Tag Archives: handmade paper

Art Book Binding. What Is It and Why in Oaxaca?

Posted on Saturday, October 8, 2011 | Comments Off

When I talked with Lisa Gilbert about teaching an art book binding workshop in Oaxaca, I had a smattering of an idea about how beautifully elegant and simple the process can be. Lisa follows the path of all the great book binding artists who have gone before her. And, she is an expert in her own right. (See Lisa’s complete bio below!)

Lisa Gilbert's Handmade Books within a Box

Back story: A few years ago, I had the pleasure of helping Warren Wilson College art professor and author Gwen Diehn assemble her handmade books at the Asheville BookWorks in Asheville, NC. The National Museum of Women in the Arts awarded a grant to Gwen to do the book design, woodcuts, typesetting, printing and bookbinding. It was fun and relaxing to gather around the table stitching the papers together with a group of enthusiastic people. Many of us had no experience doing this and we were there to support Gwen and to learn.

Photos above illustrate the coptic stitch technique in a class I took recently taught by Lisa. I love this traditional bookbinding art form.

The experience I had with Gwen & Company triggered the idea of organizing a book making workshop in Oaxaca. We will start with a visit to San Agustin Etla, a local village known for its handmade Amate paper studio started by Oaxaca artist Francisco Toledo. There, local and international artists create books, journals, jewelry and kites made from this material.

When I enrolled in two art bookbinding workshops with Lisa, I discovered what a joy it is to learn from her. Lisa’s style is gentle, affirming, and encouraging. She provides in-depth learning materials, diagrams, and instructions. She is a coach, a mentor and colleague in the book making process. And, she supports people who are beginners who want to learn the craft.

Our process in Oaxaca will be to select the papers, fold them and assemble our signatures, stitch the signatures together with the cover, make the box, and add embellishments. What you put in the book is totally up to you — you can use it as a journal, a sketchbook, or any combination of visual or art journal to capture your travel adventures.

Stunning handmade journal in red, white and black

We hope you will make plans for August 2012 to join us in Oaxaca for this very personally satisfying art book binding and travel journal making adventure!

Here is Lisa’s Bio: Lisa Gilbert has been an enthusiastic book artist since childhood. She has been illustrating professionally, and teaching art and/or health for the past 20 years. Known for her use of color, finely tuned creativity, and excellent technical bookbinding, Lisa has been invited to show her work in two North Carolina exhibitions. She has studied bookbinding, paper making, and box making at programs across the U.S., and most recently completed a Penland School of Crafts program. She has taught bookmaking classes throughout North Carolina, and has a reputation as a patient, encouraging, imaginative, and effective teacher.

Lisa considers herself to be a “cultural navigator” – a well-deserved designation since she has traveled to more than 25 countries. She purchases, collects, and uses exotic papers on her travels, most recently from Panama, Scandinavia, and India. Lisa has visited paper making facilities and bookbinderies across India and has fashioned books from wood, papyrus, metal, mica, fabric, plastic, vinyl as well as from traditional materials such as handmade and machine-made decorative papers.

She attended Colorado Institute of Art, holds degrees in art and business, and the PhD in health education from University of Maryland. Her background is versatile and inventive.

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Posted in Books & Resources, Oaxaca Mexico art and culture, Travel & Tourism, Workshops and Retreats

Tagged art, blogsherpa, book binding, class, Gwen Diehn, handmade books, handmade paper, Lisa Gilbert, Mexico, Oaxaca, postaweek2011, school, travel journal, workshop

Art Book Binding Workshop: Capture Your Travel Adventures

Posted on Monday, August 22, 2011 | 4 comments

Make a Handmade Box within a Book: August 1-7, 2012

Using handmade local papers, and found objects and materials, you will learn to make a travel book with a self-contained box to hold your collected artifacts. Each participant will design a book, prepare the papers and artifacts, stitch the binding, and make the box enclosure. The enclosed box can hold art supplies, treasures, or spiritual talismans. This is a unique art book design created by our instructor Lisa Gilbert. It is portable, versatile and beautiful.

A box within a handmade book

First, we will visit the Taller Arte Papel Oaxaca in San Agustin Etla where local papermakers use the traditional methods and incorporate regional natural fibers into the paper. Here we will see the paper making process and then select text and cover papers for your personalized handmade book project.

During our travel adventures around Oaxaca as you explore the rich culture , you will collect personal treasures along the way. Your book will reflect your unique travel experience as you move from markets, to museums, to art galleries and artist studios incorporating the textures, colors, and artifacts that exemplify Oaxaca.

Front cover has optional pockets

Each day begins with a book making demonstration, followed by a learning and practice session. We’ll have daily discussion about how the project is progressing and have the opportunity to share our discoveries. The workshop will culminate with a book exchange, best of week show, and fiesta.

You will:

Explore the anatomy of a book and how to construct one
Understand the fundamentals of the craft
Construct a sturdy box integrated within the book
Use the pamphlet stitch to bind the signatures
Make the finishing closures (e.g., paper beads, braided cords, etc.)
Insert envelopes to hold extra treasures
Apply foldout pages to extend your writing surfaces
Collect ephemera to be used for decoration (photos, collage elements, yarns, threads, buttons, beads, etc.)
No prior bookbinding skills are needed.

For:

Book artists
Art educators
Calligraphers
Artists and artisans
Printmakers
Anyone who wants to have fun and learn a new form of creative self-expression

We will provide you with a list of equipment and materials to bring with you upon registration. You may want to bring your own ephemera (decorations) or purchase ephemera during your travels around Oaxaca. We’ll provide basic supplies such thread, needles and glue and give you a shopping allowance to select handmade papers from Taller Arte Papel Oaxaca.

Your Itinerary: Each day includes plenty of time to work on making your book!

Use the box to collect milagros + embellishments

Day One: Arrive and settle into your Oaxaca city hotel.

Day Two: Travel by van to San Agustin Etla to the papermaking workshop; select your handmade amate papers; discuss components of bookmaking; overnight in Oaxaca (group breakfast, lunch and dinner).

Day Three: Visit the innovative textile museum, graphics arts institute, and go on an ephemera treasure hunt; discuss project design and paper preparation; overnight in Oaxaca (group breakfast; lunch and dinner on your own).

Day Four: Learn box making; project making and free time; overnight in Teotitlan del Valle (group breakfast, dinner).

Day Five: Visit the famed tianguis Tlacolula Market; discuss sewing the signatures; overnight in Teotitlan del Valle (group breakfast, lunch, dinner).

Day Six: Finish your book, book exchange, Best of Week Show and Fiesta; overnight in Teotitlan del Valle (group breakfast, lunch, dinner).

Day Seven: Depart OR stay on for an additional day and night to take a cooking class with renowned local teacher (9:30 a.m. -2:30 p.m.—includes lunch)

Select your own papers, cover design, colors

Your Workshop Leader is Book Maker Lisa Gilbert

Lisa Gilbert has been an enthusiastic book artist since childhood. She has been illustrating professionally, and teaching art and/or health for the past 20 years. Known for her use of color, finely tuned creativity, and excellent technical bookbinding, Lisa has been invited to show her work in two North Carolina exhibitions. She has studied bookbinding, papermaking, and box making at programs across the U.S., and most recently completed a Penland School of Crafts program. She has taught bookmaking classes throughout North Carolina, and has a reputation as a patient, encouraging, imaginative, and effective teacher.

Lisa considers herself to be a “cultural navigator” – a well-deserved designation since she has traveled to more than 25 countries. She purchases, collects, and uses exotic papers on her travels, most recently from Panama, Scandinavia, and India. Lisa has visited papermaking facilities and bookbinderies across India and has fashioned books from wood, papyrus, metal, mica, fabric, plastic, vinyl as well as from traditional materials such as handmade and machine-made decorative papers.

She attended Colorado Institute of Art, holds degrees in art and business, and the PhD in health education from University of Maryland. Her background is versatile and inventive.

Insert envelopes to hold extra treasures

Lodging/Accommodations. To keep this experience affordable, we have selected accommodations that are clean and basic. We will spend three nights in Oaxaca and three nights in Teotitlan del Valle. If you prefer luxury accommodations, please let us know and we can customize your accommodations for an added cost.

Cost: The basic cost for the trip is $1,295. USD. This includes six nights lodging double occupancy with shared bath, six breakfasts, three lunches, four dinners, transportation to the villages, all instruction and most materials. Travel workshops of this type and length cost more than twice as much!

The program costs do NOT include airfare, taxes, gratuities, travel insurance, liquor/alcoholic beverages, some meals as specified in the itinerary, entry fees, and some transportation.

You will have the option of sharing a double room with shared bath for the base price of the trip. Please indicate your preference.

Option A: Shared room with shared bath; $1,295. Deposit to reserve: $650.

Option B: Shared room with private bath; $1,495. Deposit to reserve: $750.

Option C: Single room with private bath; $1,645. Deposit to reserve: $823.

Option D: Add additional nights lodging in Oaxaca, +$125 each night.

Option E: Add one night lodging and cooking class in Teotitlan del Valle, $110 on Tuesday, August 7 (depart August 8)

Reservations and Cancellations

A 50% deposit is required to guarantee your spot. The final payment for the balance due (including any supplemental costs) shall be postmarked by May 30, 2012. We prefer Payment with PayPal. We will be happy to send you an invoice.

Please understand that we make lodging and transportation arrangements months in advance of the program. Deposits or payments in full are often required by our hosts. If cancellation is necessary, please notify us in writing by email. After May 30, no refunds are possible. If you cancel on or before May 30, 2012 we will refund 50% of your deposit. We strongly recommend that you take out trip cancellation, baggage, emergency evacuation and medical insurance before you begin your trip, since unforeseen circumstances are possible.

To register, contact: normahawthorne@mac.com or call (919) 274-6194. Thank you.

This workshop is produced by Norma Hawthorne, Oaxaca Cultural Navigator LLC. We reserve the right to alter the itinerary and substitute instructors without notice.

The exploration of life is like creating an open book.

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Posted in Travel & Tourism, Workshops and Retreats

Tagged art, art journal, blogsherpa, book making, bookbiinding, classes, course, crafts, culture, handmade paper, Mexico, Oaxaca, school, workshop

Francisco Toledo’s Kites

Posted on Friday, November 28, 2008 | 2 comments

Kites, left to right: Francisco Toledo’s handmade paper kite; kite back; Eric Chavez Santiago’s Zapotec greca kite; kite back; Norma with kites.

Up in the hills in San Augustin Etla, about 30 minutes north of Oaxaca city, is the paper making workshop of Francisco Toledo. Artists and apprentices first make the handmade paper, decorate the paper with Toledo designs using airbrush painting techniques, the fashion the art into fanciful kites that are sold there in the studio gallery or at IAGO on Macedonio Alcala in the historic center of Oaxaca near the Santo Domingo church.

The kites are decorated with figures that Toledo is famous for: monkeys, fish, lizards, scorpions, devils, rabbits, dia de los muertos skeletal figures, bulls, cats, demons and denizens. Art historian Teresa del Conde writes that Juchitan born artist Toledo dazzles us with his inventiveness and interpretation of divine creation, the primigenital force described in Genesis, the magical qualities of composition, the sagas of old Prehispanic codices and the iconographical aspects of his work. Toledo is an artistic, social and political force in Oaxaca and works to create collaborations and brings people together to solve often difficult issues.

When Eric Chavez was in North Carolina in October he taught a workshop for teachers and one project was to make kites in the Toledo style and tradition. Yesterday, on Thanksgiving morning, I held a workshop for the children who were coming to dinner. I want to share this adventure with you.

Left to right: Norma’s painted brown paper bag before it is made into a kite; Kristin, Sierra, Soren and Cassidy making kites on Thanksgiving day.

Left to right: Norma’s kite series, Thanksgiving Day Kite, Swirl Kite, Zapotec Greca Kite

How to make a kite:

Materials:

1. Brown paper grocery bag opened along the seams and laid flat (you can also use wrapping paper, old newspaper, plastic trash bags, Tyvek)

2. Flying line: cotton twine for flying

3. Bamboo for the frames and structure. You can cut apart bamboo window blinds or use bamboo stakes from a garden center. Or, use think dowel. You will need 1 piece 24″ long for the vertical bar and one piece 18″ long for the horizontal bar.

4. Kite decoration: acrylic paints, brushes, stenciles, sponges.

It takes us about an hour to paint and decorate the brown side of the grocery shopping bag. Let the paint dry (about 30 minutes). Turn the paper over and lay the sticks in a cross over the area you want for your kite (you need to check the opposite painted side to be sure the design shows where you want it to and you choose the top and the bottom).

With masking tape pieces, tape the shorter 18″ stick a distance of 10″ down from the top of the 24″ stick. Tape the intersection where they meet liberally! Tape down the 4 ends of the 2 pieces.

Fold the diagonal sections one at a time, making a sharp crease, so that the paper meets the cross bars. Cut 1/2″ to 1″ away from the crease, leaving an edge to overlap on the back of the kite. Do this for all four sides. Use Elmer’s glue to paste the edges of the kite. This will take about an hour to dry. You can then tie your cotton line. A long tail is needed to fly this kite. You can make the tail out of the bag handles!