Greetings PSBA members! Hope this last part of Winter is going well!
Greetings from Your PSBA President
We have certainly started the year 2024! We had a wonderful salon in-person meeting, looking long and carefully at a beautiful collection of artist books. There was a very interesting presentation by Lynora Williams at our annual members’ meeting. We had a good time making a few valentines in February. And we had a fascinating Lunchtime Zoom Conversation with the book artist and teacher Islam Aly speaking to us from Cairo, Egypt.
Now we look ahead to the month of March. If you check the PSBA calendar on our website, you will see that the 2024 Members Exhibition registration form is now live and there are several supportive events scheduled in conjunction with it. As the year proceeds you will find announcements of activities, big and small, light-hearted and deeply involving, coming up. That is: pugetsoundbookarts.wildapricot.org.
Do join us for some or all of these.
Sally Alger, PSBA President
Upcoming Events
13th Annual PSBA Members’ Exhibition June 4, 2024–August 1, 2024:
The World through Abby's Eyes: This exhibit is currently on display though April 30, 2024, at Collins Library, University of Puget Sound. Works by Becky Frehse, Beverly Naidus, Debbi Commodore, Deborah Greenwood, Dorothy McCuistion, Gabby Cooksey, Jessica Spring, Lucia Harrison, MalPina Chan, Paige Pettibon, Victoria Björklund, Yoshi Nakagawa, and Yuka Petz. that focus on themes associated with the Tacoma artist Abby Williams Hill are on display.
To celebrate the artists and recognize International Women's Day, the Library will host an event on Friday, March 8 in the Tahoma Room, Thomas Hall at the University of Puget Sound from 2:00 to 4:00 pm. Light refreshments will be served. All PSBA members are invited to attend.
Click here for more information on the exhibit.
Lunchtime Conversation with Tia Blassingame, March 21, Noon-1pm, Zoom: Tia is an educator at Scripps College, founder of the Book/Print Artist/Scholar of Color Collective and recently returned from a fellowship at Oxford University.
Additional event information and registration is here.
A Book of Your Own (in-person events held at libraries in Whatcom County):
Have you ever wanted to make your very own book? PSBA is sponsoring a free workshop for adults. Book artist Fran McReynolds will guide you in learning the basic skills to make books without paste or glue. Learn the pamphlet stitch and simple folding techniques to create three small books as you use basic book arts tools and learn terminology. All levels of experience are welcome in this beginner course. Supplies are included. Space is limited.
Making Your Own Bookcloth, Sunday, March 23, 1PM–3PM, In person at Becky Frehse’ studio in Tacoma: In this workshop, the student will learn instructor Rachel Watson’s process of making bookcloth. We'll start with commercial, iron-on, and rice-paste book cloth samples and discuss the similarities and differences. She will share the fabric that she had success with and some thoughts about her bookcloth failures.
The class will go over her recipe for basic rice paste, prepping the kozo and fabric, and the steps to adhere the kozo and fabric together.
Workshop fee: $20. Materials fee: $27 (paid at workshop).
Registration is required. Register here.
2024 Newport Paper and Books Arts Festival, April 11-13, Newport, OR: Event information and registration is here.
Volunteer opportunity for Wayzgoose 2024, May 3 and 4:Wayzgoose is a delightful festival, and we need PSBA volunteers to monitor our vendor tables. We need people for 2-hour shifts starting at around 10:45 a.m. there will be fun handmade books to show off, beautiful papers to sell, an easy “make and take” activity to hand out, and brochures to offer that tell about PSBA and book arts. You can read more about Wayzgoose at https://www.write253.com/tacoma-wayzgoose.
If you are available for a 2-hour shift at any time during the two days let Sally Alger know at sarah.alger2@gmail.com.
Focus on Books Arts Conference June 26-30 in Monmouth, OR, Registration is now open!
FOBA's 2024 Conference is in Monmouth, Oregon June 26-30, 2024, and this year's theme is "interaction." Register and learn more about the conference here.
Member News
Jan Dove and Lindsey Shepherd curated the exhibition Strong Together: An Artist Book Collaborative that features the work of 23 PSBA members and is currently at the Port Angeles Fine Arts Center until March 24. For more information go to https://pafac.org.
Marilyn Stablein:
· Three of Marilyn’s artist books were represented in February at the CODEX International Book Arts Fair in Oakland, CA. “Himalayan Notebook” and “Elephant Chronicles,” both color editions featuring 40 of Marilyn’s collages, were exhibited at the booth of Red Fox Press, Ireland. The Nikokim Press from St. Petersburg booth featured a copy of Marilyn’s tale “The Rat Tavern” illustrated in a collectible edition of 12 signed and stitched copies by Dmitry Sayenko.
Poet Ray Prints: Community Print, Olympia's member-run and community-supported print studio and creative space, is offering upcoming classes on letterpress printing, reduction linocut, and ink mixing. Just curious about the space? Stop by for studio open hours or collage sessions. Check out all our upcoming classes and events by going to https://www.community-print.org/events
Want to teach a class or get involved? Learn how to become a member of Community Print or other ways you can support.
Amanda C. Roth Clark and Alicia Bailey: Printed Page IV opens March 28 at Spark Gallery in Denver, Colorado, and will remain on view through April 21, as part of Mo'Print, the bi-annual statewide celebration of printmaking. The exhibition includes work by 23 artists from throughout the United States who include traditional printmaking techniques in their artists' book works.
Selections were made by Amanda C. Clark, Dean of the Library at Whitworth University in Spokane Washington. Artists in the exhibition are Bug Karplus, Carrie Scanga, Casey Jay Gardner, Elisa Lanzi, Ellen Knudson, Heather Doyle-Maier, Jane Ewing, Joan Iversen Goswell, Julie Baugnet, Karen Baldner, Katherine Venturelli, Laurel Moorhead, Marnie Powers-Torrey, Naomi Velasquez, Patricia Dahlman, Ren Barnes, Rhiannon Alpers, Sarah Hulsey, Sara L. Press, Stephanie Smith, Tatiana Potts, Thomas Parker/ Mary Agnes Williams & Tom Virgin.
Curated by Alicia Bailey, Director Abecedarian Artists’ Books.
Call for Member News
Are you planning a special event or workshop? Have you recently presented your work at a Conference or event? Is your work included in an exhibition?
If you would like to share information, please send your submission to Julia.stringfellow@cwu.edu by Tuesday, March 26. Subject line should read: PSBA Member News. The April newsletter will be sent out to the membership early that month.
Call to Share Upcoming Events
Do you have an upcoming event that you are holding or participating in? Let us know! Email psba.public.relations@pugetsoundbookartists.org to add it to the calendar.
About ZOOM!
A few of you have indicated you have not been receiving the ZOOM links for the Lunchtime conversations even though you have registered. We don't know the cause, but please note that the ZOOM links are sent 2 days in advance as well as the morning of the event and come from the Puget Sound Book Artists email. If you do not receive a link by the morning of the event, please email jcarlin@pugetsound.edu.
Sincerely,
Your PSBA Board
Meet the Board members on the Contact Us webpage.
Greetings PSBA members! Hope your Winter is going well!
Colette Fu, A Pop-Up Book of Lilies, Roses, Iris, Pansies, Columbine, Love-in-a-Mist, Larkspur and Other Flowers in a Glass Vase on Table Top, Flanked by a Rose and a Carnation
As President of the PSBA board I am writing with a grateful heart. We have had many, many membership renewals and generous donations from you every day since our annual January letter was sent. It is encouraging to the board of directors to receive your response—a real shot of energy. Thank-you!
We are very excited about our annual Members’ Zoom meeting on February 11th, and you will see more about that as you read on. Please register and attend if you can; it is going to be fun. We have a great speaker, and it will be wonderful to see one another. And, of course, the board has been working to create the 2024 members’ show, classes and programs.
Yours,
Sally Alger
Reminder to Register for the Virtual Annual Meeting February 11, 2024
Sunday, February 11, 1:00pm- 3:00pm via Zoom. Register here.
The annual meeting features the National Museum of Women in the Arts (NMWA) in Washington, D.C. and the current artists' book exhibition Holding Ground with guest curator Lynora Williams, former director of the National Museum of Women in the Arts. Lynora will share insights into the exhibition, the artists' books, and many of the participating artists will join the conversation. Following the presentation is the annual business meeting with updates about membership, outreach, programs and the 2024 exhibition! Event is free.
The World through Abby's Eyes: This exhibit is currently on display though April 30, 2024, at Collins Library, University of Puget Sound. It features a number of PSBA artists who have created bespoke books that focus on themes associated with the Tacoma artist Abby Williams Hill.
Feel the Love of Book Arts! Valentine Making Open Studio: Tuesday, February 13, 10am-2pm, BARN (Bainbridge Artisan Resource Network) in collaboration with PSBA.
This event is co-hosted by PSBA member Jane Carlin and BARN member Amy Goldthwaite. It is a great opportunity to come together and enjoy time making Valentines to distribute to organizations in our community or to a special someone in your life. Sweet treats will be provided.
Event is free and no registration is necessary.
Questions: Email Jane at jcarlin@pugetsound.edu.
Lunchtime ZOOM Conversation with Islam Aly: February 15, 12:00-1:00PM.
The first lunchtime ZOOM conversation of 2024 is with nationally recognized book artist Islam Aly. Islam will share his work and discuss his recent experience at the Tokyo Art Book Fair and Codex. We are in for a treat!
Event is free but registration is required. Register here.
13th Annual PSBA Members’ Exhibition June 4, 2024–August 1, 2024: Submissions open Thursday, February 15. Visit the exhibition website to view the Call for Entries and Submission Guidelines.
Annual Membership Renewal Reminder
The annual membership renewal email was sent out to members in early January. Instructions for renewing memberships are also available online.
Save the Date: Focus on Books Arts Conference June 26-30 in Monmouth, OR
FOBA's 2024 Conference is in Monmouth, Oregon June 26-30, 2024, and this year's theme is "interaction."
While you're waiting for the full FOBA 2024 Catalog release in early February, you can learn more about the exciting new classes and read short descriptions on our website. Workshop registration will open online in early March 2024.
New to PSBA? New to Books Arts?
A benefit of joining PSBA is to participate in our annual book arts exhibition. This year’s theme is “Time Travel.” PSBA encourages all members at all skill levels – beginner to advanced --to enter an artist book, zine, post card, or broadside into the exhibit. By doing this you will have a deadline, learn how to enter an exhibit (write a statement, photograph your work etc.) and over time you will be amazed at how your ideas and skills develop. Are you too busy? Try linking the theme to something you are already doing. For example, working with family photos? Perfect theme for time travel. Studying an art movement in school? Time Travel. Activist or volunteer? What’s the history of your cause and imagine its future. Need help coming up with an idea? Encountering a problem? Contact the exhibition committee at psba.exhibition@pugetsoundbookartists.org. The full prospectus for submitting artist books and postcards can be found at https://pugetsoundbookartists.wildapricot.org/Prospectus.
If you would like to share information, please send your submission to Julia.stringfellow@cwu.edu by Monday, February 26. Subject line should read: PSBA Member News. The March newsletter will be sent out to the membership early that month.
Happy New Year, PSBA members!
Greetings from Your PSBA Board!
Happy New Year! To say that PSBA is starting off 2024 with a "bang" is an understatement! The Miller Library exhibit opens on January 4, we have a wonderful ZOOM workshop planned on the Lotus Fold Book on January 20 and will end the month with a terrific in-person presentation by Peter Newland and Robyn Johnson on January 28. They will share portions of their personal collections that will eventually be part of the Whitman College Special Collections.
We'd also like your help. If you or a family member are graduates of the University of Puget Sound, or you have an association with the University as a former student, employee, volunteer, educator or are a "neighbor" to the campus, can you please email luciaharrison49@gmail.com. We have a long association with the University and are interested if our members have as well! We want to be sure to have that information available to share with the University administration when appropriate.
January Events
Nature and the Book: An Exhibition of the Puget Sound Book Artists: January 4-30. Opening reception January 13 from noon to 2pm, University of Washington, Miller Library.
PSBA is pleased to sponsor Nature of the Book exhibit in the Elizabeth C. Miller Library and to celebrate artists who share their love of nature through their artist books. For more information visit the Miller Library website.
Surprise, a lotus fold book and a box to keep it in: January 20, 1:00–3:00pm, Zoom. Instructor: Belinda Hill.
You may already know how to make a lotus fold, but do you the different ways there are to put it together into a book? The lotus fold is simple but with it you can create a myriad of different book structures. In this mini-workshop we will make an explosion book and a simple box to keep it in.
Open to PSBA members and non-members. Non-members may register beginning January 10.
Workshop fee is $20. Click here to register and for additional event information.
Artists' Books, Small, Medium, Large: January 28, 2-4pm. University of Puget Sound, Collins Library Archives Room. Hosted by Peter Newland and Robyn Johnson.
This is an opportunity for each attendee to spend some hands-on quality time with 22 Artists’ Books from the Newland/Johnson Collection destined, in the coming years, for the archives of Whitman College.
Registration is required. Click here to register and for additional event information.
Save the Date! Annual Meeting is February 11, 2024 on Zoom
More information to come. Registration will be emailed to members and shared on the calendar here.
Annual Membership Renewal
The annual membership renewal email was sent out to members this month. Instructions for renewing memberships are also available online.
Suze Woolf will have a solo exhibit at the World Forestry Center, Portland OR: “State of the Forest. ” Composed of 30 sets of her watercolor burned tree portraits, digitally printed on 3 layers of fabric, it will be on display February through April, 2024. Fourteen of the trees have white-text-on-black silhouettes with stories by Durango author and wildland firefighter Lorena Williams (google.com). The installation has been touring in North America since 2019 and this is their first stop in the Pacific Northwest. There will be an opening reception Feb 1. A second large fabric installation, “Core Values,” will also be on display. It was created as part of an Olympic National Park glacier memorial: Terminus: Bretherton Snowfield by Suze Woolf - Olympic National Park (U.S. National Park Service) (nps.gov)
Books invite interaction from their viewer – at the simplest level, readers turn pages. This residential conference provides opportunities for inspiring interactions outside of workshops at lectures, in residence halls, at meals, around campus, and while meeting and shopping with artists, peers, and experts in the trade. At FOBA 2024, we’ll celebrate all the ways for interaction that a book arts conference embodies!
For more information, visit the FOBA 2024 Conference website.
If you would like to share information, please send your submission to Julia.stringfellow@cwu.edu by Friday, January 26. Subject line should read: PSBA Member News. The February newsletter will be sent out to the membership early that month.
Greetings and wishing you a happy holiday season, PSBA members!
Greetings from the PSBA President, book artists and friends!
I hope you are having a joyful holiday season with whatever delights your hearts. Our PSBA board has been dreaming and planning for 2024. We are full of gratitude for the financial donations and volunteer participation that our members have offered this past year. Because of you all we can continue to grow and learn and exhibit our work to a responsive audience.
Take a look at the PSBA calendar to see some of the programs coming up in December. We are looking forward to the annual membership meeting and a rich selection of classes and events next year. You will be hearing more about these soon.
Meanwhile, have a peaceful and joyous holiday time.
Sally Alger, President, PSBA
December Events
2023 PSBA Annual Members’ Exhibition Artist Panel Discussion (Zoom): Saturday, December 2, 1:00–2:00pm. Moderated by Ray Zill. Join Host Rachel Watson and Moderator Ray Zill for this final presentation and special Zoom event of the Puget Sound Book Artists' 2023 Members' Exhibition as three panelists show and discuss their work in a moderated panel discussion.
This event is free but Registration is required. Register here.
Image courtesy of Carrie L. Larson, Palette for a Changed Climate
PSBA Annual Exhibition at The Evergreen State College: PSBA Outreach and Exhibition Teams and The Evergreen State College Library invites you to see the 12th Annual Members Exhibit now on display at The Evergreen State College Library until December 15, 2023. More information is available here.
Turn Victorian Webs and Easy Pop-ups into a Carousel Book with Belinda Hill: December 10, 2023, 10:00 am-12:00 pm.
Need a fun gift or card for the holidays. Does making a pop-up book seem daunting? Have you heard of Victorian Webs? Learn how to make Victorian webs and easy pop-ups to turn into cards or a carousel book in two hours. By the end of the class you should have a carousel book or 4 or more cards.
Registration is free. Space is limited to 25 participants. For further information and to register, click here.
We will be sending out our annual membership renewal information along with a request for end of the year donations this month. Check your inbox! Donations can be made online.
If you would like to share information, please send your submission to Julia.stringfellow@cwu.edu by Tuesday, December 26. Subject line should read: PSBA Member News. The January newsletter will be sent out to the membership early that month.
Greetings and happy start to the holiday season, PSBA members!
Current and Upcoming Events
Open Case Events: PSBA 12 Annual Exhibition at The Evergreen State College: Sunday November 5 from 1:00pm-3:00pm, AND Monday, November 13 from 2:00pm-4:00pm
PSBA Outreach and Exhibition Teams and The Evergreen State College Library invites you to see the 12th Annual Members Exhibit now on display at The Evergreen State College Library until December 15, 2023. Registration is not required. Guests are welcome. More information is available here.
Why two opportunities? The Sunday event provides access to students and working families. Parking is free. The Monday event is the monthly meeting of the Olympia PSBA book arts sub-group. You must pay for parking.
In addition to the PSBA exhibit, visitors can see an exhibit of Walter Hamady’s work from the Perishable Press. Walter Hamady is an influential letterpress printer, book artist, papermaker, and collage artist. He launched the Perishable Press in 1964 and began to publish works that are expertly printed, whimsical, nonsensical, and sometimes tongue-in-cheek.
For more information, visit https://libguides.evergreen.edu/blog/Exhibit-Spotlighting-Walter-Hamady-in-the-Rare-Books-Room.
Eye on the Artist, BIMA sponsored presentation by pop-up book artist Colette Fu: Saturday, November 11. 12:00pm-1:30pm in the Banbridge Island Museum of Art Auditorium.
Join Jane Carlin and other PSBA members for a visit to BIMA and the lecture followed by coffee/wine in the Bistro and a visit to Bainbridge Arts & Crafts.
Interested? Contact Jane Carlin at jcarlin@pugetsound.edu.
Registration for the BIMA presentation is free but required. Register here.
A Conversation with Gabby Cooksey: Online event moderated by Amanda Clark, Whitworth University and PSBA Board Member, Jane Carlin. November 16, 12:00-12:50pm. Gabby has been very busy this last year, with several prestigious awards and presentations, including at the Library of Congress and the Guild of Book Workers National Standards gathering. This is a chance to catch up with Gabby - to learn about new work and impressions from her travels. Registration and event information is here.
PSBA — Show and Share Salon with Facilitator Debbi Commodore: Sunday, Nov 19, 2:00pm—4:00pm. University of Puget Sound, Collins Memorial Library, Archives Seminar Room. Bring a project or a class sample from within the past 3 years to share with other colleagues. This is a single-session, in-person Salon. All skill levels welcome. Registration is required and limited to 25 participants. Register here.
DREAMS exhibit is on display at Collins Library until November 17th. Check Library web site for open hours: https://library.pugetsound.edu/home.
PSBA Outreach Committee Updates
Member News!
If you would like to share information, please send your submission to Julia.stringfellow@cwu.edu by Monday, November 27. Subject line should read: PSBA Member News. The December newsletter will be sent out to the membership early that month.
PSBA on social media
A reminder to follow PSBA on its Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube pages.
More Book Arts Resources!
Greetings and Happy Fall PSBA members!
A Conversation with Sauda Mitchell: October 12, 12:00-12:50pm, Online.
This presentation of artist/archivist Sauda Mitchell will be moderated by Amanda Clark from Whitworth University and Jane Carlin, PSBA Board Member.
Sauda Mitchell is a printmaker, archivist, and educator from Winston-Salem, North Carolina. She is currently pursuing her doctorate in Educational Leadership and her research centers around marginalized students' access to archives. She has held several workshops that introduce artists to how archives can serve as inspiration for artists' books as well as developing workshops which explore African American artists, and books as a contemporary art form.
The event is free, but Registration is required. Register here.
Distinguished by Design: Handmade Books from the Medieval to the Modern, Book Club of Washington: Saturday, November 4, 10:00 AM-4:00 PM, Folio: The Seattle Athenaeum, Pike Place Market, Seattle.
Join fellow book lovers and experts, including the Special Collections Librarian from Western Washington University Michael Taylor, private collector Matt Brehe, renown book expert Sandra Kroupa from University of Washington, and Amanda Clark from Whitworth trace the book from medieval times to the present day. Enjoy lunch at Pike Place Market and see the beautiful Folio space.
Registration is required. To register and for event information, visit https://www.bookclubofwashington.org/events.
PSBA Annual Members' Exhibition on Display at Evergreen State College through December 15:The 12th Annual Members' Exhibition is currently on display at the Evergreen State College Library! This year, the suggested theme is “Collaboration” and illustrates the organization’s efforts to build community throughout the region. The books are created from various materials, including old books, found objects, metal, fabric, etc., and come in many sizes and structures. Open Case Event: November 5, 2023 from 1:00pm-3:00pm. Visit the website for more information.
Fifth Annual Book Exchange Recap!
The 17 participants in the PSBA 5th annual book exchange gathered at Collins Library on October 1 for the in-person exchange event. Non participating PSBA members and other interested persons were also present. Each participant gave a short explanation of her book and drew a random name for the book she was entitled to receive in exchange. The books were outstanding explorations of the theme “Secrets” and presented a wide variety of book structures and interpretations. A slide show of all the books will be available on the PSBA website. Participating artists were Teresa Owens, Jan Dove, Lynne Olson, Dorothy McCuistion, Gina Pisello, Mary Preston, LeeAnne Campos, Elsi Vassdal Ellis, Kim Izenman, Debbi Commodore, Mari Eckstein Gower, Esther Ervin, Bonnie Julien, Carlie Schulz, Belinda Hill, Laurel Moorhead and Abbie Birmingham.
A sample of the books is shown in the photo, Left to Right by Esther Ervin, LeeAnne Campos, Mari Eckstein Gower and Belinda Hill (wooden box). Mary Preston’s book is shown in the other photo. A vote on next year’s theme will be held during the annual members meeting so stay tuned for further information. All are encouraged to participate in next year’s event and one of the many benefits is another opportunity to be inspired by our collective creativity.
This summer the PSBA Outreach Committee (Lucia Harrison, Belinda Hill, Jan Dove, Becky Frehse, Fran McReynolds, Sally Alger, and Karen Bienveniste) created opportunities at public libraries for PSBA members to exhibit their work.
Wheelock Library, Tacoma Public Library, Tacoma, WA
In the spring Karen Bienveniste reached out to the Wheelock Library in Tacoma to arrange a July mini exhibit and introductory book arts workshop. Karen worked with Lucia Harrison, Becky Frehse, and Jodee Fenton to plan the workshop and prepare materials. The workshop was held in mid-July with 12 participants who learned how to make a pamphlet stitched book with a button closure and a dos y dos book. The participants included teachers, retired folks, and younger students.
Aberdeen Timberline Library, Aberdeen, WA
Carrie Larson reached out to the Aberdeen, Washington Library to arrange a mini exhibition of PSBA Member books for the month of July. Belinda Hill taught an introductory workshop at the Aberdeen library in August.
If you would like to create a mini-exhibit at your local library, please contact the Outreach Coordinator, Lucia Harrison luciaharrison49@gmail.com.
The annual Tacoma Studio Tour, October 14-15 11am-5pm, features five PSBA members:
Visit tacomaartsmonth.org for additional event information.
If you would like to share information, please send your submission to Julia.stringfellow@cwu.edu by Thursday, October 26. Subject line should read: PSBA Member News. The November newsletter will be sent out to the membership early that month.
Greetings PSBA members! Wishing you a happy start to Fall!
From Your Board President
Hello all,
It is chilly today, and there is a new quality to the light—more like autumn light. PSBA had its annual board planning retreat on Saturday, September 9. It was a wonderful, exciting day. We have some new board members starting their terms: Fran McReynolds and Ray Zill. Both of them have already been contributing great things to PSBA even before their terms have begun. Welcome!
And we have a couple of long serving members retiring. We are saying goodbye to Mark Hoppmann who has been our excellent webmaster since our website originated. We will certainly miss his skills at problem solving, making it look easy. And we are also going to miss Dorothy McCuistion whose service on the board, teaching skills and creative work on the Programming committee has been very important to us. These two are not leaving PSBA—just finishing their terms.
And we are feeling grateful to two people who have volunteered to take on some of the tasks of maintaining our website in addition to their work as artists. Rachel Watson will be our new webmaster and Jan Dove is going to be our calendar coordinator. There will be more about this and other plans later. Meanwhile, have a wonderful September.
Printmaking using Gelatin Plate with Deborah Greenwood: In-person mini-workshop. Part 1: Sunday, September 24, 1 PM-4 PM. Part 2: Sunday, October 29, 1 PM-4PM. Registration for PSBA Members is $50.
This mini-workshop will explore printing using a gelatin plate and creating subtle effects with pressed plants, stencils and stamps.
This workshop is full, but there is a waitlist here.
Printmaking Using Gelatin Plate: Second Workshop Offering: Given the high level of interest in the first workshop, we have added a second one! September 24 and October 29, 9am-noon: Registration is requires: $50 for PSBA members. Space is limited.
Contact Debbi Commodore (commodoredr@icloud.com) to register.
PSBA Board Retreat Update
Your PSBA Board held a day long retreat at the BARN - Bainbridge Arts Resource Network on Saturday June 9th. We still have to process all that we discussed including our calendar for 2024, funding and leadership. Stay tuned! BARN: This organization graciously allowed us to meet and shared insights into their wonderful facility. Please take a moment to visit their website to learn more: BARN Bainbridge Artisan Resource Network.
Image courtesy of Marilyn Stablein
From author and artist Marilyn Stablein:
From author Gina Pisello:
Image courtesy of Gina Pisello
If you would like to share information, please send your submission to Julia.stringfellow@cwu.edu by Tuesday, September 26. Subject line should read: PSBA Member News. The September newsletter will be sent out to the membership in late September.
Greetings PSBA members! Hope your summer is going well!
Board Announcements and Updates
Volunteer needed—PSBA Calendar Coordinator: PSBA accomplishes its mission mostly with the help of volunteers. We are proud of this. The details in creating the very professional members’ exhibit, the book arts classes and the presentations are done via the labor of our members and friends.
PSBA has a very important volunteer job opening. If you have some technical skills and about 8 hours per month available to use them, we need you. We are looking for someone to coordinate the events calendar on our website. For more information contact Sally Alger, PSBA President at psbanews@gmail.com. She will send you a job description and other details.
New Board Members: We are so happy to announce that Ray Zill from The Evergreen College and Fran McReynolds, local artist and educator, will be joining the PSBA Board in September! We are delighted to have these two thoughtful and creative members contribute to the future of PSBA!
We also share a huge THANK YOU to Mark Hoppmann who has served as a Board member for over a decade. Mark has been the leader in our web page development and implementation of our PSBA calendar. We can't thank him enough for all his contributions! Mark assures us he will remain an active member!
Annual Exhibit KUDOS: We have just ended another successful PSBA exhibition. Once again we extend thanks to you, our members, for sharing your work and to the amazing exhibition team! It is exciting to know that the books will now travel to The Evergreen College and we will have additional opportunities to hear from the artists.
Board Retreat on September 8th: Your PSBA Board will be convening at the Bainbridge Island Artist Resource Network space (BARN) to hold the annual planning retreat. On the agenda are three main themes: programs and events, leadership sustainability and our financial portfolio. We need to discuss how to continue to maintain our level of programs, recruit new leadership to assure the organization can continue to prosper and to consider our finances including a review of membership fees, exhibit costs and fundraising. If you have ideas or comments to share, please contact Jane at jcarlin@pugetsound.edu ( please note, Jane will be retaining her Puget Sound email for the next year).
All About Dreams: A Lunchtime Conversation with Erin Michelson and Sha Towers. August 17, 12:00-12:50, Online.
The Dreams exhibit is displayed at the Collins Library from August 20 through November 17. This international juried exhibition features a wide range of unique books that explore dreams. In addition to learning about the books in the show, Erin will share updates about her work as the manager of 23 Sandy, and Sha will share insights into the programs at Baylor.
This event is free, but registration is required. Event information and registration is here.
Annual Book Exchange, Secrets: October 1, 2pm-4pm, University of Puget Sound, Collins Library.
“Secrets” is the theme of this year’s in-person book exchange. The theme was selected by majority vote of the members attending the PSBA annual meeting, and we’re hoping you’re either working on your book or will be inspired to join. Some ideas to get the creative mojo going:
And, of course, there are some engaging book structures to try with the theme: Masu and other origami unfolding boxes, secret Belgian binding, exploding boxes, and so on.
The rules are simple. You make a book and at the event your name/book will be randomly paired with another participating artist, and you give them your book and receive a book from a randomly selected different participating artist. The books for the past years’ exchanges have been very high quality, and you’ll have the fun of making a book, getting inspired by the other wonderful books, and adding a new fabulous book to your personal collection.
If you can’t make an in-person appearance on October 1, no worries, you can mail your book and receive an exchange book, also by mail.
Questions? Feel free to contact Abbie Birmingham, abbiemi5274@gmail.com. An email to register will be going out soon, and the event and registration will be on the Calendar page.
Image courtesy of Jan Dove.
Jan Dove's artist book Seminole Canyon is included in Alicia Bailey's show "Westward Bound II" August 17- September 10 in Denver, Colorado.
Focus on Book Arts Conference 2024: Call for Workshop Proposals Extended to July 30.Visit the conference website for more information.
The FOBA conference takes places June 19-23, 2024, in Monmouth, Oregon.
If you would like to share information, please send your submission to Julia.stringfellow@cwu.edu by Saturday, August 26. Subject line should read: PSBA Member News. The September newsletter will be sent out to the membership in late August.
Greetings PSBA members! Hope the summer is going well for you so far!
We are excited about the current members’ exhibit in the Collins Library and the events connected with it listed below. It will be great fun to have a chance to see more details of the wonderful books, and to get to know their originators better. Please see the exhibit soon if you possibly can. Collaboration works in unique ways! We are sad to see Jane Carlin retiring from her job as director of the Collins Library, but we are delighted to know that she will still be very much a part of PSBA with all the creativity and energy she has always given us. And our various board committees are working hard this month to plan classes and events for this fall. Keep watch for this newsletter to learn about them. Have a wonderful summer, everyone. Relax, make art, explore. Sally Alger, PSBA Board President
We are excited about the current members’ exhibit in the Collins Library and the events connected with it listed below. It will be great fun to have a chance to see more details of the wonderful books, and to get to know their originators better. Please see the exhibit soon if you possibly can. Collaboration works in unique ways!
We are sad to see Jane Carlin retiring from her job as director of the Collins Library, but we are delighted to know that she will still be very much a part of PSBA with all the creativity and energy she has always given us. And our various board committees are working hard this month to plan classes and events for this fall. Keep watch for this newsletter to learn about them.
Have a wonderful summer, everyone. Relax, make art, explore.
Sally Alger, PSBA Board President
Marshall Weber/Booklyn Presentation
Image courtesy of Marshall Weber.
July 6, 1-2 pm, University of Puget Sound, Collins Memorial Library, Archives Seminar Room (2nd Floor). Join us as author Marshall Weber presents a new selection of artists' books from Booklyn. The organization focuses on artists who are committed to environmental and social justice.
Registration is not required. Event information is available here.
2023 PSBA Annual Members' Exhibition Events
Artists Panel Presentation (In-person): July 15, 2:30pm, University of Puget Sound, Collins Memorial Library, Room 118. Our four award winners/panelists show and discuss their work in a panel discussion moderated by Peter Newland.
The event is free but registration is required and limited to 12 seats only. Registration and event information available here.
Artists Panel Presentation (Online via Zoom): July 15, 3:00pm. Our four award winners/panelists show and discuss their work in a moderated panel discussion moderated by Peter Newland.
The online event is free but registration is required. When you register here, select the online event option.
The Alchemy of Collaboration: July 19, 12:00-1:00pm, online via Zoom. During the COVID pandemic, Anthea Karanasos Hubanks gave an inspiring Zoom workshop to PSBA members called “Book Artist Alchemy: The Art of Weaving Words & Images.” The workshop further inspired a group of its participants to continue to meet and work together.
Given the PSBA exhibit theme of “Collaboration,” a collaborative book was created and submitted by the group of workshop participants to the PSBA member exhibit, and the “Meeting the Alchemist” book emerged. In this Zoom presentation, the group will share their experience and the elements that contributed to a successful collaboration.
Event is free but registration is required. Registration and event information is here.
A note of thanks from Jane: I am still spending time each day looking at the wonderful Archive of Appreciation. A huge thank you to each of you that contributed. I am working on scanning the images to share with you as each one is a special and unique work of art. Once again, thank you so much for your kind words and support over the years.
Book Arts Studio at Collins Memorial library, University of Puget Sound: If you are interested in accessing the PSBA ambassadors box (compiled for outreach events), or need some sample books for an event, please contact Jamie Spaine, jspaine@pugetsound.edu. Jamie is the key contact for PSBA once Jane departs. Jamie can work with you to get access to the materials.
We are excited to announce a new section of our monthly newsletter that is focused on sharing information about you, our members!
If you would like to share information, please send your submission to Julia.stringfellow@cwu.edu by Wednesday, July 26. Subject line should read: PSBA Member News. The July newsletter will be sent out to the membership in late July.
Fun Fact!
Did you know that the Girl Scouts support a Book Arts Badge? How great is that? You can order the pamphlet here for just $3: https://www.girlscoutshop.com/cadette-book-artist-badge-requirements. It is a great overview of book arts and the lesson can easily be adapted for a number of age ranges and groups. The lessons cover the art of bookbinding, construction of the book, artist techniques, focus on function and style. Jane Carlin reports that several troops have visited the Collins Library over the years and she used this guide in developing a short course on Introduction to the Book Arts. A purchase well worth the $3. Just google Book Arts Badge and you will find a lot of Pinterest sites and YouTube videos.
Greetings PSBA members! We are excited for the Annual Members' Exhibition opening next week and hope to see you there! 2023 PSBA Annual Members' Exhibition Events Exhibition Opening: June 5, Collins Library, University of Puget Sound. Further information is provided here. Opening Reception: June 7, 4:30-6:30pm, Collins Library,University of Puget Sound. Remarks from the curatorial team and awards will be presented during the reception at 5:30 pm. Event information is here. Book Arts Guild June 8 Event The Book Arts Guild is sponsoring a free online talk by Pietro Accardi on European marbling on June 8 at 7pm. Interested PSBA members are invited to attend after they register at the BAG website here. Focus on Book Arts Conference 2024, Call for workshop Proposals The Focus on Book Arts (FOBA) conference is seeking instructors for the fifteenth biennial Conference taking place June 19-23, 2024. This event will be held at Western Oregon University in Monmouth, Oregon. Proposals must be received by July 15, 2023. More information is available here. Looking for left over wallpaper The PSBA Outreach Committee is looking for leftover wallpaper at least 28 inches long for a July workshop at the Wheelock Library. If you have any to donate, please contact Lucia Harrison at luciaharrison49@gmail.com. New Addition to the PSBA Newsletter: Member News! We are excited to announce a new section of our monthly newsletter that is focused on sharing information about you, our members! Are you planning a special event or workshop? Have you recently presented your work at a Conference or event? Is your work included in an exhibition? If you would like to share information, please send your submission to Julia.stringfellow@cwu.edu by Monday, June 26. Subject line should read: PSBA Member News. The July newsletter will be sent out to the membership in late June. Sincerely, Your PSBA Board Meet the Board members on the Contact Us webpage.
Greetings PSBA members! We are excited for the Annual Members' Exhibition opening next week and hope to see you there!
Exhibition Opening: June 5, Collins Library, University of Puget Sound. Further information is provided here.
Opening Reception: June 7, 4:30-6:30pm, Collins Library,University of Puget Sound. Remarks from the curatorial team and awards will be presented during the reception at 5:30 pm. Event information is here.
Book Arts Guild June 8 Event
The Book Arts Guild is sponsoring a free online talk by Pietro Accardi on European marbling on June 8 at 7pm. Interested PSBA members are invited to attend after they register at the BAG website here.
Focus on Book Arts Conference 2024, Call for workshop Proposals
The Focus on Book Arts (FOBA) conference is seeking instructors for the fifteenth biennial Conference taking place June 19-23, 2024. This event will be held at Western Oregon University in Monmouth, Oregon. Proposals must be received by July 15, 2023. More information is available here.
Looking for left over wallpaper
The PSBA Outreach Committee is looking for leftover wallpaper at least 28 inches long for a July workshop at the Wheelock Library. If you have any to donate, please contact Lucia Harrison at luciaharrison49@gmail.com.
New Addition to the PSBA Newsletter: Member News!
If you would like to share information, please send your submission to Julia.stringfellow@cwu.edu by Monday, June 26. Subject line should read: PSBA Member News. The July newsletter will be sent out to the membership in late June.
Please contact us at psbanews@gmail.com to learn more about the Puget Sound Book Artists or if you have a question about our organization!