Kathleen O’Connell speaking to the Art 446 Artists’ Book class about her exhibit in the Rockford College Art Gallery, Rockford, Illinois. The show, is titled “Observations from the New World”. Kathleen currently live in Lima Peru. Her exhibition combines the disciplines of printmaking and book arts in her show. The work is inspired by her relocation to Peru. We enjoy having her participate in an informal class critique.
How does one start working a new book? What sparks the idea? What is the first step for the new project? For book artists’ it most likely is some type of visual element. Maybe an idea for a new structure, new imagery or the possibility for a new collaboration. Regardless of the starting point, something has to come first.
Another question can be posed as a starting point for the fall 2010 Art 446 Artists’ Book class; “Can you make a book from one sheet of paper?” It could be argued that a single sheet of paper, if left unchanged or un folded can’t be called a book. What is the minimum that we have to do to move it closer to becoming a book.
If we rolled the sheet of paper and call it a scroll. Is that the first step to becoming a book? How about folding it into an accordion fold. Does that move it away from only being a flat sheet of paper. Does that make it a book? If we cut sections of the book so that it folds and unfolds into a book like format, does that bring it closer to becoming a book. It will be fun to see how many mutations we can change a single sheet of paper.
An Installation view of Julie VonDerVellen's Master of Fine Arts Exhibition
Cartonera artists from Cartonera Mexico, Elsoisa Cartonera and YiYi Jambo visited to make work in out type lab on Friday, October 9, 2009. You can see a gallery of photographs of the Cartonera book artists during the energetic and chaotic event. These book artists and publishers were in town as part of the Cartonera Publishers Conference and the Wisconsin Book Festival.
The first day we will meet in 6451 Humanities to review the course. The remainder of the four weeks we will meet in Room 1009 of the Art Lofts, the location of the new paper lab. See you soon.
One of the most common questions that I get is “What type of thread is best for binding my book?”
The two suppliers that I use most often for binding thread are Colophon Book Arts Supply and Talas. However, many many vendors sell thread for bookbinding. I have used silk button thread for a small book, since it was the only thread that I could find in the color that I wanted. The photo above shows types of thread most commonly used to sew books. The photo illustrates that binding thread is sold in different sizes. The second number 3, 5 and so on, indicates the number of strands that are wound together to form the thread. The first number indicates the thickness. Therefore thread that is labeled 25/3 is thinner than 18/3. Most often I use 16/3 or 18/3. But every project varies and I seldom ever say one size fits all. It is best to have a variety of size and colors on hand. I am not real sure how vendors determine the first number. My best guestimation is that it relates to the length of thread need to equal a set amount of weight. I am not sure where along the way I heard this. Perhaps you can let me know the best answer.
It is easy, just watch this very short animation. Set the type upside down or “wrong reading” Click here if you have trouble getting the video to play.
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