Click here to view photos from previous BookFests

Presentations downstairs at Hollander’s Workshop space include:

11:00 Ann Arbor Women Book Artists. Five person panel from the Ann Arbor Women Artists group discuss their work in the book arts field. Group includes Kathy Frajbis, Cathy Hightower, Mia Risberg, Corinne Vivian and Katherine Willson.

12:00 Book Arts Summer Residency. Discussion of Hollander’s Summer Residency program with Ruth Bardenstein, Barbara Brown, & Alvey Jones. The artists will talk about the program and the impact their collaboration had on eachother’s work during the two weeks they were together.

1:00 Two Great Books about Books. Julia Miller and Cathleen Baker talk about their recently published books. Julia describes her book about historical bindings dating back to the earliest codex and Cathleen talks about the 19th century American paper making industry, technologies, materials, and conservation.

2:00 Experimental Books. Leslie Atzmon & Ryan Molloy discuss a book show, “Open Book— An International Survey of Experimental Books”, curated by the speakers and presented in May, 2010 at Eastern Michigan University.

3:00 The Last of the Hand Binderies. Jon Buller, owner of the Bessenberg Bindery in Ann Arbor was one of the last hand binderies in the country. Jon discusses hand binderies and the recent Thompson’s Shore’s acquisition of this long time local business.

4:00 Marketing 101 for Book Artists. Laura Russell, photographer, book artist and owner of 23 Sandy Gallery, a book arts gallery in Portland, Oregon will talk about how to successfully market your book art. She’ll discuss marketing plans, pricing, promotional materials, internet sales, book fairs as well as how to approach dealers, galleries, institutions and collectors.

Presentations upstairs in Hollander’s Kitchen include the following:

12:00 to 1:00 Tasting and Touring Michigan’s Homegrown Food. Author Jaye Beeler and photographer Dianne Carroll Burdick offer both a power point and a cooking demonstration from their book, Tasting and Touring Michigan’s Homegrown Food. This presentation is sponsored by the Kerrytown BookFest and includes taste samples! Free Event.

1:15 to 1:45 “A Smorgasbord of Verse” and “A Taste of Rhyme”. Marvin Brandwin reads a selection of food related poems that he has written from his two books.

2:00 to 3:00 Kerrytown BookFest Presents- “Ma Baseema” Jane Shallal presents Ma Baseema: Middle Eastern Cuisine with a Chaldean Flair. Jane gives you a taste of a culture that has one of the world’s oldest cuisines, dating back to ancient Mesopotamia. This presentation is sponsored by the Kerrytown BookFest and includes taste samples!

Hollander’s Outdoor’s Mini Workshops in the Farmer’s Market:

1:30 to 2:30 Learn to make a Flag Book with Ruth Bardenstein.

3:00 to 4:00 Learn to make an 8 page book from a single sheet of paper with Candra Gill.

For more information about all the events at the Kerrytown BookFest, go to
www.kerrytownbookfest.org.

Bookfest Poster Engraving

Since March of this year, I’ve been traveling and teaching wood engraving workshops. I was at John Campbell Folk School in Brasstown, North Carolina; the Hamilton Wood Type Museum in Two Rivers, Wisconsin; Frogman’s Print & Paper (perhaps the most intensive and finest printmaking workshop in the US, now in its 30th year, located at U of SD in Vermillion); and finally The Augusta Heritage Center at D & E College in Elkins, West Virginia. I will be at Bookworks in Asheville, NC in early October.

These workshops give me an adventure in travel, and I meet really neat people. People that take a class in wood engraving are usually taking a bit of a risk, as it is not as mainstream a medium as say intaglio or lithography. Many times these students just want to venture into something unknown, or they are professionals looking to expand their repertoire of skills.

Wood engraving is a cousin to letterpress printing, which has hugely increased in popularity in the past few years. To have the ability to illustrate with extreme detail to many is a valuable tool to have in your repertoire. Wood engraving produces beautiful solid areas of positive shape, and also gives amazing tonal gradation. When printing off an end-grain block, it is noticeable how much stronger the image is than those of photoengraved images. Wood engraving does give one the ability to use the strengths of other mediums. For example, one can stipple to create wonderful soft tones that you would think could only be achieved in aquatint, mezzotint or lithography. The downside of wood engraving is there is no immediate gratification. It is a slow, precise and calculating process. It is almost meditative in the focus it demands. For some, this is exactly what attracts them to the medium. A wood engraving can empower a drawing (like any printmaking method) but the essential part is the expression is in the drawing.

Finished Bookfest Poster

Drawing takes practice, and that is a concept that seems to get crowded out in the mad rush of contemporary living. To me, the more one can find a life-style that will allow practice, as well as time to contemplate, to explore and experiment, to notice your surroundings (even the small) produces a rich life, where the ego fades, and you are connected with a much deeper experience in living.

To sign up for this and other workshops, visit hollanders.com or call 734.741.7531.

I recently had the opportunity to visit Cathleen at her workplace at the University of Michigan to discuss her upcoming class, as well as her intriguing life and career.

Hollander’s: What are your primary responsibilities as MLibrary’s Senior Conservator?
Cathleen Baker: I’m primarily responsible for what we call “unbound materials” or “flat materials”. I do occasionally work on books, but I mostly do prints, drawings, archival materials, documents and maps.

I do a lot of conservation of rare maps. Conservation is basically stabilizing material so that it doesn’t deteriorate chemically – and also safeguard it in ways to make it safer to handle and use as a research material. We are a research library, not a museum.

Hollander’s: Concerning adhesives, what have you observed as being the most common mistake bookbinders and book artists make?
Cathleen Baker: I think the real problem that everybody has – whether they’re bookbinders or conservators – is that you tend to use a couple of things that you feel very comfortable with…and especially that your teacher taught you about or your master taught you.

And that’s not to say that you can’t do a really good job with those – let’s say – two adhesives, but it seems to me that knowing about more than one or two kinds of adhesives and really understanding the properties of – let’s say – four or five adhesives… understanding all their properties and ways… whether they’re stable adhesives or not… under which conditions are they stable…. and then being able to apply an adhesive in a certain situation which is going to be the best choice that you can make.

I think all those things are very important – and adhesives are one of the most critical materials in the book arts. They’re probably the least well understood. And yet, they’re used all the time. It seems to me that anyone interested in the book arts, or in making any kind of art or craft that is a seriously creative person and who has a modicum of curiosity about materials should come to a workshop on adhesives where they can get the basic information.

Hollander’s: In addition to being a book artist and paper conservator, you have also become an author and publisher. What stands out for you as the most impelling point in your career?
Cathleen Baker: I have to say probably the publication of my book From the Hand to the Machine—Nineteenth-century American Paper and Mediums: Technologies, Materials, and Conservation because it is a book that I wanted to write for many decades, having taught in a conservation program for fifteen years without the benefit of a text book. I’ve always wanted to write a text book for paper and book conservation students because there isn’t one – even now – and has never been one. And so my goal for a long, long time was to write such a book.

I think my experiences as a book artist – if you will – a paper conservator, the fact that I have done research and written books before, and then being my own publisher…. being my own publisher really helped me because… nobody was going to tell me what I could and could not do.

To register for this and other classes, visit Hollanders.com or call 734.741.7531.

On the website for her printing and book press, Bloodroot Press, Jean’s biography and teaching philosophy are detailed.

Jean Buescher Bartlett has taught the art of bookmaking to kindergartners through adults, both full-time and as a part-time visiting artist, at a diverse array of venues across the country. She holds an MFA in Book Arts from the University of Alabama and her work is in many permanent collections throughout the world.

Her teaching approach is to awaken and sharpen dormant creativity through problem-solving, free-association, visual acuity, manual dexterity, formal design, geometry, color theory, critical thinking, analogy, metaphor, sketching and typographic exercises, working slowly and thinking clearly. A class with Jean is meant to open, resonate and celebrate.

In her upcoming workshop, Flax Book with Woven Tapes, students will create a non-adhesive book structure in which the text block will be sewn onto double tapes and then woven into the book’s front and back covers. The cover, made from Cave flax paper, will feature windows cut into the spine that exhibit the exposed spine sewing.
To register for this and other workshops, visit hollanders.com or call the store at 734.741.7531.

This year’s Summer Artists in Residence program has come to a close. Thank you to all who participated and stopped by to meet the artists. Look for classes with this year’s artists on our Winter/Spring schedule at hollanders.com.

Barbara

Ruth Bardenstein, Barbara Brown and Alvey Jones are heading up this year’s residency and are all very excited about the projects they’ll be working on together. As usual, they will also be offering a variety of projects to visitors who come to the event between the hours of 12-3. Marilyn Prucka, one of the artists from previous years, as well as others, hope to join them for one or two days through out the two week period.

Barbara Brown writes, “after some discussion we decided that we would like to make Flag Books this year with an alphabetic theme. We will have materials out that visitors will be able to use in creating their own Flag Books, and we will also have materials available for making postcards and paste paper. We have always had great fun during these collaborations, but on the serious side, we’ve also drawn inspiration from each other and from the public. This will be the 4th year the program has been offered and each year it seems to get better!”

The event is free and open to the public, beginning July 11 and running through Friday, July 22.

http://openbookworkshop.com/

Faculty: Denise Gonzales Crisp and Christopher Baker
Dates: July 29-August 6, 2011
Cost: $700

This nine-day intensive experimental book workshop intended for artists,
designers, writers, graduate students, etc. The venue is EMU’s Parsons
Center, out in the country near Traverse City, Michigan, walking distance to
Lake Anne. Please go to the website for application materials.

Over the last two decades, there have been a number of essays—and,
ironically, books—that predict the demise of traditional books in the
wake of digital media. Defining the term “book” loosely, as a vehicle
for visual or verbal content that is organized into “sections,” this
intensive nine-day workshop will challenge overly simplistic ideas
about the demise of physical books by stressing instead the ways novel
renditions of physical and digital and hybrid “books” carry meaning.
The objective is to encourage participants to explore unconventional
forms that books may take and to create an artwork/designed object
that challenges ideas of what books can be.

The nine-day intensive workshop is organized by Eastern Michigan
University faculty Leslie Atzmon and Ryan Molloy. It will be led by
Denise Gonzales Crisp and Christopher Baker. While the instructors
will guide the direction of and lead discussions at the workshop,
participants will be asked to contribute their particular knowledge
and skill sets and contribute to the topic through presentations of
their ideas and their creative work or research. The workshop is open
to students, educators, and professionals from all disciplines.

Participants will be supplied basic art materials as part of the
workshop. Other materials can be purchased at art supply stores in
nearby Traverse City.

This Open Book workshop is an offshoot of the Open Book experimental
book exhibition that was held in Eastern Michigan University’s
University Gallery from April 3 to June 15, 2010.

http://openbookexhibit.com.

——————————————–
Leslie Atzmon
Professor, Graphic Design and Design History
Art Department
114 Ford Hall
Eastern Michigan University
Ypsilanti, MI 48197

734 487 1268
FAX 734 487 2324

2000 Bonisteel Blvd, Ann Arbor, Mi. 48104 (734) 761-2287
“The Tie That Binds”
Book Artists from University of Michigan School of Art and Design

April 11 – June 13, 2011

Gifts of Art Gallery – Taubman Health Center South Lobby, Floor 1

In this exhibit, U-M Book Arts Instructor and Hollander’s faculty member, Barbara Brown, has collected a body of work by her U-M students which explores contemporary bookmaking as art.

The students showing here have demonstrated their considerable talent for creating books as art objects. In the show, we find surprising combinations of media which the artists have incorporated in creating these thought provoking pieces.

Barbara arranged for six of the U-M classes to be held in the Hollander’s Book and Paper School where her students were able to learn how to use the equipment available there and have the experience of a working bindery.

Included in the show are artists Brooke Adams, Brianne Burgoon, Jaclyn Benninger, Abby Bennett, Gabriela Cegelis, Alyssa Chambo, Hye Yeon Cho, Jazmine Clark, Katie Eberts, Meghan Forbes, Nora Jane Green, Haley Hoard, Kimberley Karcz, Minji Lee, Kaitlind Marek, Anita Sidler and Laura Thompson.

The 8th Annual Kerrytown BookFest will be held on Sunday, September 12, 2010.

KERRYTOWN BOOKFEST 2010 PROGRAM

Sunday, September 12 from 11:00 to 5:00
at the Ann Arbor Farmers’ Market

MAIN TENT

11:00 COMMUNITY BOOK AWARD PRESENTATION to Loren Estleman,
Michigan mystery writer, presented by co-Honorary Chairs
Joe and Karen O’Neal, local business owners. Estleman will be
interviewed by Doug Allyn after the presentation.
12:00 NORTHERN NOIR – Steve Hamilton, William Kent Krueger, and Bryan
Gruley – Interviewed by Craig McDonald
1:00 AUTHOR THOMAS LYNCH – Interviewed by Keith Taylor
2:00 PARANORMAL FICTION & POETRY: WEREWOLVES, VAMPIRES & GHOSTS
Toby Barlow, Jennifer Armintrout, and young adult author, Amy Huntley Interviewed by Colleen Gleason
3:00 CALDECOTT AWARD WINNING AUTHOR ILLUSTRATOR DAVID SMALL
Interviewed by Nicola Rooney
4:00 ILLUMINATING IMAGINATIONS: WRITING & ILLUSTRATING FOR
CHILDREN – Susan Kathleen Hartung, Mark Crilley, Debbie Taylor,
Colleen Monroe, and Michael Monroe – Interviewed by
Jackie LaRose

CHILDREN’S TENT

11-4:00 PAPERMAKING – artist Karen O’Neal
ART ACTIVITIES – Blue House volunteers
12:00 DRAWING – with Ellie McDoodle author, Ruth McNally Barshaw
1:00 TALES FROM NEPAL – storyteller Heather O’Neal
2:00 MOTHER GOOSE TALES – Mother Goose
3:00 SING & READ ALONG – author Deborah Diesen

ON-GOING THROUGHOUT BOOKFEST

OLD & RARE BOOK APPRAISALS – Free book appraisals by Garrett Scott and Jay Platt, owner of West Side Book Shop. Both Garrett and Jay are members of Antiquarian Booksellers Association of America

BOOK CONSERVATION TIPS – Tips on book repair and conservation from
Jim Craven of UM Bentley Historical Library, Shannon ‘Dr Book’ Zachary of UM
Dept of Preservation & Conservation, and Jon Buller of Bessenberg Bindery

BOOK & PAPER ARTS DEMONSTRATIONS – Various exhibitors and graduates of Hollander’s School of Book & Paper Arts in Farmers’ Market area

LINOTYPE STUDIO TOUR – Kent Burkhart offers a tour and demonstration of the historic linotype equipment owned by his late father, Ben Burkhart

KERRYTOWN CONCERT HOUSE

11:00 3rd ANNUAL BOOK COVER ART AWARD WINNERS – Judged by the author
of A Cold Day in Paradise, Steve Hamilton and Steve Klein, publisher
12:00 FICTIONAL MICHIGAN – Bonnie Jo Campbell, Michael Zadoorian,
Kristina Riggle, and Wendy Webb – Interviewed by Eric Olsen
1:00 REMEMBERING & FORGETTING: THE ART OF THE MEMOIR
Steve Luxenberg and Lev Raphael discuss their work with Steve Lehto
2:00 WORD WORKS – Teen authors recite their poetry
3:00 CHANGING HISTORY: HISTORICAL FICTION – John Smolens, Steve Amick, Donald Lystra, and Sharon Pomerantz – Interviewed by Judge William Whitbeck
4:00 MICHIGAN MURDERS – True crime writers Mardi Link and Gail Griffin
discuss their books and the re-release of The Michigan Murders –
Interviewed by Ellen McCarthy

HOLLANDER’S SCHOOL OF BOOK & PAPER ARTS

11-4:00 EDIBLE BOOK EXHIBITION AND CONTEST
4:00 EDIBLE BOOK CONTEST HISTORY & AWARD WINNERS Awards for Best Pun
Intended, Most Book-Like, People’s Choice, and Best in Show for
adults and People’s Choice and Best in Show for children under 18

HOLLANDER’S MINI WORKSHOPS — FARMERS’ MARKET

Workshops suitable for ages 10 and up
11:00 PAPER AIRPLANES – Arie Koewelyn teaches the folding of paper with
aerodynamic qualities using origami techniques – for young and old
1:00 TWO MINUTE MYSTERY BOOK – Barbara Brown, a former Community
Book Award recipient, leads participants in making an accordion
book with pockets to contain ultra-short mysteries
3:00 THREE SIMPLE BOOK STRUCTURES – Eric Alstrom teaches how to make
an accordion book, a pamphlet book, and a Japanese-style book

HOLLANDER’S UPSTAIRS KITCHEN

1:00 THE CHRISTMAS COOKIE CLUB: THE NOVEL & THE COOKBOOK
Author Ann Pearlman will discuss her book with Marybeth Bayer
who will be baking cookies from their collaborative cookbook

2:00 READINGS FROM A SMORGASBORD OF VERSE: EASY TO DIGEST FOOD POEMS
Author Marvin Brandwin, retired UM professor reads from his book, the delightful poems he wrote.

This program sponsored in part by Ann Arbor Observer,
City of Ann Arbor, Hollander’s, Kerrytown Concert House,
Kerrytown Market & Shops, WEMU, WUOM, Zingerman’s, and
Michigan Humanities Council, an affiliate of the National Endowment of the Humanities

For more information visit us at www.kerrytownbookfest.org