photos of the installation! Congratulations to Diane for an exhibit at this prestigious location.

www.centerforbookarts.org

Remember this weekend's meeting...

Hope you're planning on joining us for the CBAS Potluck and Annual Meeting this Saturday at the North Presbyterian Church in Northside. (Blog post of Mar. 3 has details.) It will be a great time to

chat with your fellow CBAS members, 

check out their book projects at the show & tell table, 

have a delicious shared lunch, 

officially vote on the new board, 

get caught up on organization business,

hear about plans for the future,

and enjoy guest speakers Barbara and David Day. 

See you there!

THE ZEN OF WALNUT INK

Many thanks to Study Group Coordinator Janice Kagermeier who sent us this post:

What a great afternoon at our March 8 Study Group meeting, and what a perfect example of cooperation among Study Group members. Cran Campbell, Jack Campbell, Judy Dominic, Carol Freid and Anne Leader each contributed their individual expertise and enthusiasm about the making and use of walnut ink. For the afternoon, the Corryville Branch Library was transformed into a fair, with each of the presenters at a separate booth.

Anne Leader opened the session by explaining her process for making her own walnut ink, and later answered questions from virtually everyone in the group, now determined to begin collecting walnuts and making some of the beautiful ink. Each attendee went home with detailed instructions and a bottle of Anne's ink to continue experimenting.

Anne brought several vintages of her homemade ink

Although Judy Dominic couldn't be with us, she sent a great display about using walnut ink for dying fabric and paper. Everyone left with a number of paper and fabric samples, two of each, one done using the cold dyeing process and one using the hot.

Judy's walnut display

At Jack Campbell's booth, we had a chance to learn about two important elements of Japanese spiritual ritual: making shide—zigzag paper streamers—and using walnut ink to create ensō, Zen circles of enlightenment.

Ensō

Carol Freid set up a table with beautiful examples of implements that can be used in making marks with walnut ink, from simple kitchen twine to beautiful imported brushes and other tools. It was fun to have the opportunity to experiment with them and discover some of the unexpected results.

Carol's mark making display

 Be sure to check out a great collection of photos from the afternoon by Maxine Seelenbinder-Apke, Cecie Chewning, Janice Kagermeier and Peg Rhein, who compiled and annotated them:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/paperpeg/sets/72157642269211993

Twenty happy participants each left with a handful of experiments on paper, a head full of new information a lovely little kit of small mark making tools and a beautiful brush rest thanks to Carol and Anne's generosity and skill as potters. Many thanks to Anne, Carol, Cran, Jack and Judy for all of their hard work making this one of the real highlights of the Study Group calendar in the last several years.

Brush rest

Your blogger sure had fun the last couple of days taking a mini-mono workshop at Tiger Lily Press with Press Director (and CBAS friend) Theresa Kuhr. Class size was limited to 3 so we could each have our own press. I got the medium-sized Charles Brand. Doesn't he look strong and willing to help even an amateur?

Theresa gave us a good demo of what to do and then turned us loose with stencils, paper and primary ink colors to be as creative as possible...or, at least, to learn how to use the tools. Here's Jessica inking.

Theresa had put up some minis she produced during the last session to encourage us.

She was so helpful, especially to those of us with no printing experience (me). Here she is checking to see what Sharon is working on.

The bonds between CBAS and Tiger Lily Press are strong. If you haven't already taken a class there, do consider it. Might provide inspiration for those artists' books you are going to produce in the future—maybe a nice portfolio of your prints or a story with your own illustrations. Check out Tiger Lily's blog for more information on the variety of upcoming classes: www.tigerlilypress.blogspot.com

Tired brayers rest after a wild time on the plexi.

CBAS members: Have you taken a workshop/class we should know about? Contact your blogger and share the details.

Mark your calendars NOW for the Annual Meeting & Potluck

Youʼre invited...

WHAT? 

·  The Annual CBAS Membership Meeting and Potluck

WHEN? 

·  Saturday, April 12, 2014

WHERE?

·      North Presbyterian Church, 4222 Hamilton Avenue 45223 (Northside)

WHAT TO BRING? 

·  a dish to share,

·  your new book projects for Show & Tell

WHAT TO EXPECT?

·  Meet Barbara and David Day, the authors of Vanishing Cincinnati

 WHAT'S THE SCHEDULE?

·  Noon - Potluck Lunch and Show & Tell

·  1:00 - Business Meeting & Election

o   Say "Thanks" to outgoing officers Janice Kagermeier and Jo Diamantes

o   Meet the new officers and members of the CBAS Board

·  1:30 - Guest Speakers: Barbara and David Day, authors of Vanishing Cincinnati