Greetings and wishing you a happy holiday season PSBA members!
Greetings from the PSBA President!
Dear Friends,
December 2024 already!
I am thinking of all the people who quietly donated their time, intelligence and support to our organization this year. THANK-YOU. We need you. You are the best!
May the coming year offer meaning and joy in your work on art projects, in learning new skills, and being part of the unique community that is PSBA.
May you all have a rich and wonderful holiday season.
Sally Alger, PSBA board president
Back by Popular Demand!
Lotus Fold Mini-Books Workshop- repeat session December 8
Image courtesy of Belinda Hill.
Sunday, December 8, 1PM–3PM via Zoom
Event is Free for PSBA members but Registration is Required!
To Register go to
https://pugetsoundbookartists.wildapricot.org/calendar, find the workshop and click "register."
In this two-hour Zoom workshop, Belinda Hill will teach you how to make lotus fold mini-books. These books can be made into ornaments, necklaces or earrings. Easy to construct and personalize, they make fun gifts or accessories.
Skill Levels: all levels
Zoom Link will be sent out on December 2 and December 7.
Questions? Contact Lucia Harrison: luciaharrison49@gmail.com.
Save the Date! PSBA Annual Meeting
Image courtesy of Rebecca Chamlee.
February 9, 2025, 1pm-3pm
Featured speaker: Rebecca Chamlee
Presentation: 1:00 to 2:00
PSBA Board Update on Programs, Exhibits, Events and Budget: 2:00 -3:00
Registration link forthcoming.
We are delighted to invite you to our 2025 Annual Meeting that will feature noted artist Rebecca Chamlee as our speaker.
In 2019, Rebecca visited Tacoma and inspired many members during her two-day workshop on using botanical contact printing in artists’ books. Her work of directly printing from forms found in our natural world is a way to preserve the ephemeral beauty of nature and directly relates to many themes explored by PSBA artists.
She can be described as a book artist, printer, writer, and bookbinder who has published innovatively designed, letterpress printed, limited-edition fine press, and artist’s books under the imprint of Pie In The Sky Press since 1986. Rebecca’s artists' books examine the intersection of her artistic and scientific interests by collecting and cataloging the natural world. Website: https://www.pieintheskypress.com/About-the-Press
Rebecca retired in 2023 as an associate professor at Otis College of Art and Design where she taught bookbinding, letterpress printing, and artists' book classes and headed the Book Arts minor program for over 20 years. She now holds workshops at her studio and book arts centers throughout the country.
She is currently completing work on a new book: Listen, notes from the field. This book is a personal investigation into the sounds of birds; what the vocalizations mean and how they differ from bird to bird. As to her process, she states: “Utilizing a ‘sit spot’ routine allowed the natural world to unfold before my eyes and ears in a way I’d never experienced in the years of exploring trails on foot in a nearby wildland park. In a comfortable spot in nature I sit, slow down and observe to discover the wonder in the moment.”
Her thoughtful reflections and approach to writing, listening, and creating will inspire us all.
Save the Date for February 4! Will you be our Valentine?
PSBA is pleased to partner once again with the Print & Book Arts Studio, BARN (Bainbridge Artisan Resource Network) on this special event. Join us in the Print & Book Arts Studio on Tuesday, February 4, from 10am to 2pm for this special event. We'll be making Valentine's Day cards to distribute to community organizations or to special people in our lives. All the materials will be provided for this free gathering, and you can just show up!
If you have a special Valentine you'd like to share for inspiration, please bring it.
This is co-hosted by Puget Sound Book Artists member Jane Carlin and BARN member Amy Goldthwaite. It's a great opportunity to come together and enjoy the time making unique treasures to share with others. Sweet treats will be provided. Hope to see you there!
And think about combining this event with a visit to BIMA and the Book Arts Gallery. Questions? Contact Jane Carlin: carlinjane@gmail.com.
Visit the BARN site for directions: https://bainbridgebarn.org/.
2025 Annual Members Exhibition Update!
Questions? Email psba.exhibition@pugetsoundbookartists.org.
Recent PSBA Events
PSBA Annual Book Exchange
The PSBA’s annual book exchange took place in October, with over 20 members joining for an inspiring afternoon. This year’s theme was “threads,” and artists creatively interpreted it in unique ways. Abbie Birmingham, co-coordinator for the event, remarked, “The PSBA book exchange was such a positive affirmation of our extraordinarily creative community.” If you have suggestions for a theme for the 2025 book exchange send them to Abbie at abbiemi5274@gmail.com. Abbie shares that she has found the volunteer role to be enjoyable and fulfilling, requiring only a minimal time commitment.
PSBA is seeking a few volunteers to help organize this inspiring event. If you’re interested in learning more or would like to volunteer, please Belinda Hill at benjisnewadventure@gmail.com.
To explore the books featured in this year’s exchange, visit the PSBA website.
Volunteers Needed to Review Book Arts Collection
This past summer Mary Jane Linford, book artist on Bainbridge, donated some papers, rubber stamps and brayers and other items to PSBA. They need to be reviewed and organized for possible inclusion in PSBA workshop kits and for sharing at Wayzgoose. The collection is currently housed in bags in the PSBA storage area in Collins Library (University of Puget Sound). If you are interested in helping review these items one morning in January, please contact Jane Carlin at carlinjane@gmail.com to make arrangements.
Olympia-area PSBA Meetings
The next Olympia PSBA meet-up will be held on Wednesday, December 4, starting at 1:30pm in the Olympia Public Library meeting room. Everyone is welcome! Please bring some book art or creative writing to share. This is a fun and supportive place to show your current work, ask questions if you are stuck, or get inspiration from other book artists.
Other Book Arts Upcoming Events
Vashon Island Visual Artists 2024 Holiday Studio Tour
The tour takes places December 7-8 and December 14-15, 10am-4pm. Visit over 140 artists from 44 studios. Click here to learn more.
2025 Paper and Book Intensive Financial Aid Opportunity
Applications for financial aid to attend the 2025 Paper and Book Intensive are open through 11:59pm on December 31, 2024. Read below to learn more about the various opportunities. You can apply directly at https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeCvbodNyK4dfAWZHZvzKT8TWJMfPMwkdvMhEkbjgt3icRA2w/viewform).
General registration opens January 1, 2025. Visit https://www.paperbookintensive.org/2025classes to see our 2025 lineup of classes and instructors. If you have any questions, please feel free to email me at brien@paperbookintensive.org.
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 Thursday, December 26. Subject line should read: PSBA Member News. The January 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.
Other Book Arts Resources
New Newberry Digital Collection: The Newberry has recently completed the digitization of over 750 maps printed in Italy during the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. The Franco Novacco Map Collection <https://digital.newberry.org/novacco>, one of the strongest of its kind in the world, reflects Europeans’ evolving conceptions of the world during a time of widespread exploration and colonization.
Sincerely,
Your PSBA Board
Meet the Board members on the Contact Us webpage.