esigner ookbinders d b contemporary book arts NEWSLETTER OF DESIGNER BOOKBINDERS NO 178 SUMMER 2017 2 db introduction db introduction 3 Find out more at: www.designerbookbinders.org. Find out more at: www.designerbookbinders.org. NEWSLETTER OF DESIGNER BOOKBINDERS NO 178 SUMMER 2017 NEWSLETTER OF DESIGNER BOOKBINDERS NO 178 SUMMER 2017 Editorial Summer Spotlight 2017 The New Bookbinder - Commissioning editor/s – job vacancy The year is flying by and I can hardly belive this is already Hello! I am honoured to have been asked to be the The New Bookbinder, journal of Designer Bookbinders, • Good and effective leadership skills when working editor of the Designer Bookbinders newsletter. the summer newsletter. It’s the first from our new editor, Talitha Wachtelborn, and she introduces herself here. has been published annually since 1981. The journal with the other members of the editorial board and Remember that this is your newsletter and we encourage is the flagship of Designer Bookbinders, providing a design team Firstly, I must apologise that this is reaching you a bit valuable resource and reference for anyone interested • Good computer skills later than usual. As someone who chose their field all members to send in information about events, fairs and anything book related that is taking place in your in the fine art of design bookbinding. With a world- • Boundless enthusiasm based on being able to work with their hands, there wide outreach it informs on current international We do encourage you to contact us (tnb@ was a steep learning curve with all the swish programs area. International contributions are especially welcome. If we don’t know about it we can’t pass it on to others! practice, cutting edge developments and historic designerbookbinders.org.uk) if you are interested, needed to do the layout. I think I’m finally satisfied with features. and to ask for further information. We are a supportive the result and I hope that you are as well. London Craft Week took place during the first week bunch and would like to hear from anyone who feels of May and DB put on a great event at St Bride The current Commissioning Editor, Annette Friedrich, they may be able to bring the right qualities to future The past few months has seen the sad loss of Chris Foundation. There was a DB Now exhibition as well as will be stepping down after the completion of TNB New Bookbinder issues. Clarckson and the launch of the second year of the the first ever Associates’ Exhibition along with tutorials, 38 (next summer, 2018), and Designer Bookbinder Queen’s Bindery apprenticship scheme. Please apply demonstrations and a fantastic trade fair. It was great to Publications Limited are looking for her replacement. and tell those who you think would be interested. see how well received it was by the public and for those Please apply in writing and include the following who couldn’t make it this time please watch out for the The new editor/s will need a vision and a desire to details: If you need an excuse for a holiday, Dublin and Fin- dates in 2018. shape the future of The New Bookbinder. land would be high on my list. In this issue our From • Who you are and where we can contact you by Afar article comes from Finland. The Museum of Finish Remember to visit the International Competition The work is spread out over a year, so the candidate telephone, email or post Binding and the other museums and shops listed sound exhibition, opening this summer, at one of its venues, will require flexibility to accommodate the demands of • Education and qualifications gained well worth a visit. The review from The Burning Books here in the UK or in Boston. Your first chance to see it will the job when needed. There is an honorarium attached • Employment history and current commitments exhibit makes it safe to say that this is not to be missed. be in Oxford in July. to this position. • Any relevant information to support your Make sure you get to Dublin before it closes! application DB committees will be working behind the scenes The commissioning editor’s position is fairly time There are also reviews of the DB Day of Lectures and throughout the next few months, making plans and intensive and we welcome applications from teams to Applications should be sent to the company secretary, the London Craft Week events. Both worth going to in outlining what comes next. Please contact the Secretary share the work and joys of this truly rewarding job. Jack London at: future if you missed them this time around. or me if you’d like to join in and take an active role in 10 Pattison Road what the Society brings to you. The position requires: London NW2 2HH If you haven’t heard of the Felsted Skiver have a look at the article about its development. I am always Thanks and have a great summer. • Excellent knowledge in both current and historic impressed and grateful when someone takes it upon practice in bookbinding themselves to add to our materials and methods. Lori • Good research skills Bookbinding is a niche subject, but we appreciate • Good editorial skills (the ability to work fine tools that allow fine workmanship and I think the constructively with contributors when editing their Felsted Skiver provides just that. work, giving sensitive and professional feedback where appropriate) I hope that this issue is full of articles and topics that • The ability to work independently and to time are of interest to you. If you have any suggestions or comments, please let me know. This is for you after all! I am very happy to accept submissions and requests for topics. I can be reached via [email protected]. I hope to hear from you soon! 2017 MEETING DATES NEWSLETTER DEADLINES ON THE FRONT COVER Have a great summer. Autumn Issue Saturday 23 September 2017 01.08.2017 Lord’s Journal from the Talitha Wachtelborn Fellows and Licentiates Burning Books Exhibition at Dublin Castle, bound by Saturday 04 November 2017 Winter Issue DBPL Executive Committee 01.11.2017 Trevor Lloyd 4 obituary QBAS 5 Find out more at: www.designerbookbinders.org. Find out more at: www.designerbookbinders.org. NEWSLETTER OF DESIGNER BOOKBINDERS NO 178 SUMMER 2017 NEWSLETTER OF DESIGNER BOOKBINDERS NO 178 SUMMER 2017 The Queen’s Bindery Apprenticeship Scheme was Christopher Clarkson The Queen’s Bindery founded by a group of charities, including City of London livery companies, brought together by Royal I am writing to give you the sad news that Christopher Apprenticeship Scheme Collection Trust in an attempt to shape a response to Clarkson died in hospital shortly before midnight the lack of any rigorous, structured training in hand on Thursday, 30 March. I had seen him at home the bookbinding in the UK. previous Monday and although weak, he seemed stable and much as he had been for some weeks, but his As director of the apprenticeships, I am delighted with condition suddenly deteroriated on Thursday morning progress so far. We look forward to them entering and he was taken by ambulance to the hospital, by future annual competitions and I hope you will take which time apparently he was all but unconscious. time to engage with them at DB and other events. Aiming to establish a model that can be replicated This is a terrible shock for us all, but particularly for his across the UK, the scheme has now been accepted wife, Oonagh, and their children, Eoghan and Siobhan to write national standards for bookbinding © Russell Sach/TES and grand-daughter Seren. No arrangements have yet apprenticeships under the government’s Trailblazers been made about his funeral, but there is sure to be an scheme and this work is underway. Possibilities of In 2015 I graduated with a BA in Graphic Design, it was event in the coming months to commemorate his life accessing funds through the Apprenticeship Levy begin during that time I became interested in book design; and work, and I will make sure that you know what may to show exciting promise. be planned as soon I know it myself. There will be a from letterpress pages to binding styles – it captivated © Russell Sach/TES me. Upon leaving University I had hoped for an fuller obituary in a few days. Recruitment commences shortly for the second two opportunity where I could improve my practical skills in apprentices in the pilot, to start in October 2017. Apart from one very basic workshop during my time these areas, although I soon realised this type of career For those of you who know his wife Oonagh, and Application will be online through the Royal Collection at Edinburgh College of Art and one enjoyable but or experience is hard to come by! would like to write to her, please contact Ligatus for the nervous day at the St. Bride Foundation, my experience Trust website, where those interested can register to address. be notified when the positions open. Potential new of bookbinding was little to none when I came to the From the very start of this apprenticeship we have been supporters of the scheme are warmly encouraged to Royal Bindery at Windsor. With some background immersed into ‘the book’ and each day has offered a With best wishes make contact: this is an initiative of great importance reading and an interest in the subject I was starting curious lesson, either in technique, process or history. for the future of hand bookbinding in this country and from scratch.