Book Studio

Caren Florance is teaching at the Sturt Summer School in January 2008.

Artful Books aims to introduce the concept of the book as art by working through a range of structures and techniques. Books produced will range from a simple concertina fold through to more complex origami-inspired formats and on again to Asian stab books and simple Western codex bindings. There will also be a session in which we will play with altering vintage books. Every day each participant will complete at least one book, and will have a number of paper maquettes to take home for future reference.

The course runs from 2 to 6 January 2008 at Sturt in Mittagong, NSW, and enrolments will be taken right up to the day.

For more information visit the website or call 02 4860 2080 or 02 4860 2083.�

The Book Studio is presenting a workshop in conjunction with the Australian National Gallery’s 6th Australian Print Symposium, titled From Print to Book.

This will be a short workshop exploring various methods of converting prints to book structures. This is a wonderful way to transform proofs and misprints, or to develop a distinct body of work within your print practice. Participants are welcome to bring their own prints, or can work with blank paper (provided) to create maquettes for later reference.

Date: Sunday 1 April 2007, 1.30-4.30pm

Venue: Book Studio, Printmedia & Drawing Workshop, ANU School of Art, Canberra
Cost: $40

Teacher: Caren Florance

To date there are still places available (max. 15 participants) and you can book a place by emailing Caren at eabs[at]anu.edu.au or leaving a message at the Book Studo on 02 6125 5812. Payment can be made on the day by cash, cheque or credit card.

Recently the Book Studio held two small one-day workshops on letterpress, taught by Caren Florance. Designed as a quick introduction to setting type, each group set a block of type each, had it printed on cylinder proofing press and came away with a few copies of a small chapbook that they could bind at their own leisure. The majority of participants were members of the ACT Craft Bookbinders Guild.

You could have heard a pin drop in the room while they concentrated on getting the right letters out of the typecases…

The first workshop was on Sunday 6 August, with 6 participants. The theme of their chapbook was ‘Ampersand’, with text on the origins and usage of the symbol, with a couple of poems on the same theme.

A freshly printed page, drying on the rack

The second workshop was on Thursday 11 August, with 5 participants, and their theme was ‘Alphabet’. They each set a block of prose or poetry, and Caren filled the centre of the chapbook with an alphabet of wood type.

A proof of an Alphabet page, printed in brown

Because of the limited amount of type, each block of text was set in a different font, but to contain the design we kept the font size at 12pt. The chapbooks were printed mostly on Magnani Laid paper offcuts with a small number on thick Arches paper. Sunday’s class chose to print their type in black, while Thursday’s class chose a dark brown ink.

A 4-page imposition, using a 4-section chase

Participants learned about publication planning, letterpress measurements, setting type, moving type, locking up, imposition, and using the press. Most importantly, they also took the time to put their type away, which is one of the most important parts of the endeavour!

Dissing the type (aka putting it away)

The workshops went well. Everyone worked very hard, seemed to have a good time, and a lot was achieved with just one day. Plans are afoot for more workshops, and possibly a letterpress night course. If you would like to participate in such a course or workshop, please contact the Book Studio by email: eabs[at]anu[dot]edu[dot]au

POSTSCRIPT: Images of the actual chapbooks have now been posted at the Book Studio flickr page. For the ABC chapbook, follow this link. For the Ampersand Chapbook, follow this link.