esigner ookbinders d b contemporary book arts
NEWSLETTER OF DESIGNER BOOKBINDERS NO 179 AUTUMN 2017 2 introduction Find out more at: www.designerbookbinders.org.
NEWSLETTER OF DESIGNER BOOKBINDERS NO 179 AUTUMN 2017
Editorial Autumn Spotlight 2017
Congratulations to all the competition winners! The summer highlight has been the opening of the Well done! The skill and imagination shown were 3rd International Bookbinding Competition in Oxford. breathtaking. I hope all our members enjoy reading This was a wonderful event in a setting that befits the about the recent Designer Bookbinders International display of Design Bindings. Congratulations go to the Competition and are able to make it to one of the winners and the rest of the entrants. If you weren’t able exhibition dates, listed further in this issue. I know I to see the show in Oxford then make an effort to see am looking forward to when the exhibition tour comes it in Birmingham, London or Boston. You can read all to London! about the event and the winners in the following pages. Details for venues and times are on our website. And If you are inspired by the spectacular work to enter a don’t forget to buy a copy of the catalogue. competition yourself, there are several to enter! DB is looking for a new team to organise the next International Competition in four year’s time. It’s a Designer Bookbinders would like to welcome Lee rewarding experience to be involved with such a Hillman as a new Licentiate. Well done, Lee! prestigious event and we welcome enquiries from anyone who is interested. Please get in touch with For those abroad, or those needing an excuse to Wendy Hood or me. go abroad, there are the fairs in Leiden, Belgium, and Cologne. For something a little closer, the Small As we move in to a new academic year many of us will be Publishers Fair is just around the corner. Details for all focusing on plans for binding. Whether we’re amateurs events can be found further in this issue. or professionals, the UK is lucky to have a wide and varied offering of bookbinding classes. In the wake of As this is only my second issue, please do get in touch the loss of institutional courses many privately offered with ideas, comments or articles. I would be happy to classes have sprung up with subjects that will appeal to have them! everyone. The DB Masterclass series offers intense, high level subjects while the Joint Workshop programme has I hope you have had a great summer. something for all skill levels. Bookings for these have been busy so don’t hesitate to put your name down for Talitha at least one of them.
The Annual UK Bookbinding Competition is coming up so if you haven’t already ordered the set book (Emily Dickinson) do so soon and put your creative hat on. Support and take part in this event – it’s for all binders and students are especially welcome.
This Autumn hosts a series of fairs and events, listed in this issue. The Leiden Book Fair in particular is one of the biggest in Europe and only a quick trip across the Channel to the Netherlands. It’s highly recommended.
Enjoy your work and bind well.
Lori The New Bookbinder 3 Find out more at: www.designerbookbinders.org.
NEWSLETTER OF DESIGNER BOOKBINDERS NO 179 AUTUMN 2017
The New Bookbinder - Commissioning editor/s – job vacancy
The New Bookbinder, journal of Designer Bookbinders, constructively with contributors when editing their has been published annually since 1981. The journal work, giving sensitive and professional feedback is the flagship of Designer Bookbinders, providing a where appropriate) valuable resource and reference for anyone interested • The ability to work independently and to time in the fine art of design bookbinding. With a world- • Good and effective leadership skills when working wide outreach it informs on current international with the other members of the editorial board and practice, cutting edge developments and historic design team features. • Good computer skills • Boundless enthusiasm The current Commissioning Editor, Annette Friedrich, We do encourage you to contact us (tnb@ will be stepping down after the completion of TNB designerbookbinders.org.uk) if you are interested, 38 (next summer, 2018), and Designer Bookbinders and to ask for further information. We are a supportive Publications Limited are looking for her replacement. bunch and would like to hear from anyone who feels they may be able to bring the right qualities to future The new editor/s will need a vision and a desire to New Bookbinder issues. shape the future of The New Bookbinder.
The work is spread out over a year, so the candidate Please apply in writing and include the following will require flexibility to accommodate the demands of details: the job when needed. There is an honorarium attached to this position. • Who you are and where we can contact you by telephone, email or post The commissioning editor’s position is fairly time • Education and qualifications gained intensive and we welcome applications from teams to • Employment history and current commitments share the work and joys of this truly rewarding job. • Any relevant information to support your application The position requires: Applications should be sent to the company secretary, • Excellent knowledge in both current and historic Jack London at: practice in bookbinding 10 Pattison Road • Good research skills London NW2 2HH • Good editorial skills (the ability to work
2017 MEETING DATES NEWSLETTER DEADLINES ON THE FRONT COVER
Saturday 23 September 2017 WINTER ISSUE Andrea Odametey’s first Fellows and Licentiates prize winning binding of 01 November 2017 Monday 23 October 2017 Ovid’s Daedalus et Icarus. Lincoln Cathedral Visit SPRING ISSUE Saturday 04 November 2017 01 February 2018 DBPL Executive Committee 4 from afar Find out more at: www.designerbookbinders.org.
NEWSLETTER OF DESIGNER BOOKBINDERS NO 179 AUTUMN 2017
A Brief Introduction to the Midwest Chapter of the Guild of Book Workers
Emily Martin, That Bridge, relief printing and handset type on Mohawk Superfine paper.
The Midwest Chapter of the Guild of Book Workers include the Newberry Library in Chicago, the Morgan is a regional group within the national organization. I Conservatory for Paper and Book in Cleveland, Ohio; include a brief history of the national group here as an Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan; and introduction to the Midwest Chapter. Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana. Workshop offerings have ranged from gold tooling to specific The Guild of Book Workers was founded on historical bindings to tool making to papermaking to November 14, 1906. Those attending the first incorporating electronics into the pages of books and meeting came from all of the book trades, including many more. illuminating, printing and binding, as well as It is difficult to have workshops and lectures at other calligraphers, papermakers, designers of type, times because of the large geographical area and the finishing tools, book covers and bookplates. Even wide disbursement of members. at the beginning, the Guild was dominated by bookbinders. At that time potential Guild members In recent years Chapter activities have focused on were required to show examples of their craftsmanship exhibits of members’ work, usually with some sort before being allowed to join. By mid-20th century of theme. Geographies: The Midwest Examined is New Yorkers dominated the Guild despite the the most recent members’ exhibit. Books submitted membership being national. Beginning in 1980, ranged from artists’ books to designer bindings regional chapters were formed: the Midwest Chapter showcasing the range of artists and writers who live or was founded in 1987 and represents 10 states - Iowa, have lived in the area. We have also had several print Illinois, Minnesota, Indiana, Ohio, Kansas, Nebraska, exchanges that have then incorporated bindings or Missouri, North and South Dakota but some of the ten containers for the collected prints. We have had two States do not have any members. The local chapter exchanges recently. The first was an exchange with the sponsors events such as lectures or workshops and theme of bridges. Participants interpreted the theme holds exhibitions of local members’ books. The in a wonderful range of prints and everyone received a Midwest chapter has around 120 members and is one set of the prints. Exhibits were held to show the prints of the largest chapters in the Guild. There are four and the containers or bindings that people made officers, all volunteers, who plan the budget and all to house their prints. The second was a Valentine events and meetings of the chapter. exchange in which makers printed and mailed each other Valentine cards or postcards to brighten the Held over a long weekend in April, the chapter participants’ day during the Midwest winter. The holds an annual meeting that allows members to get Valentines were exhibited on the Midwest Chapter together. The weekend offers tours, lectures, show website only (all the other exhibits have been posted and tell, workshops and social events and is held in a there as well. https://midwestgbw.wordpress.com/) different location each year. Recent meeting venues from afar 5 Find out more at: www.designerbookbinders.org.
NEWSLETTER OF DESIGNER BOOKBINDERS NO 179 AUTUMN 2017
The Internet allows Chapter members to keep in Emily Martin earned a MFA degree in painting, from touch through a digital quarterly newsletter and an the University of Iowa in 1979 where she made her on-line discussion group. However the best part of first artist’s books. Martin joined the faculty of the membership is the annual meeting where we are able University of Iowa Center for the Book in 1998 where to discuss and show our work face to face with our she teaches artists’ book and traditional bookbinding peers. classes. She started the Naughty Dog Press in 1996 to produce her own limited editions of artist’s books Emily Martin and has produced over forty artist’s books. Martin’s books are included in public and private collections throughout the United States and internationally, including the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York; the Museum of Modern Art, New York, NY; The Victoria and Albert Museum, London; The Museum of Contemporary Art of Chicago; the Tate Britain, London, England, the Library of Congress and others. Designer Bookbinders of the United Kingdom awarded her book The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet silver medal in 2013. Martin’s book All Sorts was a finalist for the 2016 Meggendorfer Prize for Artists Books given by the International Movable Book Society. She has received grants and residencies from the College Book Arts Association, the Center for Book Arts in New York City, the University of Florida and the Penland School of Crafts in North Carolina among others. Martin has two adult daughters and lives in Iowa City, IA with her Vandercook SP15. She rides her bicycle as often as she can, sometimes all the way across the state of Iowa. She served two terms Five valentines: clockwise from upper left: Mary Uthuppuru, Todd as chair of the Midwest Chapter of the Guild of Book Pattison, Susan Estelle, Kwas, Julia Leonard, and Kristin Ziegler. Workers, stepping down in April 2017. Assorted media on assorted papers. www.emilymartin.com
The Designer Bookbinders' Annual UK Bookbinding Competition 2017
We are encouraging binders, book artists and anyone with an interest in designing and making books to take part in this year's competition. There is still time to enter so why not have a go? Everyone must bind the set book but we welcome open choice books and artists' books as well.
To enter the competition, you must first purchase a copy of the set book which this year is Emily Dickinson: Selected Poems, illustrated by Jane Lydbury and published by The Folio Society.
The book will be delivered to you in printed and folded sections ready to bind. You may do this using a traditional book structure, or adopt a more experimental approach.
The cost of the set book is £25 to DB members and £30 for non-members to include packing, postage and entrance fee. The closing date for entries is October 14th 2017.
For more information please visit: http://www.designerbookbinders.org.uk/
You can also find out more about the set book at: www.foliosociety.com/dickinson
Our annual Bookbinding Competition is sponsored by Designer Bookbinders and The Folio Society and is open to anyone resident in the UK with the exception of Fellows of Designer Bookbinders.
Illustration from The Folio Society edition of Emily Dickinson: Selected Poems© Jane Lydbury 2017 6 new licentiate Find out more at: www.designerbookbinders.org.
NEWSLETTER OF DESIGNER BOOKBINDERS NO 179 AUTUMN 2017
Lee Hillman
As a newly elected Licentiate of Designer Bookbinders, I have been invited to write a little something about myself, to tell you who I am, and how bookbinding has featured in my life.
There seems to be some sort of ‘tradition’ where many members of Designer Bookbinders have discovered bookbinding through a creative degree or course. Well to follow trend, I found bookbinding in the summer of 2008, while studying Graphic Communication at
bookbinding; half-term breaks and holidays were spent attending workshops, and assignments resulted in finished outcomes involving the codex form. On leaving university I moved to London, which gave me the opportunity to attend many of the workshops available. Masterclasses with Designer Bookbinders at St. Brides, with Nicky Oliver at Black Fox Bindery and with Mark Cockram at Studio 5… to name just a few. I was also able to secure a full-time job at a print company, which at the time, was developing its bindery department.
During my four and a half years in London, things were looking good in the Bookbinding area of my the Cardiff School of Art & Design. Towards the end life. In 2012 I received a Highly Commended Award of my first year, after only a one-week workshop in from the Designer Bookbinders Annual Competition. bookbinding, I caught the bug… the bookbinding bug. In 2014, I received a Certificate of Competence in Cloth Books from the Society of Bookbinders. And in During the summer break, my time was spent delving 2015, I received the Portnall Award in the Society of deeper into the craft, experimenting and learning Bookbinders International Competition. about what is involved. Eventually on my return, the remainder of my time at University was consumed with During the beginning of 2016, I decided to move back home to the South Wales Valleys. Family is important to me, so I took up a position as a print finisher nearby.
My time is now spent working on different bookbinding competitions and personal work, and of course continuing to learn and progress within the craft.
Lee Hillman db international awards 7 Find out more at: www.designerbookbinders.org.
NEWSLETTER OF DESIGNER BOOKBINDERS NO 179 AUTUMN 2017
First prize: Andrea Odametey from Germany for Second Prize: Rachel Ward-Sale from the UK for “Daedalus et Icarus ” “The Homeric Hymn to Aphrodite ”
The DB International Competition Awards opening took awarded to Kaori Maki for her binding of “The Tale of place on a beautiful summer evening in Oxford, with the Bamboo Cutter ”. the warm evening sunshine highlighting the historic After a closing speech from The DB President, Lori buildings at their best. Sauer, the 2 main prizes were awarded. First prize went to Andrea Odametey from Germany for “Daedalus The Award Ceremony took place in the spacious et Icarus ” pictured on the front cover, with second entrance hall of the newly refurbished Weston Bodleian prize going to Rachel Ward-Sale from the UK for “ The Library in Broad Street, where the bindings were on Homeric Hymn to Aphrodite ”. display. Some cases were teasingly wrapped in brown After the ceremony binders and guests had the paper, which was removed after the ceremony to reveal opportunity to mingle and view the bindings on display the prizewinners. before the groups dispersed, either to the official Richard Ovenden, Head Librarian of the Bodleian dinner, in The Great Hall at Balliol, or an organised Library, opened the proceedings with a welcoming gathering at a local pub. address, followed by Mark Getty who pledged his support for the competition and its importance to the Back at the Weston Library next morning, a selection of binders had a closer look at the exhibition, without the crowds. It was reassuring to see that a reduction in submissions had not affected the standard of the work on display. The quality of bindings from around the world provides hope for the future of our craft and it was lovely to see so many international binders collecting their prizes in person, reinforcing the global standing of this competition. It was also encouraging to see so many DB members among the prizewinners again and I consider myself honoured to be included among them.
Our thanks must go to Jeanette Koch, Lester Capon bookbinding community. Richard then announced and their team who made everything run so smoothly. the 25 distinguished prizewinners and Mark Getty Sadly this will be the last competition Jeanette and presented each one with a certificate and a beautifully Lester will be organising, so the search is on to find engraved Silver and Perspex Greek column. The someone to fill her sparkling silver stiletto shoes! Oxford University Students Choice prize, chosen by second year English undergraduate Miranda Reilly, was Rachel Ward-Sale 8 3rd international competition Find out more at: www.designerbookbinders.org.
NEWSLETTER OF DESIGNER BOOKBINDERS NO 179 AUTUMN 2017
Heroic Works - 3rd International Competition
Designer Bookbinders 3rd International Competition Judges’ comments, was the binding that made first 2017 celebrated the wealth of skill and creativity of connections with all of them from day one. bookbinding worldwide at the Awards Ceremony, on Monday 17 July in the spacious Blackwell Hall in the Bodleian’s newly restored and renovated Weston Rachel Ward-Sale was awarded the second prize. She Library. This time the chosen theme was ‘Myths, Heroes had chosen another classical text, The Homeric Hymn and Legends’, and binders were free to choose their to Aphrodite. Her impressed printed cloth over dyed own texts. 184 bindings were submitted from 31 fair calf produced a surface of complexity and subtle countries, including two newcomers – Singapore and texture enriched by her use of gilded paper. The judges Taiwan. loved her warm organic style with its elegance and technical skill in manipulating the diverse elements. The three judges this time came from very different backgrounds and displayed very different approaches The 25 Silver Prizes were awarded by Designer to the bindings: Harri Aaltonen, a bookbinder, and Bookbinders to the most ‘Distinguished’ bindings in the supervisor of bookbinding courses in Finland; Sue Competition and went to: Doggett, a DB Fellow, and teacher of BA (Hons) in Fine Arts and Graphic Design courses in the UK; and Juan Argenta, Spain Sophie Schneideman, antiquarian bookseller in London, Kaitlin Barber, Canada specializing in rare books, prints, and fine bindings. Fabrizio Bertolotti, Italy As with all competitions, the level of competence, Hannah Brown, UK technical skill, inventiveness and creativity varied Martine Clamagirand-Roth France greatly between binders and between countries. Faced Gavin Dovey, USA, with this challenge, their deliberations displayed a high Mark Esser, USA degree of intellectual rigour, as well as tolerance and Keiko Fujii, Japan open-mindedness towards the tastes and informed Eri Funazaki, UK comments of the other. Jenni Grey, UK Pénélope Guidoni, Czech Republic The first and second prizes were again sponsored by Kate Holland, UK Mr Mark Getty, in memory of his father Sir Paul Getty, Midori Kunikata-Cockram, UK eminent collector, sponsor, and untiring advocate for Monique Lallier, USA the craft of bookbinding. The winning binding goes to Anna Linssen, The Netherlands, the Bodleian Library Collection. The second prize joins Ting-Hsuan Lu, Taiwan the legendary Wormsley Collection in Buckinghamshire. Tom McEwan, UK Steve Orriss, UK The first prize was awarded to Andrea Odametey from Sol Rébora, Argentina Germany. Her binding, Daedalus and Icarus, showed a Guadalupe Roldán Morales, Spain level of perfection on all levels, and, according to the Caroline Seidel, Germany Odametey’s Perfect Fusion 9 Find out more at: www.designerbookbinders.org.
NEWSLETTER OF DESIGNER BOOKBINDERS NO 179 AUTUMN 2017
Christopher Shaw, UK Priscilla Spitler, USA Andrea Odametey’s Julian Thomas, UK Daniel Wray, UK Perfect Fusion
The Oxford University Students’ Choice was awarded to Kaori Maki (UK) by Miranda Reilly, a second-year English undergraduate at Hertford College with a particular interest in the impact that book designs have on the reading of texts.
It was truly wonderful and very gratifying that 24 out of the 28 prizewinners were present to collect their prizes, travelling from USA, Argentina, Taiwan and many parts of Europe, and the atmosphere was electric with anticipation and pleasure. Binders were able to socialize after the Ceremony in a private room at the nearby Kings Arms Pub, hosted by Annette Friedrich and Richard Beadsmoore, and on the two special tours organized for the next day: The Getty Library at The winning binding is quite discreet on first viewing. Wormsley, and the three Oxford College visits to All However the more you look the more fascinating and Souls Codrington Library, Merton Historic Library, and intriguing it becomes. At first glance is seems quite a Jesus College Fellows’ Library. As always, the heroes simple structure but the skillful layering of the individual are the people behind the scene! My special thanks strips is worth a deeper examination. go to Stuart Brockman and Christopher Shaw who untiringly transported and set up the ten DB showcases One of an edition of two hand-printed artist’s books in the Blackwell Hall, and will be by my side as the with original etchings by the binder, this paper binding tour progresses. The exhibition team at the Bodleian tells Ovid’s story of the fall of Icarus. Everything speaks Library also deserve my appreciation and admiration! of lightness and transparency. Maddy Slavin, Sallyanne Gilchrist and Jennifer Varallo masterminded the arrival and documentation of all the 184 bindings, shepherded the judging process, and helped set up the bindings on exhibition. No mean feat!! Their attention to detail and care throughout was unbeatable, and DB is very fortunate to have the Bodleian as such a wonderful partner in this demanding project.
All the winning bindings are available to view on the DB website (www.designerbookbinders.org.uk), and there is also a pricelist of all the bindings for sale, available at the venues or from: The organiser, Jeanette Koch (E: international. Sewn with hinged guards of dark grey tinted vellum [email protected]). round each section, it is a two-layered board The catalogue, Heroic Works, is available to buy (Price construction. With the help of vellum strips between £30) from the Bodleian Book Shop, or online from www. the sections a hinge is formed to connect the inner designerbookbinders.org.uk or www.bodleianshop. layer of the board to the text block. The two layers co.uk of each board were made up of a laminate of twenty layers of tissue paper, hand-painted using thinned Jeanette Koch airbrush colours of black, grey, and burnt sienna, which when dried, were cut up into 1.5cm wide strips of differing lengths and glued diagonally with an interspace of 1mm, and fixed crosswise in two planes. This cross hatching reveals either gaps of light or the tinted surface of the second layer of board. 10 Find out more at: www.designerbookbinders.org.
NEWSLETTER OF DESIGNER BOOKBINDERS NO 179 AUTUMN 2017
EXHIBITION TOUR
The exhibition, entitled Heroic Works, comprising the 28 prizewinners and a further 46 selected bindings, will tour to:
The Library of Birmingham 23 August – 28 September Centenary Square, Broad Street, Birmingham B1 2ND
St. Bride Foundation The strips are ordered like the feathers of a bird’s wing 2 – 14 October and this construction ingeniously references directly Bride Lane, London EC4Y 8EQ the flight of Daedalus and Icarus. The illustrations are beautiful interpretations of the text and follow North Bennet Street School through the colour harmonies of her binding. As far 3 November – 22 December as the judges were concerned, it exemplified the perfect fusion between concept and form, between the 150 North Street essence of the text and the physical structure of the Boston, MA 02109 USA binding. Andrea Odametey’s intention was to create a (28 prizewinners and 8 selected USA binders binding that dealt with the phenomenon of flight, and only) that is what she achieved – not a solidly conventional or literal result but a magical vision of the translucent and permeable. This exhibition tour to Boston is in memory of Lisa von Clemm. Members of DB know what Jeanette Koch a great influence she was in many aspects of the Society’s activities. She was, however also a devoted supporter, advocate, patron, BINDING re:DEFINED colleague and friend of the North Bennet Street School, and served on the School’s 2017 Workshops Board of Directors (1989-2014), maintaining BINDING re:DEFINED aims to inspire a wider a Hunnewell family connection to the School appreciation of book structures and how that began in 1911, and she remained actively they make an intelligent contribution to the interested and involved until her death in aesthetic of the finished work. The focus of March 2016. our carefully selected programme remains firmly in the tradition of well-crafted pieces that exhibit the best in contemporary design. We are based in Wiltshire’s beautiful Vale of Pewsey and are easily reached by road or rail. October: Stub Binding with Lori Sauer Please visit our website bookbindingworkshops.com, email [email protected] or ring Lori Sauer on 01672 851638 for complete details. Oxford College Libraries 11 Find out more at: www.designerbookbinders.org.
NEWSLETTER OF DESIGNER BOOKBINDERS NO 179 AUTUMN 2017
Yellowed, crumpled but incredible charming! Impressions from visits to two Oxford College Libraries
I nearly missed this journey through time! My plan was on a display of bindings from the library collection and to travel directly back to London, the morning after prepared a printed sheet with information about the the International Competition Awards Ceremony, to books. catch the return flight to Germany unstressed. But during the hospitality evening at the King’s Arms on the An added bonus was the presence of a team of Monday evening, a few old and new friends were kind conservators, led by Caroline Bendix, carrying out enough to persuade me to join the Library tour that cleaning and repair work on some of the collection Designer Bookbinders had organised for the binders in the corner of the library. They managed to keep the next morning. Annette Friedrich guided our little working through the barrage of questions from international group of around 12 people, through the visitors who obviously enjoyed the impromptu the stream of tourists, to our first stop - the nearby demonstrations. Codrington Library in All Souls College. Rachel Ward- Sale was with me and helped me fill in a few details of Filled with new impressions which had to be processed, the visit. we came to rest in a café just around the comer for small talk and relaxation.
The second port of call, Merton Historic Library was unforgettable. A young librarian led us over old, beaten up stone steps, and upstairs to the top floor of the building. “We are going to see the oldest library of the western world”, the librarian said. She was right because in that dimly lit room, it did not need much fantasy to imagine the monks sitting between the wooden bookshelves, reading into the old, chained folios. The aroma of ancient knowledge was in the air; the narrow pointed arches with their stained glass created an atmospheric light and the dark wood panelling as well as the furniture made this place magical.
The Library at All Souls College was originally founded in 1438 with books on arts, theology, philosophy and law for the benefit of the College Fellows. Books on other subjects were acquired later or bequeathed by former Fellows, including Christopher Codrington. He donated 12,000 books to the library and left £10,000 to the College in 1710. The donation came with the stipulation that £4,000 should be used to purchase books, with the balance spent on replacement library buildings designed by Nicholas Hawksmoor. We walked through atriums, which prepared us silently for what was waiting behind the Library portal: a large hall, flooded with light from huge windows, the walls covered with books from top to bottom. The Librarian, Gaye Morgan, showed us around the library explaining the history of the collection and buildings. She had laid 12 wormsley revisited Find out more at: www.designerbookbinders.org.
NEWSLETTER OF DESIGNER BOOKBINDERS NO 179 AUTUMN 2017
Wormsley Revisited
A gorgeous, last impression of Oxford, because after ‘A Personal Selection by Sir Paul Getty, KBE’ is the sub- that both of us had to leave the tour. We later heard title of a most influential book that sits on most binders’ that we had missed out on the Fellows’ Library at Jesus shelves. Here are 278 pages of delight and inspiration College, a glorious, galleried room, built in 1676-77. It chronicling the collection of a lifetime. But we miss the was the youngest and most modest of the three, but touch and smell of the real thing. with a lovely atmosphere and the only one with comfy DB’s Third International Competition, held in Oxford on armchairs and internet access. 17th July, allowed 30 guests the chance to step into the book and have that first hand experience. DB certainly did its utmost to make binders from all On Tuesday 18th July, with binders Kaori Maki and Eri over the world welcome in Oxford with opportunity to Funazaki, I drove to the Wormsley Estate on a perfect meet each other and socialize. To be able to discover English summer’s day; stags with large antlers stood in the treasures of these historic colleges and talk to such shady groves; a cricket pitch with stumps on the square friendly and enthusiastic librarians and conservators was lay beside the opera house. We were welcomed by an added bonus and a rare treat. Mark Getty who took us on a tour around the grounds before leading the group to the library. Theresa Wedemeyer The ecclesiastical nature of the entrance to this Temple of the Book immediately invokes a sense of worship and homage. We pass between the two pairs of columns that the frame the doorway into this hallowed DB UK Annual Competition 2018 shrine. There is a hush and then an intense intake of air from each one of this fortunate gathering of binders. The set book for the 2018 competition For there before us is the most wonderful sight. Every surface, every table and nook is covered with books, has been chosen from the Folio some glittering in gold, some rich in tapestry, some Society’s Christmas catalogue. The laid open revealing delicate illuminations. This is Folio will release the titles of their quadraphonic overload. And most comforting, Mark Getty’s voice comes loud and clear as he holds a publications to their members in mid- favourite book and launches into a resumé of its history October this year and until then we and the story of the library. The scale of the banquet of books laid before us is hard aren’t able to let you know the details. to comprehend. My eyes were bigger than my tummy Otherwise the schedule for the that day. So let me dwell on just a tiny sample of the competition remains the same and feast of St Wormsley. The Grolier bindings which, he said, were sometimes we expect the date for completion of passed over by some of his visitors, hold a particular entries will be 13th October 2018. attraction for Mark. The slim volume on the beauty of women, (‘BSCCFG’) bound in the 1550s, doubtless The Secretary will send another a personal copy of Grolier, repaired by Roger Payne, e-bulletin to alert you nearer the time reveals the delicate web that connected Erasmus, when all the information and ordering the Aldine Press and the scholars of the rediscovered Classical world. The elegant balance of the design and details will be on the website: www. their endearingly ‘cloudy’ lettering are a delight to the designerbookbinders.org.uk. eye. A moment later we leapt forward a mere 400 years. We look forward to receiving your Bernard Middleton’s binding of the Golden Cockerel bindings and artist’s books! Four Gospels decorated with Eric Gill’s woodcuts lay before us. Printed on vellum in 1931, this book is a triumph of the private press and the fine binders’ Competition Committee art. Mark and I were silenced by the beauty of Gill’s woodcuts, so stunning on the vellum. I held eternity in my hands as I handed this heavy and glorious book back to Mark. autumn meeting 13 Find out more at: www.designerbookbinders.org.
NEWSLETTER OF DESIGNER BOOKBINDERS NO 179 AUTUMN 2017
Meanwhile in the rest of the library the assembled guests were ant-like in their attention to the hundred DESIGNER BOOKBINDERS or so books laid out for our wonder and attention. Brian Maggs was especially helpful as we probed his AUTUMN MEETING 2017 encyclopaedic knowledge of the library. We pause before two giants of our Island Story. This year the Autumn Meeting will be a Together in a glass cabinet lie Caxton’s first printing private tour of Lincoln Cathedral Library and it of The Canterbury Tales and the First Folio of Shakespeare’s Plays. An English bibliophile’s ultimate will take place on Monday 23rd October 2017. dream is before us. Not far away another dream. “Whan that Aprille with his Shoures soote the drought During the visit we will hear about the of March” frames the border of The Kelmscott Chaucer history and architecture of the 15th century bound in pigskin at the Doves Bindery. Finished in medieval chained library and the 17th century gold leaf, unlike the ‘run of the mill’ copies which are in blind, here is a link between the heroes of Wren library. The growth of the library’s the Art and Crafts, William Morris, Burne Jones and rich collection of early printed books and Cobden-Sanderson. manuscripts will be described and we will There is much more to see; the great French bindings be introduced to some of the interesting of Paul Bonet, several medieval manuscripts, bestiaries, characters involved with the two libraries over breviaries and books of hours and acres of exquisite finishing, gold everywhere, enough for Croesus. The the years. At the end of the tour there will be exhibition of early binders’ tools and equipment is time to view a selection of the rare books and fascinating for those who are ‘trade’. Guilty as charged! manuscripts. But all too quickly our 2 hours has passed unfairly in a trice. It will also be possible to visit the Cathedral Mark summons his guests to follow. He leads us through his family home, pausing to regale us with after the Library Tour. stories of his recent acquisitions. Most arresting is a Jeff Koons piece, apparently a plastic inflatable dolphin in a The maximum number that can be swimming ring, hanging on a red chain from the ceiling. accommodated in a group is 20. Please note Well, actually it is made of steel and weighs 3 tons! that the library is on the first floor and there is We amble into the July sunshine to a large marquee where lunch awaits us. Deep in the Buckinghamshire currently no disabled access. countryside, a bucolic view stretches out over the Wormsley estate. The woodland and open pasture Exact times of the visit will be confirmed at in their midsummer glory are the background to our a later date but the tour is likely to be in the chattering as we exchange gossip with old friends. morning. Once again Mark Getty welcomes us to his estate and is kind enough to say that some of the party before him actually do know a bit about binding which enhances If you would like to book a place on the visit his pleasure to share the wonders of his father’s please contact Wendy Hood, the Secretary, by collection. email, [email protected] Dominic Riley then offers our greatest thanks to Mark or by telephone on 01225 342793. for his very generous support of Designer Bookbinders and the International Competition, a most special and memorable day in his library and for wining and More information can be found at https:// lunching us in such splendid style. lincolncathedral.com/education-learning/ A very special mention must go to Lester Capon and to the-library/ Jeanette Koch. Their unstinting efforts and sacrifice on our behalves are truly humbling. Can I come to the Fourth International, please?
Mark Winstanley 14 helen hiebert paper art Find out more at: www.designerbookbinders.org.
NEWSLETTER OF DESIGNER BOOKBINDERS NO 179 AUTUMN 2017
I’m a kindred My main papermaking materials are cotton pulp, which spirit living show off watermarks, and abaca, a translucent fiber high up in the from the banana plant. A more recent artist’s book, mountains of Interluceo, features watermarked imagery in cotton Colorado in paper and papercuts by Béatrice Coron in abaca paper. the USA. My work focuses Nebulae illustrates a story our daughter told us on hand when she was three years old, that she watched us papermaking (her family) as she ate cotton candy in the sky. One and artist’s word is stitched on each blank page that sits above books, and I another page with a pulp painted cloud on it. The text teach regularly reads: ‘she was eating clouds observing earth below on a freelance basis as well. awaiting her descent’ and is visible to varying degrees as the pages are turned. Over 25 years ago, I had the opportunity to visit I have taught workshops on several continents and Japan, where I became enjoy developing new classes, which are often based interested in the way that on my five how-to books about papermaking and paper light filters through paper arts. One of those books, Paper Illuminated, went out
when I stayed in an inn where I was surrounded by traditional shoji screens. This led me to experiment of print recently, and I decided to turn the content (and with various ways more) into a series of online classes. The first class, that paper interacts also called Paper Illuminated, ran earlier this year and with light in the structure of my books, the materials I was quite a success. The online class format involves a incorporate, as well as the content. My very first artist’s video tutorial plus written how-to instructions that are books utilized a simple one-sheet fold, and I used the delivered via e-mail weekly, plus a private facebook central space created by this unique fold to illustrate group where participants can comment, ask questions a watermarking technique in one and to create a and post images of their projects. It was so much fun papercut window in the other. that I’ve just launched a new class, Paper Lanterns. The skills I teach in these classes have multiple applications for sculpture, book arts and lighting as we explore paper as a material and the various ways that it can be manipulated and illuminated.
One of the advantages of an online class is that participants from around the world can join in and work on projects at their own pace in their own space! I’m pleased to offer anyone reading this article a $20 discount if you’d like to join the fun. Watch a video, read more about the course, and register here: http:// www.helenhiebertstudio.com/classes/
The coupon code for the discount is: pap3r competitions, etc. 15
FindNEWSLETTER out more OF at: DESIGNER www.designerbookbinders.org. BOOKBINDERS NO 178 SUMMER 2017
NEWSLETTER OF DESIGNER BOOKBINDERS NO 179 AUTUMN 2017
You might also be interested in following my blog, The Cologne 18th Bookbinder’s Fair Cologne Sunday Paper, which features a variety of interesting Sunday 22 October 2017 11:00-17:00 paperfacts from around the globe every Sunday. In addition, I host a monthly podcast episode called Paper Talk, I hold an annual retreat in my Colorado studio ENGELSHOF every September and I publish the Twelve Months of Oberstrasse 96 Paper Calendar, a how-to book and calendar all in one. 51149 Cologne (Porz-Westhoven) Germany Find out more about my work at https:// helenhiebertstudio.com. A pleasant fair and an inspiring meeting place for (hand)bookbinders, book and paper restorers, paper artists, calligraphers and all others interested. Professionals and Dates for your diary amateurs.
Small Publishers Fair Oxford Fine Press Book Fair Conway Hall, London, 10 & 11 November 2017, 11am to 7pm daily The 2017 Oxford Fair has been postponed until 24-25 March 2018. It will now be held in The Small Publishers’ Fair is an annual the Kassam Stadium Conference and Events celebration of books by contemporary artists, Centre in Oxford, details of which can be poets, writers and book designers. It is held found at www.thekassamstadium.com. in Conway Hall in London’s Bloomsbury on the second weekend in November.
Leiden Book Fair Boekkunstbeurs Pieterskerk, Leiden 11-12 November 2017 10:00-17:00
In addition to a wide range of materials, Exhibitions and dates tools, binders, calligraphs and special printing, various demonstrations, a specially International Competition written and printed story and of course Exhibition Touring Dates the children’s workshop bookbinding! Stay informed via www.Facebook.com/ Library of Birmingham Boekkunstbeurs or soon through the 23 August - 28 September homepage of this website.
Sint Niklaas 21st Bookbinders´ Fair - Belgium St Bride Foundation, London Sunday 9 April 2017 11:00-17:00 2-14 October (Private View on 2 October) ‘t BAU-HUIS Slachthuisstraat 60 North Bennet Street School, Boston, 9100 SINT NIKLAAS Belgium USA http://www.boekbindbeurs.nl/en/content/ 3 November - 22 December sint-niklaas (Private View on 2 November) 16 competitionscourses and more Find out more at: www.designerbookbinders.org.
NEWSLETTER OF DESIGNER BOOKBINDERS NO 179 AUTUMN 2017
DB/SoB Joint Courses Tutor Dominic Riley Freya Scott Hannah Brown Lori Sauer Abigail Bainbridge Nesta Davies
Date 23-24 18-19 3-4 February 24-25 March 28-29 April 2018 30 June to 1 September November 2018 2018 July 2018 2017 2017 Topic Gold Tooling Marbling Surface Strapped-on 18th Century Mastering on Leather paper to make decoration case in Fabric French binding minatures a Photograh Techniques Album Venue Conway Freya’s Bindery, Masonic Hall, Daffodil Barn LCBA, London Daffodil Barn Bindery, London Bradford-on- tbc tbc Halifax Avon courses and more 17 Find out more at: www.designerbookbinders.org.
NEWSLETTER OF DESIGNER BOOKBINDERS NO 179 AUTUMN 2017
Competitions DESIGNER BOOKBINDERS BURSARIES 2017/18 All about Women A creative Bookbinding Designer Bookbinders is pleased to have the Exhibition in partnership opportunity to award bursaries to provide financial with the Bibliotheca assistance towards the cost of the current programme Wittockiana, ARA of DB Masterclasses and Joint DB/SoB Workshops. Belgica celebrates The bursaries are aimed at: Women, whether they • UK binders who need financial help to cover the are headstrong women, class fees. artists, writers, muses or icons or many other Bursaries of £150 will be awarded to contribute to the outstanding ladies. cost of a DB Masterclass. Opening of the exhibition: Saturday 16 September Bursaries of £100 will be awarded to contribute to the 16:00 cost of a Joint DB/SoB Workshop.
Saturday 16 September 2017 to Sunday 12 November • Overseas binders who wish to travel to the UK to 2017 take part in the classes and need help with travel Bibliotheca Wittockiana rue du Bemel 23B 1150 costs. Bruxelles Bursaries of £200 will be awarded to contribute to the cost of a DB Masterclass or a Joint DB/SoB workshop. http://arabelgica.be/en/node/1546 The normal terms and Conditions for bookings will apply to the Masterclass and Joint Workshop series. NY Center for Book Arts Poetry Chapbook Program The number of bursaries is limited and they are available to bookbinders and practitioners of the craft Announcing the 2018 Letterpress Poetry Chapbook who are seriously and actively pursuing ways to extend the Center for Book Arts invites submissions to its their skills and learning. annual Poetry Chapbook Program by December 15, Applications will be accepted anytime after classes are 2017. The selected manuscript will be determined in announced but MUST arrive no later than 3 weeks prior May 2018 and will be awarded with the publication to the class date. Participants who have already booked of a beautifully designed, letterpress-printed, limited- for the remaining 2017 masterclasses are eligible to edition chapbook printed and bound by artists at apply immediately. the Center for Book Arts. The edition is limited to Anyone who wishes to take advantage of these 100 signed and numbered copies, 10 of which are bursaries is asked to email or write to the DB Secretary reserved for the author and the remainder of which naming the Masterclass or Workshop of choice. They will be offered for sale through the Center. The will then be asked to complete an application form to selected poet will also receive a cash award of $500 be considered before an award is made. and a $500 honorarium for a reading, to be held at If you would like any further information please the Center in the fall of 2017, as well as an exclusive contact the Secretary, Wendy Hood at secretary@ opportunity for a week long stay at the Millay Colony designerbookbinders.org.uk , Tel: 01225 342793, or for the Arts in Austerlitz, New York as one of their write to 24, Junction Road, Bath, Somerset, BA2 3NH. Winter Shakers. This year’s curator will be Natasha Trethewey, 19th Poet Laureate of the United States (2012-2014).
http://centerforbookarts.org/opportunities/for-writers/ 18 coursescity lit courses and more Find out more at: www.designerbookbinders.org.
NEWSLETTER OF DESIGNER BOOKBINDERS NO 178179 SUMMER AUTUMN 2017 2017
City Lit Bookbinding Keeley Street, Covent Garden, London WC2B 4BA
Autumn term Programme and long courses 17/18
Please see website or prospectus for prices as some courses will have offers attached.
For further information, to see the course outlines, book an interview and full bookbinding programme visit www.citylit.ac.uk enquiries [email protected] Enrolments: 020 7831 7831 or [email protected]
Long Courses: Book arts: bindings in acrylic, acetate and plastic – new course! The City Lit Bookbinding Course Tutor: Ina Baumeister Tutors: Sue Doggett, Royston Haward, Paolo Taddeo VD311 Fri 10.30 – 16.30 VD190 Tues 18.00 – 21.00 10 Nov – 08 Dec (5 sessions) 19 Sept 2017 – 26 June 2018 (33 sessions) Introduction to gold and foil blocking Tutor: Peter Spain City Lit Bookbinding Intermediate VD312 Sat- Sun 10.30 – 16.30 Tutor: Gavin Moorhead 11 & 12 Nov (2 sessions) VD273 Mon 18.00 - 21.00 02 Oct 2017– 19 Mar 2018 (20 sessions) Working with leather: decorative techniques Tutor: Ina Baumeister City Lit Advanced Fine Binding : vellum new course VD251 Thu 10.30 -16.30 Tutor: Kathy Abbott 23 Nov – 7 Dec 2017 (3 sessions) VD333 Tues 10.00 – 16.30 19 Sept – 13 Mar (22 sessions) Conservation:
Shorter courses: Taster Day in Conservation – new course Tutor: Nesta Davies Taster Day in Bookbinding VD332 Sun 10.30 -16.30 Tutor: Nesta Davies 19 Nov 2017 VD212: 1 Oct 10.30 -16.30 VD213: 3 Dec 10.30 -16.30 Book Conservation & repair: paper and cloth-bound Beginners Skills in Bookbinding books Tutor: Clare Bryan Tutor: Peter Spain VD284 Mon 10.30 -16.30 VD202 Weds 10.30 – 16.30 25 Sept – 27 Nov (10 sessions) 20 Sep – 06 Dec (12 sessions)
Papercutting, collage and design Tutor: Lara Mantell Book Conservation and repair workshop VD317 Thurs 10.30 - 16.30 Tutor: Gavin Moorhead 21 Sep – 12 Oct (4 sessions) VD245/246/247 Weds 18.00 – 21.00 VD245 27 Sept – 06 Dec (11sessions) Knife sharpening workshop Tutor: Royston Haward Book conservation for beginners: 1 VD323 Sun 10-30 -16.30 VD324 Thurs 18.00 -21.00 8 Oct (1 session) 28 Sept – 07 Dec (11 sessions) db contact 19 Find out more at: www.designerbookbinders.org.
NEWSLETTER OF DESIGNER BOOKBINDERS NO 179 AUTUMN 2017
Contact Details New Members
President Lori Sauer Designer Bookbinders are pleased to Hazel Bank welcome the following new members: Woodborough Rd Beechingstoke, Pewsey Wiltshire SN9 6HJ United Kingdom [email protected] Harri AALTONEN Sylväänkatu 4 a7 Hon. Treasurer 38200 Pirkanmaa Jack London Finland 10 Pattison Road T: 00 358 404 848153 London E: [email protected] NW2 2HH United Kingdom American Academy of Bookbinding [email protected] PO BOX 1590 CO 81435 Secretary and Membership Secretary USA Wendy Hood T: 00 1 970 728 8649 24 Junction Road E: [email protected] Bath BA2 3NH Ichida FUMIKO United Kingdom 18-31-102 [email protected] Higashiashiyacho Ashiya Designer Bookbinders Publications 659-0095 DB Publications Ltd. Japan 6 Queen Square T: +81 0797326243 London E: [email protected] WC1N 3AT United Kingdom Maria RODRIGUES [email protected] Avenida Rui Barbosa 520 1101 Flamengo The New Bookbinder RJ 22250-020 Designer Bookbinders Brazil 6 Queen Square T: 00 55 212 552 1595 London E: [email protected] WC1N 3AT United Kingdom Johanna SVENONIUS [email protected] Fagersjövägen 218 12353 Farsta Newsletter Editor and Layout Sweden Talitha Wachtelborn T: +46 0707191303 Flat 11, 44 Solomons Passage E: [email protected] London SE15 3DJ THE ROYAL COLLECTION TRUST [email protected] Windsor Castle Berkshire Information on DB Lectures SL4 1NJ [email protected] E: [email protected] Website [email protected] NEWSLETTER OF DESIGNER BOOKBINDERS NO 179 AUTUMN 2017
BY APPOINTMENT TO HER MAJESTY THE QUEEN MANUFACTURERS OF LEATHER J. HEWIT & SONS LTD. EDINBURGH J Hewit & Sons Ltd LEATHER MANUFACTURERS
The 'One-Stop' shop for Fine Leather, Equipment, Tools, Materials & Sundries for all Craft Bookbinding requirements.
12 Nettlehill Road - Houstoun Industrial Estate Livingston - West Lothian - EH54 5DL - Scotland
email - [email protected] tel - +44 (0)1506 444160 fax - +44 (0)1506 437749
Heated Gilding Roller The Heated Gilding Ruler is a high quality temperature controlled silicone covered brass roll with an ergonomic handle to enable the comfortable application of real gold foil or leaf, or other matrices such as hot stamping foils to book edges, book covers, leather or other applications. Supplied with silicone heat protection mat, power controller, instructions & 3 metre heat resitant cable. CE Tested and Made in the UK. Uses: - Edgegilding with gold foil or decorative foils - Decoration of covers or endpapers -decoration of papers or leather - Edgegilding with gold leaf
Price £650 Specifications Introductory offer + pp Weight 2.2kg. Order online or email Roll ~7cm x 4.8cm www.edgegilding.co.uk Handle length 65 cm [email protected] Temperature up to 185°C
Published by Designer Bookbinders, 6 Queen Square, London, WC1N 3AT. Printed by TU ink, London