Greetings PSBA members! Hope you are having a great summer!
Greetings from the PSBA President!
Dear Friends,
I hope you all have had or will have a chance to visit the PSBA Members’ exhibit at the Collins Library until August 1. And I am glad to say that the PSBA exhibit is NOT OVER. It’s moving to The Evergreen State College and will be on display from mid-September through mid-December. I have been back to see it twice, and I am still not done marveling at the many ways the idea of “Time Travel” can be explored.
Several of our members have been organizing some small informal regional groups for anyone who wants to get acquainted with other nearby book arts enthusiasts and/or see what others are working on, get ideas and insights. These are great fun, very satisfying. Scan on to see other book arts events and opportunities coming up.
May you all have a rich and enjoyable rest-of-summer.
Sincerely,
Sally Alger
Upcoming Events
August 13: Monthly Pierce County PSBA Meet-ups, Second Tuesday of the Month, 5-7 pm.
Please join us at the first Pierce County PSBA Meet-up on Tuesday, August 13, 5-7 pm, University Place Public Library Meeting Room. Address: 3609 Market Place W., Suite 100, University Place, WA 98466. Our second meeting will be on August 13, same time, same place.
What is a Meet-up? A chance to get to know PSBA members who live near YOU! And share your work. Bring something to share:
This is very informal, you don’t need to register, you can bring an interested friend, and you don’t have to live in Pierce County!
The meet-ups will be facilitated (alternately) by Becky Frehse.
August 21: PSBA Meet and Greet at BARN on Bainbridge Island, Noon- 1:30 pm, Bainbridge BARN.
Hosted by Bonnie Julien and Jane Carlin, along with members of the BARN Print and Book Arts Studio.
This is an informal gathering to view the amazing, whimsical, fun, and inspiring exchange books gifted to BARN from Bonnie and to learn about her experiences with NORBAG and book exchanges. We will have lemonade and cookies on hand and plan brief remarks at 12:30. We also encourage all attendees to bring your own inspiration book for display.
Also a reminder that BIMA has a wonderful book arts exhibit on display: A Radical Alteration: Women's Studio Workshop as a Sustainable Model for Art Making. BIMA is just a short drive from BARN, so even if you are not from Kitsap or close to Bainbridge, think of a great day out!
PSBA thanks BARN for supporting this collaborative meeting. Learn more about BARN membership by visiting the homepage, https://bainbridgebarn.org/.
Questions? Contact Jane Carlin, carlinjane@gmail.com.
September 14: Workshop Coptic and French Link Stitch Binding, 10AM-4:30PM, Becky Frehse’s Studio in Tacoma.
Create a beautiful, functional sewn book that can be used as a personal journal, sketchbook, travel book or a special gift. The Coptic stitched book is one of the earliest forms of the codex. We will alternate the Coptic stitch with the French Link stitch to create a book with a decorative exposed binding. The finished book is extremely sturdy and easy to use since it lies completely flat when opened
Workshop fee: Members $90, Non-Members: $125. Register here.
October 6: PSBA 6th Annual Book Exchange, 2-4pm, University of Puget Sound, Collins Library.
We hope you will join us for the annual book exchange! This year’s theme is “Threads”. There are many possibilities with the theme-- “thread the needle”, “threads of a river”, “threads of a life”, “threading your way through the maze”. And, of course, there are endless ways to incorporate actual thread in your book!
The rules are simple. Create a book using the theme and join the exchange at the in-person event. Your name/book will be randomly paired with another participating artist and in exchange you receive a book from a randomly selected participating artist. Books from the past years exchanges have been amazing! For inspiration, visit the PSBA website to view images of the books from the past few years. We hope you’ll feel inspired to join in. It is an inspirational to see the books created with the theme and you will get to add a fabulous new book to your collection!
Complete the online registration formby September 30. You do not need to attend the in-person exchange to participate.
Questions? Contact Abbie Birmingham, abbiemi5274@gmail.com.
Return of Lunchtime Conversations on Zoom! These will be starting up this fall so mark your calendar! Look for registration details in the near future. We also want to extend a thank you to Amanda Clark for serving as co-facilitator for several years! And we are excited to share some new co-facilitators this fall. If you are interested in helping line up and participate in the 2025 Zoom conversations, please contact Jane at carlinjane@gmail.com.
Upcoming Conversations:
Sharing about Recent PSBA Events
Recap of Panel Discussion! PSBA hosted a lively, wide-ranging panel discussion with artists Catherine Alice Michaelis, Alicia Bailey and Mari Exkstein Gower on July 24. This online talk, coordinated by the Exhibit Team and moderated by Jane Carlin, was attended by fifty book arts enthusiasts from throughout North America. The discussion focused on fresh perspectives in the book arts and generated many thoughtful ideas, questions and comments.
The panelists have recently noted a trend of a higher level of engagement with content in artist books. This involves an integration of structure, artistic expression and ideation–often expressed through the inclusion of the artist's own writing as an important part of their books.
Panelists expressed the importance of curating exhibits at a local level and also suggested that book artists submit work to shows in other media. Panelists agreed that there is a higher level of engagement than ever before with book arts, spurred by exhibits and events such as Codex, but that there is also room for continued outreach to new audiences. Additional comments touched on the importance of innovation and documentation in the book arts, but also the welcoming community which is open to all practitioners and lovers of this fascinating genre.
Congratulations to the Exhibit Team for their hard work.
News From the Outreach Committee
The PSBA Annual Exhibition "Time Travel" moves to the Evans Library at The Evergreen State College! The exhibit opens September 29, 2025 and will close on December 20, 2025. We are planning events associated with the exhibit. A special thanks to Ray Zill, Evergreen Librarian, book artist, and poet, who is collaborating with the Outreach Committee to make this possible.
Upcoming Exhibit Opportunity at the Miller Library on the UW Campus in February 2025. One of the goals of the Outreach Committee is to create exhibit opportunities for existing artist books made by PSBA Members. This introduces the medium of artist books to a larger community, reaches out to potential members, and gives you a chance to exhibit work that you have already made. Since the Miller Library is part of the Center for Urban Horticulture, the exhibit theme will be "Nature and the Book." Dig into your archive and watch for an announcement in the September newsletter about how to be part of the exhibit.
Member News
Jane Carlin and Olivia Inglin (Abby Williams Hill Archivist/Assistant Archivist at Collins Library) recently published an article in The Journal of the Book Club of Washington, “The World Through Abby's Eyes.” The article provides a detailed review of the recent exhibition held at Collins, with images and artist statements of all the artists that participated in the exhibit. As the editor of the journal states, "Jane and Olivia make it clear how the art provided testimonials to Abby and her life showcase how archives can generate important dialogues about the past and raise important questions about equity, privilege and roles." The BCW Journal will be available digitally in a few months, but if you are interested in a copy of the article, please contact Jane.
Other Book Arts Upcoming Events
Summer Printmaking and Book Arts Classes at Community Print
Community Print released their schedule of summer classes, and there's a lot to look forward to! Visit our website to register at https://www.community-print.org/classes.
Interested in teaching a class at Community Print? Email olympialetterpress@gmail.com to submit a fall class proposal by August 24.
Upcoming classes include:
August 10: Introduction to Letterpress
August 17: Whole Cloth Patterning and Printing with Faith Hagenhofer
September 14: Playing with Pantones: Ink & Color Theory Workshop with Lisa Hasegawa
September 15: Keepsake Journals with René Westbrook
September 28: Non-Traditional Letterpress with Lisa Hasegawa
Minnesota Center for Books Arts, learn about upcoming workshops here,
https://www.mnbookarts.org/category/adult-workshops/.
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 Monday, August 26. Subject line should read: PSBA Member News. The September 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.
Your PSBA Board
Meet the Board members on the Contact Us webpage.
Greetings PSBA members! Wishing you a happy Fourth of July!
Image courtesy of Abbie Birmingham, The Scablands - Stories
From the High Desert.
13th Annual PSBA Members’ Exhibition June 4, 2024–August 1, 2024:
The annual PSBA Members' Exhibit continues at the Collins Library at the University of Puget Sound. We had a well-attended reception, with the announcement of award winners, as well as an interesting open-case event.
Still to come are the following free events:
PSBA 6th Annual Book Exchange: October 6, 2-4pm, University of Puget Sound, Collins Library.
Complete the online registration formby September 30. You do not need to attend the in-person exchange to participate. Registration form LINK.
The July 6 and 7 marbling workshops are FULL! Look for pictures from the events in the August PSBA newsletter.
From the Outreach Committee: Upcoming PSBA Meet-ups
Regional Meet-ups: Did you know that PSBA has 214 members geographically distributed around Puget Sound? Clusters are in Olympia, Tacoma, King County, Port Angeles/Sequim/Port Townsend, Bainbridge Island/Bremerton, and Whatcom County. The PSBA Outreach Committee is encouraging members to start monthly meet-ups in their locations. These meet-ups are a chance to informally share your work. A group in Olympia has been meeting for 2 years (Contact: Belinda Hill or Ann Storey), in Port Angeles/Sequim for 2 years (Contact: Jan Dove), in Whatcom County for several months (Contact: Fran McReynolds), and Bainbridge Island, Bremerton and Kitsap County (Contact Jane Carlin).
NEW! Monthly Pierce County PSBA Meet-ups, Second Tuesday of the Month, 5-7 pm.
Please join us at the first Pierce County PSBA Meet-up on Tuesday, July 9, 5-7 pm, University Place Public Library Meeting Room. Address: 3609 Market Place W., Suite 100, University Place, WA 98466. Our second meeting will be on August 13, same time, same place.
The meet-ups will be facilitated (alternately) by Lucia Harrison and Becky Frehse from the PSBA Member Development and Outreach Committee.
Images courtesy of Jessie Wing form the May workshop “Fun and Fanciful Paper Pop-ups.”
"Downpour" courtesy of Becky Frehse.
Becky Frehse
Becky’s "Spacious Rambles" exhibit of mixed media paintings is still on exhibit through July 14 at Lakewold Gardens in Lakewood, Washington. www.lakewoldgardens.org. Becky's work (www.beckyfrehse.com) is inspired by nature, gardens, and the ephemeral presence of water.
Elizabeth Walsh
The latest issue of Bound and Lettered, a quarterly journal that features articles on artist's books, bookbinding, papercrafts and calligraphy, Elizabeth’s artist book "Egyptian Hieroglyphics Revisited" is featured in the article, "Book Sisters 2023." The book is also part of this year’s PSBA Annual Members’ Exhibition.
"Book Sisters" is a group of nine calligraphy artists from across the United States who have exchanged their editions of artists books with each other for several years. Each member creates an edition of nine books each year, then have an exchange in the fall. When the postman starts delivering these books, each with unusual bindings and handcrafted with beautiful calligraphic words, it's the best gift and makes each artist's hard work worth the effort.
Jan Dove
Jan is a recipient of this year’s Artist Trust SOLA awards! Learn more about the awards here. Congregations Jan!
Movable Mayhem: Pop-Up Books through the Ages: July 7, 2:00 PM, Online.
From the event website: “Renaissance pop-up book expert Suzanne Karr Schmidt will walk us through her most recent Newberry Library exhibition and related recent acquisitions, in a look at the long history of the movable book from the twelfth century to the present.”
For additional information and to register, click here.
Guild of Book Workers Scholarships: This group offers scholarships to attend the Standards of Excellence in Hand Bookbinding seminar. Scholarships are available for both students and regular members. Non-members may apply, but are required to become a member prior to attending the Seminar. The scholarship consists of a waiver of registration fees, lodging costs for four nights at the conference hotel, and the cost of the Saturday evening banquet dinner. The lodging costs covered do not include hotel parking, phone calls, movie rentals, or any other room services. Tour costs are not covered by the scholarship. The GBW Treasurer will reserve a room for each recipient at the conference hotel. Recipients are responsible for making their own travel plans. Scholarship recipients will be asked to volunteer a small amount of their time during the seminar to assist the event organizers, presenters, or other GBW volunteers.
Please direct questions to Todd Pattison, at vicepresident@guildofbookworkers.org. To apply please visit: https://guildofbookworkers.org/standards-excellence-2024.
Applications are due by July 15.
July 20: Drypoint on Plastic with Diana Fairbanks
July 26: Gelli Roll Fridays
July 27 or July 28: Introduction to Risograph
If you would like to share information, please send your submission to Julia.stringfellow@cwu.edu by Friday, July 26. Subject line should read: PSBA Member News. The August newsletter will be sent out to the membership early that month.
Greetings PSBA members!
Hope you will join us for the 13th Annual Members’ Exhibition and Events!
Image courtesy of Kat Gower, Drifting Shifting Place and Time.
Greetings from Your PSBA President
PSBA participated in the Wayzgoose festival the first weekend in May, and it was really a good time. The hundreds of people who passed our table seemed to think so. We made many friends and raised over $900! I hope you all got to be there. It was great to see the many different uses being made of printmaking media and to try a few ourselves. Kids and adults both seemed to enjoy making a small book at our table. I have to thank the members who volunteered to help at our table; they were certainly kept busy. They were:
Carlie Schultz
Belinda Hill
Tori Bell
Kim Izenman
Debbi Greenwood
Lucia Harrison
and, of course, Peter Newland and Robyn Johnson
And thanks to our volunteers who represented PSBA at the Seattle Art Book Fair: LeeAnne Campos, Esther Ervin and Debra Revere. Details from this great event are shared below.
Sally Alger, PSBA President
The opening reception for the annual PSBA Members' Exhibit will be on Thursday, June 6th from 4:30 to 6:30 pm at the Collins Library, University of Puget Sound. Members and guests are invited to see the exhibit focused on this year's theme of Time Travel, which inspired many intriguing and wonderful artist boaoks. Awards will be announced at the reception in the following categories: Overall Excellence; Thematic Excellence; Most Innovative Book Structure; Most Original Writing and First-Time Entry. This is also your opportunity to pick up your full-color catalog of the exhibit, designed by Brenda Gallagher. Light refreshments will be served.
Save the dates for the following free events which will accompany the exhibit:
● First open case event: Saturday, June 15, 2-4 pm, Collins Library
● Time Travel Art Workshop; Saturday, July 13, 10-11:30 am, on Zoom
● Second open case event: Tuesday, July 16, 1-3 pm, Collins Library
● Panel discussion, Fresh Perspectives in Book Arts, Wednesday, July 24, 12-1 pm with Catherine Alice Michaels, Alicia Bailey and Mari Eckstein Gower; moderated by Jane Carlin, on Zoom
Further information on the exhibition and events is here.
Poet Ray Prints Art Supply Swap at Community Print: June 29, 12:00pm-3:00pm.
PSBA is teaming up with Community Print to offer a summer art supply swap. We are looking for donations of paper, printmaking supplies, bookbinding tools, and anything you can use to make a print, zine, or artist book. Bring your supplies to 414 Legion Way SE in downtown Olympia on June 29. Swap your wares with friends and community members, and take the opportunity to check out Community Print, Olympia's community-run letterpress and risograph studio. Remember to park on the street and not in the parking lot.
To view this and all upcoming events and workshops at Community Print, go to https://www.community-print.org/events.
The Art of Marbling Workshop: July 6, 7, Tacoma.
PSBA is proud to sponsor renowned Italian artist Pietro Accardi for two rare marbling workshops in July. His classes in European marbling often sell out in San Francisco and at FOBA.
Workshop Day 1: For those new to paper marbling or want a refresher.
Workshop Day 2: For those who participate in Day 1 or have previous experience in paper marbling.
Registration is here. A limited number of scholarships are available for registrants.
PSBA 6th Annual Book Exchange, Date Coming Soon!
Join us for the annual book exchange. This year’s theme is “Threads”. The theme was selected by majority vote of the members attending the PSBA annual meeting. There are many possibilities with the theme-- “thread the needle”, “threads of a river”, “threads of a life”, “threading your way through the maze”. And, of course, there are endless ways to incorporate actual thread in your book!
The rules are simple. Create a book using the theme and at the in-person event scheduled in early October at Collins Library your name/book will be randomly paired with another participating artist. In exchange you receive a book from a randomly selected participating artist. Books from the past years exchanges have been amazing! The registration form to participate will open later this summer. You do not need to attend the in-person exchange to participate.
We hope you’ll feel inspired to join in. It is an inspirational to see the books created with the theme and you will get to add a fabulous new book to your collection!
For inspiration, visit the PSBA website to view images of the books from the past few years.
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.
PSBA at SABF, May 11th, 2024
Members of the Puget Sound Book Artists exhibited at the Seattle Art Book Fair on Saturday, May 11th, 2024. The two-day event was held on a beautiful spring weekend at the historic Washington Hall in Seattle’s Central District. The 100+ year old building, where famous entertainers such as Duke Ellington, Billie Holliday, and Macklemore have appeared, was a labyrinth of stairways, interesting crannies, and crisp hardwood floors. Nearly 100 exhibitors’ tables, on three floors, displayed unique and creative works by talented book artists, clothing suppliers, printmakers, and much more. Debra Revere, Esther Ervin, and LeeAnne Campos represented PSBA at table 95 on the third-floor mezzanine overlooking a crowded second floor that bustled with activity. When the doors opened to the public at 11 AM, table 95 experienced a steady stream of curious attendees who were fascinated by the complexity and imaginative features of the beautifully handmade books from the PSBA collection. Many left the table with a PSBA brochure safely tucked into their pockets or bags. It was determined to be an excellent day of outreach. Written by LeeAnne Campos.
May 19 Guided Tour of the Bloedel Reserve
Members of PSBA joined with the William Morris Society on May 19th for a guided tour of the Bloedel Reserve. We had the chance to learn about the history of the Reserve, tour the various garden areas and listen to local artist Pamela Wachtler, a 2023 Community Creative recipient whose work is inspired by the beauty of Bloedel and the floral designs of William Morris.
Marilyn Stablein:
· Recent forthcoming or published illustrations, photography, and collage will appear in Orion Magazine, The Poetry Box, and Maintenant 18.
· Summer Book Fairs: Marilyn will exhibit new and recent titles from Book Arts Editions as well as handmade, limited editions of collage books published in Ireland, and a new illustrated book published in Kathmandu, Nepal. Dates and locations are below.
o June 14, 2-8pm and June 15, 10 am-5pm. Rose City Book & Paper Fair, Booth # 6 B (with Anthology Booksellers), 1000 NE Multnomah Street (Doubletree Inn), Portland, Oregon.
o June 27-28, 5pm-6:30pm. Artist Book Fair at the Focus on Book Arts Conference (FOBA), 179 Broad Street S, Monmouth, Oregon (Monmouth University campus).
o June 29, 11am- 4pm. Honey Latte Indie Bookfair, Buckman 1033 SE Main St, Buckman neighborhood.
Sha Towers, Baylor University, and Jane Carlin, PSBA Board:
Their published article appears in College & Research Libraries News titled "The Power of Artists' Books: Catalysts for Creative Thinking." The article focuses on how artists' books are used in teaching and in community engagement activities and exhibits at both Baylor University and the University of Puget Sound, The article can be found at this weblink: https://crln.acrl.org/index.php/crlnews/article/view/26335/34276.
Carletta Carrington Wilson:
Carletta debuts her new zine,kNot free kNot human at the Seattle Art Book Fair.
From the artist: “Interestingly, I was tabling right next to the Editions Studio where this work was born. It was even more interesting to learn how many vendors came from far and near to participate. Not only that, they will continue to travel from fair to fair all over the country. The crowd was multi-generational and multi-gendered. What they had in common, however, were their interests in posters/prints, cards and small items. I never made it up to the PSBA table, however, one woman I had encouraged to join, a month or so ago, came to my table with one of the brochures! Esther Ervin joined my at my table after her stint tabling for PSBA. Her presence was most welcomed!”
If you would like to share information, please send your submission to Julia.stringfellow@cwu.edu by Wednesday, June 26. Subject line should read: PSBA Member News. The July
newsletter will be sent out to the membership early that month.
Greetings PSBA members! Hope your Spring is going well!
Image courtesy of Alicia Bailey.
Every year in the spring, PSBA rediscovers the pleasures of making and sharing books. In our annual Members’ Show at the University of Puget Sound Collins Library we show the pieces that our artists have created. The show will open June 4th with the opening reception on the 6th from 4:30- 5:30. And now it is a traveling show!. It will open at Evergreen in Olympia in September.
What are you working on? A journal, a gift, a book of popups, a special research project? An entertaining afternoon with a small child? Do you have ideas about what you would like to learn or share in the field of book arts? We on the board are interested in your ideas and opinions. You can contact us through our website: pugetsoundbookartists.wildapricot.org. and click on psbanews@gmail.com.
Have a great, merry month of May.
Sally Alger, PSBA President.
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.
On Seeing Nature: Migration Edition:Saturday, May 18, Walk-About 9-11:30AM and Art Presentation 1:30-3:30PM, Thompson Hall, University of Puget Sound.
This event features award-winning artist and writer Molly Hashimoto.
Questions? Contact Lucia Harrison at luciaharrison49@gmail.com.
Registration Deadline is Friday, May 17th. Register here.
Seattle Art Book Fair: May 11–12, Washington Hall at 153 14th Ave, Free.
PSBA is also exhibiting at the second annual Seattle Art Book Fair. Members LeeAnne Campos, Esther Erving and Debra Revere will be representing PSBA on Saturday May 11th. The SABF is a free festival that celebrates publishing, book design and artists' books. The nonprofit event hosts local, national and international artists, designers, and organizations as well as talks and activities. Learn more by visiting the web site: https://www.seattleartbookfair.org.
Special Member Event - Celebrating Nature at the Bloedel Reserve
Sunday, May 19, 10:30 AM-12:30 PM. PSBA in collaboration with the William Morris Society of the United States and the Bloedel Reserve is pleased to offer a guided tour of the Bloedel Reserve. This is also an opportunity to meet with artist Pamela Wachtler-Fermanis, a former creative resident whose artistry has been inspired by nature and William Morris. Morris, like many PSBA artists drew inspiration from the beauty of nature which is evident in his textiles, wallpaper and book designs.
This is a walking tour so it is important to feel comfortable walking for approx. 1.5 hours. There are no food services at the Reserve, but an informal gathering of participants will be arranged at the BIMA Bistro after the walk with the opportunity to view the great exhibitions. However, attendees may stay at the Reserve after our walk if they desire.
Find out more about Bloedel by visiting the website: https://bloedelreserve.org/.
The tour will be given by Andre ten Dam, Director of Operations. Space is limited and registration will be handled via the Bloedel Reserve.
Therefore, if you are interested in joining this event, please email Jane Carlin, carlinjane@gmail.com, as soon as possible. Jane will provide you with the link to register for the event. The cost is $26.
Photos from the March Workshop: Make Your Own Bookcloth
Thank you to instructor Rachel Watson and those who attended her workshop in March.! Images courtesy of Jessie Wing.
Jane Carlin and Mark Hoppmann are presenting a workshop at the Bainbridge Artist Resource Network (BARN) on June 1. The workshop runs from 9:30 to noon and you can find costs and registration information at this link: https://www.create.bainbridgebarn.org/AssnFe/ev.asp?ID=5319309.
The workshop will focus on historic tools and processes. Get introduced to the history of printing and book construction through this workshop and conversation, as instructors share information about early writing practices and implements and showcase how they can be used in book design.
You'll have the opportunity to examine many artifacts and tools, some close to 100 years old, including historic rubber artists stamps, feather quills, drafting tools, and even an early typewriter. You'll create our own bamboo pens and use them to make images to be embellished with gold leaf. You'll see examples of historic books, in addition to a number of reference books that are useful for book artists.
And after the workshop - you could explore Bainbridge and even visit the Bainbridge Island Art Museum for a look at some wonderful bespoke books!
If you would like to share information, please send your submission to Julia.stringfellow@cwu.edu by Sunday, Mayl 26. Subject line should read: PSBA Member News. The June newsletter will be sent out to the membership early that month.
Book Arts Resources!
2024 Artist Gap Grant Program. Video on how to apply is available here.
Greetings PSBA members! Happy Spring!
Image courtesy of Mare Blocker.
Hello, members and friends,
Happy Spring. I know that many of us are busy working on our submissions for the 2024 Members’ Exhibition. We have already had some very useful events in conjunction with it; a presentation by Brenda Gallegher about taking photos and videos of our art, and one by Belinda Hill on the meaning and uses of QR codes. Always learning here!
You will read about other good things coming up in this newsletter. Meanwhile, we are looking forward to seeing one another’s work for the Members’ Exhibition.
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.
Click here for more information on the exhibit.
Virtual Lunchtime Conversation with Mare Blocker: Thursday, April 11, Noon–1:00 PM, Zoom. We are delighted to welcome Mare Blocker to the PSBA Zoom Lunchtime Conversations. Her most recent exhibition at Pacific Lutheran University titled Shadowplay showcased her immense range of artistry and featured her recent explorations of light and shadow, tunnel books, and puppetry. Mare recently retired from PLU but continues her creative work through a variety of means from painting, drawing, book design and continuous teaching and learning. Her works are widely collected and her art inspires us to see the world through many lenses.
Registration is required. Click here to register and for additional event details.
Mining Your Personal Archive Workshops: Saturday, April 20, 1:00 PM–4:00 PM and Sunday, April 21, 9:00 AM–4:00 PM, In person at Becky Frehse's studio in Tacoma.
Maureen Cummins is a nationally recognized book artist who is visiting our area this spring. This is a unique opportunity to work with a seasoned professional to learn more about her artistic practice and to explore ways you can reflect and "mine" your personal archives!
PSBA Member Fee: $240 (includes material fee)
Non-member Fee: $275 (includes material fee)
Click here to register.
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.
2024 Newport Paper and Books Arts Festival, April 11-13, Newport, OR: Event information and registration is here.
PSBA Calendar Coordinator Needed!
PSBA is currently looking for someone to be our calendar coordinator. This is the person who sets up the calendar and registrations for our Wild Apricot website. If you are interested in learning about this and seeing a job description, please email PSBA President Sally Alger at sarah.alger2@gmail.com. We will get it to you ASAP.
Life After a Workshop? How to carry on the creative energy and community!
You know the feeling - you take a workshop and enjoy the camaraderie and energy of being together in a group, and then it's over! What happens when you return to your studio and try to make that special structure, do a print, or try a new technique? You might miss the close knit group of your workshop friends!
PSBA is here to support you! If you take a workshop or perhaps have an idea to form a special interest group, we can support you. Lucia Harrison, Chair of the PSBA Outreach Committee, can offer advice on forming a special interest group. We can provide you with a list of local locations where you can meet. We will distribute your email invitation to the PSBA membership or to those individuals that were in a specific workshop.
Many groups have developed organically over the last years as well as formed connections based on location. If you are interested in forming a special interest group, be sure to contact Lucia. We want to support our members!
Back to Front: Artists' Books by Women: Maier Museum of Art at Randolph College. Congratulations to the many PSBA members featured in this exhibition including Mare Blocker, Lisa Nasegawa, Catherine Alice Michaelis, Suzanne Moore, and Jessica Spring. Learn more about the exhibit at https://maiermuseum.org/112th-annual-exhibition/.
Book Exchange 2024 Theme! The members at February’s annual meeting voted on the theme for this year’s book exchange, and the winner is Threads. Lots of potential to get the creative mojo moving - “threading the needle,” “threads of a story,” “clothing/garments/adornment,” “spider web threads,” etc. The idea behind the book exchange, now in its sixth year, is the opportunity to give a book and get a book in return. The pairings in the exchange are randomly selected at an in person meeting to be scheduled some time in early October at Collins Library. The books are very high quality, and it’s a wonderful opportunity to add to your personal collection and to be inspired by all the books included in the exchange. Examples of past book exchange books are found on the PSBA website, under the “Membership” tab. Details and a registration form will be included in upcoming newsletters. Questions? Feel free to reach out to Abbie Birmingham, abbiemi5274@gmail.com, the organizer for this year’s event.
If you would like to share information, please send your submission to Julia.stringfellow@cwu.edu by Friday, April 26. Subject line should read: PSBA Member News. The May newsletter will be sent out to the membership early that month.
Books & Paper Arts Calendar Updates - March 2024, https://buttondown.email/BookAndPaperArtsCalendar/archive/books-paper-arts-calendar-updates-march-2024//
Greetings PSBA members! Hope this last part of Winter is going well!
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.
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.
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.
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.
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!
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.
· 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.
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.
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.
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,
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!
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!