Workshops In-Person Instant Artists' Books (Fall 2024)

Instant Artists' Books (Fall 2024)

Course Code: 24FPV102I

This in-person workshop takes place at CBA on Wednesdays September 18–October 16, 2024 from 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm.

Wednesday, September 18, 6:00pm - 9:00pm
Wednesday, September 25, 6:00pm - 9:00pm
Wednesday, October 2, 6:00pm - 9:00pm
Wednesday, October 9, 6:00pm - 9:00pm
Wednesday, October 16, 6:00pm - 9:00pm

Please Note: Registration for this workshop closes on September 16th, at 11:59 pm.

About the Workshop:

This in-person workshop is taught by CBA instructor Esther K Smith. In this workshop, students can learn at least one new book structure per week. Explore a variety of basic folding and stitching techniques from instant books and simple popups, thru accordion, pamphlet, stab stitch, and long stitch bindings. This class is for artists (and other people) interested in learning to construct books, as well as zine makers and blank books makers who want to add content. This workshop focuses on structural approaches to artists’ books–plus collaborative creative exercises based on Surrealist games and Oulipo and other approaches to generate ideas. Fun Fact: The instructor of this course, Esther K Smith has written and designed a number of book arts books for Rizzoli, Random House and other major publishers, exploring typography and a variety of creative and accessible book structures.

Required Materials:

bone folder
awl
textbook: HOW TO MAKE BOOKS (recommended)
collage materials, rubber stamps, stamp pads, pens and markers for drawing (optional)

A more detailed materials list will be sent to participants after registration. All other materials will be provided by Center for Book Arts at no additional cost.

About Esther K Smith

Esther K Smith wrote and designed HOW TO MAKE BOOKS, Making Books with Kids, Magic Books & Paper Toys, and impresario of the Rizzoli reprint of WH Page’s Specimens of CHROMATIC WOOD TYPE, Borders &c. Artistic Director at Purgatory Pie Press, Esther K Smith makes artist books and limited editions, collaborating with founding letterpress printer Dikko Faust and more than 100 other other artists & writers, including Bob & Roberta Smith, Susan Happersett, and Elizabeth Duffy. Esther taught artist books classes for more than 15 years at Cooper Union, and has also taught at Suny Purchase, Princeton, CUNY, SF Center for Book Arts and many other universities and arts centers throughout the US, UK, and Europe. Purgatory Pie Press works are in public and private collections throughout the world including Metropolitan Museum of Art, Museum of Modern Art, Cooper Hewitt, the Miniature Book Museum of Azerbaijan, and London’s V&A and Tate Modern museums.

Class size is limited to 12 participants to ensure an optimal participant to Instructor ratio. Register now before spots fill up! Registration for this workshop closes on September 16 at 11:59pm. Tuition for this course is $525 + a $25 materials fee. If you cannot comfortably pay tuition but are interested in taking this class, please consider filling out our financial assistance application here. We will notify you if you are selected to receive a scholarship before the start date of the class. To view more information about our current scholarship opportunities, please visit this link.