Greetings and happy fall PSBA members!

Greetings from the PSBA President!

Dear Friends,

The Big End-Of-Year Holiday months are here! I hope that with all that traditionally pulls at us and delights us there is time for book artists to enjoy their work. Our PSBA Exhibit Curators have chosen an intriguing theme for our 2025 Members’ Exhibit, and I, for one, intend to brainstorm possibilities for it during the next month.

I also want to express appreciation for all of you who have volunteered your time and/or money for this year. We have been growing in membership and programs for the last few years; and we have certainly loved and needed your contributions to our organizational efforts.

Sally Alger, PSBA board president

2025 Annual Members Exhibition Update!

Theme Announcement for PSBA 2025 Annual Exhibition!

The PSBA board is pleased to announce the curatorial team for the 14th Annual Exhibition. They include PSBA members Kim Izenman, Diane Miller, Sha Towers, Suze Woolf, and chair, Debbi Commodore.

It's time to add the 14th Annual Puget Sound Book Artists Exhibition to your 2025 calendar.

As in years past, the exhibition will be at the University of Puget Sound's Collins Library in June and July.

This year’s theme is “Field Work,” which could mean the conventional sense of work performed not only in the office or studio but also in the artist’s area of interest or expertise and how that interest is expressed in the work. While it often has a professional, scientific, or academic undercurrent, other phrases like “the field is wide open” or “out in the left field” suggest large competitive sports arenas. “Field” can typically mean “outdoors” but could equally be a different part of one’s country (“far afield”) but also of one’s brain or soul. You can even consider fieldwork through an agricultural lens or a spiritual one. Your field of vision is wide open.

As in years past, you are invited to submit work inspired by the theme or your own muse (outside the theme).

More information, including prospectus and dates, will follow over the next few months.

Upcoming Events

November 10: Tools of the Trade: A Historical Viewpoint of Artist Tools with Mark Hoppmann, November 10, 2PM–4PM, Archives & Special Collections Seminar Room, Collins Memorial Library at University of Puget Sound.

Mark Hoppmann will be presenting at Collins Library (University of Puget Sound) on the Tools of the Trade sharing an amazing array of artifacts and tools.  Not to be missed!

Click here for further information and to register.

November 14: Whatcom Book Arts meeting, 12:30-4, WECU Education Center in Ferndale. You're invited to attend this outreach group of PSBA members and other book arts enthusiasts, who meet every month in Ferndale, WA.  Pat Wagner will be leading the workshop. Based on Seth Apter’s 52 Card Pickup and Paper Quilting workshops, we will turn a deck of cards into a journal. Once we complete the workshop, you’ll have a journal set up for use each week throughout a year, one card at a time.

Preregistration is required.  A supply list will be provided upon registration. Contact Fran McReynolds at whatcombookarts@gmail.com.

November 21, Lunchtime Conversation with Helen Hiebert: A Tour of Japanese Papermaking, Noon–1PM, Zoom. During this event facilitated by Jane Carlin, Helen will talk about the Japan Paper Tour that she led in June, an 11-day odyssey with a group of 10 paper enthusiasts. The group spent 3 days in Echizen, a village with over 1500 years of papermaking history; visited Gifu and Mino, where Isamu Noguchi revitalized lantern-making in the 1950's; and explored Kyoto, touring temples and gardens, visiting shops dedicated to paper. The tour culminated with a celebratory dinner complete with a geiko performance.

Click here for further information and to register.

Olympia-area PSBA Meetings

Image courtesy of Belinda Hill.

The 2024 Members’ exhibition continues at Daniel Evans Library on the Evergreen State College campus through mid-December. There was a great open-case event in October with a packed room. If you haven't seen the exhibit yet or want to see it again, join the Olympia area PSBA group on November 11 near the Rare Books Room at the Evergreen State College library from 2:00-4:00 pm. Come early and check out the exhibit or look through the collection of artists books stored in the Rare Book Room. If you'd like more information about the meeting contact Ann Storey at aelizabethstorey@gmail.com

There was also a display of PSBA artist book at the Lacey Library in October as well as an introductory class.

News From the Outreach Committee

November 13, 6:30pm -8pm Pierce County Meet-up University Place Library: Please join us at the November Pierce County PSBA Meet-up on Wednesday, Nov 13, 6:30-8:00 pm.  We will be brainstorming ideas for the PSBA Exhibition on the theme, “Field Work.” We will return to the University Place Public Library Meeting Room. Address: 3609 Market Place W., Suite 100, University Place, WA 98466. We are meeting at this new date, place and time to encourage more participation.

December 1, 1-3 pm, Lotus Fold Mini-Book Free Workshop: Please Join us for a Free Zoom Workshop: Lotus Fold Mini Books for Ornaments, Neckless and Earrings offered by Belinda Hill.  Look in your November Dues Renewal and Donation letter for the kit you will need for the workshop. Registration email coming soon.

Other Book Arts Upcoming Events

Fall Book Fair at Finnriver Farm and Cidery, Chimacum, WA.

Sunday November 10th, 12-5pm

Questions? Contact Conner Roberts of Winter Texts, publisher.wintertexts@gmail.com.

Seattle Art Book Fair Pageturner Fellowship!  Check out the SABF Instagram page and learn about this great opportunity.  Application closes in late November!

The 10th Annual Washington State Zine Contest is now open! Submissions are due March 28, 2025. Visti the official website for further information, https://washingtoncenterforthebook.org/wszc/.

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, November 26. Subject line should read: PSBA Member News. The December 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.

Sincerely,

Your PSBA Board

Meet the Board members on the Contact Us webpage.