designer bookbinders contemporary book arts | 194 | summer 2021 02 introduction www.designerbookbinders.org.uk | 194 | summer 2021 Lectori Salutem... Right, straight down to business, has anyone mentioned we have a new President? You might have heard of him, he was recently described as ‘the myth, the legend that is Lester Capon’. Get in touch with him, say hi, give him all your ideas, tell him what you think... actually, don’t do that last bit! Let him know how much you admire him instead, update your contacts and email the [email protected] Having mentioned admiring, in this role I’ve had the great pleasure of working with several Presidents, grateful as ever for their support, I know I can always call on them if needed. Therefore, ‘Thank You’ to Rachel Ward-Sale for her time. Rachel was always on the end of the phone, had my back, made sure that with everything going on, that we were all okay. I’ll never forget meeting Rachel for the first time. We knew of each other, the odd email here and there and that was about it, I didn’t think of it much more than that? Then one evening at another well organised and presented awards evening, Rachel was hanging out not too far away at the back of the room, as you do, then cool as you like, she rocked up, smiled and said ‘Hi Troy’. That knowing smile kinda threw me, no introductions, nothing... I could’ve been anyone? It didn’t matter, as, with all the Fellows, Rachel is approachable, warm, friendly and listens. I highly recommend having a look at the recent Designer Bookbinders Fellows Friday Features on Instagram that Hannah Brown has put together of Rachel’s work, some pretty cool bindings. The Fellows may seem unapproachable or pretend to be grumpy, but as Peter Jones will tell you in his answers to the 20 questions, he’s working on it! Eminem though? Grumpy, but down with the kids! You can also see Peter’s Fellows Friday Feature on Instagram, very different in style to many Fellows, therefore very interesting. We also have Fellow Mark Cockram guiding us through the binding process of ‘London Scenes’, while Lester talks about the binding of ‘Epithalamion’. In the postbag this quarter, I received a poem from a binder I met a couple of years ago. If you’re aware of a modern series of work where the bindings are tested to the limit by the extremes offered by nature, this poem will make perfect sense, if not, make of the poem what you will, it is after all very Quixotic in its romantic scene-setting. I also received a tip-off of a new library of interest, a little research and I’ve jotted down some notes with links for you. Tom Frith-Powell from the Paper Foundation got in touch to tell me about the Foundation, to which he expanded upon by putting pen to paper. Then out of the blue, a copy of the 1955/56 City & Guilds syllabus arrived?! The ‘bookbinding’ section provides a lot of food for thought. The results of the dbUK Bookbinding Competition are in with 2020/21 prizewinners featured. There are lots of new courses and workshops with the expansion of the education section. Have a great summer... Troy [email protected] www.instagram.com/troy_of_london An Honoré Daumier illustration as featured in Life’s Beautiful Days - ‘an entranced book enthusiast’ 1878 newsletter deadlines on the cover(s)... autumn 01st August 2021 An Alphabetic Assemblage of Bookbinding (820 x 360 mm) winter 01st November 2021 Lester Capon spring 01st February 2022 ‘My main influences for this project were cabinets of curiosity and Joseph Cornell.’ summer 01st May 2022 welcome 03 www.designerbookbinders.org.uk | 194 | summer 2021 Greetings to everyone in Designer Bookbinders. I’m so glad you are a member of this society which tries to do everything it can to promote high standards in all aspects of bookbinding. I am the new president and my first message starts with a massive thank you to Rachel Ward-Sale. She has done a brilliant job keeping everything together during the most exceptionally difficult circumstances. All plans and exhibitions have had to be adapted so many times with the restrictions and changes that have beset us all. However, Rachel is never fazed and dealt with each new set back calmly and with a good humour. We are very lucky to have had her as president for the last two years. Now, it’s me again! Those of you with long memories will recall that I was president from 2009 - 2011, and those with even longer memories will know that 2003 - 2005 was another tenure of mine. No, I’m not some sort of megalomaniac who has to be president on a regular basis! It’s just turned out that way and I’m happy to do my best to try and keep things going as smoothly as possible. Fortunately I have inherited a superb and trusted Executive Committee, as well as sub committees who freely give their time to promote our various interests and activities such as education, publications, exhibitions and the website. Huge thanks to them for their continuing work in these areas. Without them where would we be? (You know where we’d be). Like all of us, I am really looking forward to being able to go to live events. The online exhibition we held last year, ABC (Art Book Craft), was brilliantly masterminded by Troy Moore and Mark Cockram who are again organising the upcoming exhibition DEF (Design Equals Function). There are several other exhibitions in the pipeline - the International Competition is emerging from the mists which descended on it courtesy of COVID. Stuart and Louise Brockman have everything in hand there. We will have a presence at London Craft Week with bindings on show, materials for sale and demonstrations given. Richard Beadsmoore is guiding us through that. Bibliotheca Wittockiana have invited us to exhibit at their gallery in Brussels. This will be later this year, in November. Did you know we have an Exhibition Committee? Angela James, Rachel Ward-Sale and Lori Sauer are organising that show. The dbUK Competition, now bi-annual, actually happened! Despite all the difficulties which gradually closed in on the team, and also on the entrants, it was a triumph. Sue Doggett and Kate Holland acquired many new skills and handled the online judging and award ceremony beautifully. Thank you to them and also to the entrants - without you there’s no Competition. The Education Committee are constantly attempting to fill the gaps left by the lack of bookbinding courses. There is of course excellent teaching available but nowhere near as much as there used to be. This must make it so difficult for up and coming binders. Please be aware that Fellows of Designer Bookbinders are very willing to help in any way they can. So thank you to all those on the committees for their hard work and also to Pippa Smith, who is doing a brilliant job as our new Secretary. We would value any input from across the membership so please get in touch if you feel like being more involved. You would be welcome. Also – the Newsletter would love to hear from you. If you’re pleased or enthused about anything, or concerned and worried – write in. The journal The New Bookbinder is flourishing and highly regarded everywhere. Sue Doggett is at the helm and produces a varied and fascinating journal every year. Our other publication, this newsletter, goes from strength to strength thanks to Troy Moore, and to prove this, I now invite you to read on... Lester Capon [email protected] www.instagram.com/lester_capon_bookbinder 04 notices www.designerbookbinders.org.uk | 194 | summer 2021 Executive Committee Notice Lori Sauer is stepping down from the Committee and we would like to say an enormous thank you for the contribution she has made to the Society during her time on the Committee as President and as a member. Rachel Ward-Sale has kindly agreed to stay on the Committee, after handing the Presidency to Lester Capon, for one year in Lori’s place. For the remainder of the 2020-2022 term of office the Executive Committee will be made up as follows: Lester Capon (Chair) Richard Beadsmoore, Licentiate Sarah Burnett-Moore, Associate Stephen Conway, Fellow Nesta Davies, Associate Angela James, Fellow Peter Jones, Fellow Troy Moore, Associate Rachel Ward-Sale, Fellow New Members Felicity BRISTOW Vanessa HARDY Linda MILES Grace TOUZEL Melrose, UK California, USA Uckfield, UK London, UK Terje ERLAND Melanie HEWITT Jennifer PELLECCHIA Mark WINSTANLEY Stavanger, Norway Washington, USA Massachusetts, USA Eardisley, UK Ann-Marie FLEMING Thomas HOSKING Susan SCATTERGOOD Colorado, USA London, UK Sheffield, UK Catherine GRIMES Rachelle KELLER Darryn SCHNEIDER London, UK Leiden Netherlands Queensland, Australia Rene HALJASMÄE Tamsin LOVEDAY Olivia SCOTT Tallinn, Estonia Salisbury, UK Glasgow, UK Introducing the New Web Manager(s) We are delighted to announce that Hannah Brown and George Webb will be sharing the role of Web Manager for the forthcoming Designer Bookbinders website. Hannah and her husband George bring complementary skills to the role. Hannah is well known to the Society as a binder, as the Publicity and Events Manager through social media and the Designer Bookbinders Publications Administrator. Hannah will take responsibility for the content management 2021 meeting dates and keeping the news and content up to date with any relevant information. George is qualified in multimedia technology and is a software developer with Executive Committee extensive experience in building websites and in digital publishing.