Book Arts Classes offered at Florence Thomas Art School

Announcing Book Arts Classes offered at Florence Thomas Art School, in Glendale Springs, NC (just off the Blue Ridge Parkway).

Sharon Sharp (Sharp Handmade Books: sharphandmadebooks.com) will be teaching two book making classes among more than 40 others being offered between May and October in painting, drawing, writing, fine crafts, and photography. On August 24-26, she'll be teaching an introduction to bookmaking, "Entering the Art of Bookmaking," in which everyone will make eight books of different types. On September 12, she'll offer "Haiku and Edge-Sewn Books," in which class members will write haiku and make books for their writing. These classes, like most of the others, will have a limit of twelve people. Details about all of the upcoming classes are available at www.florenceartschool.org

On-site lodging and some meals are available to registrants, and the 10.3-acre campus offers a delightful place for creative exploration. As noted on the Florence website, "the campus itself, spread open to the south and the sun, is in a beautiful setting—a large pond, meadows, many trees, gentle hills, a wonderful view into the distance."

Marking Time Exhibition

An internationally touring juried exhibition
of fine press, fine binding and artists' books
curated by the Guild of Book Workers

On display May 15 – August 15, 2009 at the Minnesota Center for Book Arts.

For more info, see the MCBA website.

Listed below are the Southeast Chapter of the Guild of Book Workers members that have work in the Marking Time exhibition:

Cathy Adelman
Don Etherington
Karen Hanmer
Andrew Huot
Ellen Knudson
Monique Lallier
Amy LeePard
Kathy Strother

The exhibition will be shown at Emory University in Decatur, Georgia as the final venue for the exhibit January 14-March 20, 2011.

Spring & Summer Classes at Altanta Printmakers' Studio

Check out the Atlanta Printmakers' Studio website for a list of terrific classes going on this spring and summer! Intaglio Copper Plate etching; Polyester Plate and Paper Lithograhy; Letterpress Class (Day); Letterpress Class (Night); Singular Prints (2-Day workshop); Solar Plate workshop; Cyanotype workshop.

Alabama Photo Book Project

Location: Kentuck Gallery; Northport, Alabama
When: Through May 30, 2009

Fifteen photographers including Kim Pearson, Stephen Savage, Pinky/MM Bass, Tom Loehr, Catt Sirten, Kelly Kleinschrodt, Keith Necaise, McLeod Turner, Susan Steber Kangal, Molly Dugan, Martha Davidson, Erin Hilburn, Mary Riser, Kristy Johnson-Snell and William Bunce have contributed to these hand-sewn and hand-decorated books. Visit the Website for history on the project.

Upcoming Papermaking Classes at BookWorks in Asheville, North Carolina!

Asheville BookWorks now has a fully equipped papermaking studio with a two-pound Reina beater, paper moulds, and paper presses. The papermaking studio will serve as a handmade paper mill specializing in commission paper for printmaking, letterpress & calligraphy. If you are interested in learning how to make paper you are invited to register for these upcoming classes instructed by Frank Brannon:

Paper Sculpture
April 20 - 22
Monday, Tuesday & Wednesday: 9:00 am - 5:00 pm
(1-hour lunch break)

The class will focus upon the exploration of two different forms of paper sculpture by using various papermaking fibers. One method of sculptural exploration will involve a cloth muslin armature filled with sand. Dampened sheets of handmade paper will be used to cover the armature using methyl cellulose as the adhesive. In the second form of sculpture, we will work directly on the papermill couching stand to initially form the sculpture, and with the use of sunlight and other sources of heat, convert the two-dimensional form into a three-dimensional one. Information for educators wishing to use these techniques is provided.

$315 + studio fees

Introduction to Handmade Paper
May 28 - 30
Thursday, Friday and Saturday: 9:00 am - 5:00 pm
(1-hour lunch break)

BookWorks Inaugural Paper Class: Using a variety of fibers, we will learn the basics of papermaking and the production of paper pulp using the Hollander beater. Sheet formation will be the focus of the course, with the development of your hand skills emphasized so that you may pull a consistently even set of sheets. Discussions will include how handmade paper may be incorporated into book arts and other art projects.

$315 + studio fees $25

Introduction to Handmade Paper
August 6 - 8
Thursday, Friday and Saturday: 9:00 am - 5:00 pm
(1-hour lunch break)

Using a variety of fibers, we will learn the basics of papermaking and the production of paper pulp using the Hollander beater. Sheet formation will be the focus of the course, with the development of your hand skills emphasized so that you may pull a consistently even set of sheets. Discussions will include how handmade paper may be incorporated into book arts and other art projects.

$315 + studio fees $25

For more information, visit the Asheville BookWorks website.

Sixth Annual Edible Book Festival in Atlanta

March 28, 2009
A Fundraiser for Literacy Volunteers of Atlanta

Play with your food and eat your words!
Literacy Volunteers of Atlanta (LVA) and the Southeast Chapter of the Guild of Book Workers invite you to unleash your imagination and your culinary talents for the sixth annual Edible Book Festival.

WHEN: Saturday, March 28, 2009, 3:00–5:00 p.m.

HOW: To participate, create a piece of edible art related to books—old or new—fiction, nonfiction, plays, poetry, etc. Entries should promote anything related to books: a scene or character from a book, play, short story, comic, or poem; a book cover; or a book’s structure. Savory or sweet, all ingredients must be entirely edible. You may use chocolate, cheese, vegetables, fruit, and more. Use your imagination!

WHO: Culinary and educational organizations, restaurants, artists, bibliophiles, and the public are invited to compete or come and enjoy.

The Edible Book Festival will benefit LVA. Registration and entry fees will be accepted in four categories:
Professional $25
Culinary student $15
Home chef $5
Child (K–6th grade) $5

For adult entries, go to
Art Institute of Atlanta–Decatur Campus
One West Court Square, Suite 110
(Gallery entrance on Ponce)
Decatur, GA 30030

For children’s entries, go to
The Cook’s Warehouse & Sherlock’s Wine Merchant
180 W. Ponce de Leon Avenue
Decatur, GA 30030

REGISTER: For more details about the Edible Book Festival and to register, go to
 www.lvama.org or send your check with your registration form to:

Literacy Volunteers of Atlanta, 246 Sycamore Street, Suite 110, Decatur, GA 30030, or call 404.377.READ.

Deadline for registration is Friday, March 20, 2009.

About International Edible Book Festivals
The International Edible Book Festival is an annual event held throughout the world, uniting bibliophiles, book artists, and food lovers to celebrate the ingestion of culture and its fulfilling nourishment. For more information about Edible Books internationally, go to www.books2eat.com.

Pardon Johnny Cash: 2009 Flower Pickin' Festival Poster Design Competition

2009 Poster Competition Call for Entries
Deadline: Entries must be Postmarked by June 12, 2009
The Johnny Cash Flower Pickin' Festival is an annual event that takes place in Starkville, Mississippi where Johnny Cash was inspired to write the song "Starkville City Jail". The event honors the spirit of redemption, the depth, and humanity of Johnny Cash's life and music.

The Johnny Cash Flower Pickin' Festival "pardon committee" requests submissions for the 2009 poster design competition. Designs will be judged by a panel of artists and professionals. The poster will be distributed both locally and regionally to promote the event, and may be used as the design for festival T-shirts.

Artwork should include the following:
• A reference to Johnny Cash and Starkville, Mississippi
• Festival dates: October 16–18, 2009
• www.pardonjohnnycash.com.

The artist of the winning design will be awarded $300 and will receive 3 posters signed by the event's headliners. All submissions become the property of the Johnny Cash Flower Pickin' Festival. All entries should be original work and contain no copyrighted material. Multiple submissions are allowed.

Submission Requirements:
• Submit a hard copy of the artwork that is sized proportional to 16” x 20”. Artwork should be full-color, any medium.
• Submit a PDF of the artwork on a CD marked with the applicant's name.
• Provide contact information including e-mail, mailing address, & phone number
• Entry Fee: Student fee: $5.00 per entry (must include a photocopy of current ID to be accepted); Professional fee: $20.00 per entry.

View previous winning entries at the festival shop at pardonjohnnycash.com.

Submission packet contents should be properly packaged and shipped to:
Johnny Cash Flower Pickin' Festival
Poster Competition
P.O. Box 6284
Mississippi State, MS 39762
For more information, visit the Pardon Johnny Cash website or contact Robbie Ward at pardonjohnnycash@gmail.com.