Movable Paper Magic: Engineering Discreet yet Dynamic Movables
Course Code: 25FPE003V
This four-week, virtual workshop takes place on Zoom on Mondays, November 10th - December 1st, from 2PM to 4PM ET.
- Monday, November 10th, 2PM to 4PM ET
- Monday, November 17th, 2PM to 4PM ET
- Monday, November 24th, 2PM to 4PM ET
- Monday, December 1st, 2PM to 4PM ET
Please Note: Registration for this workshop closes on October 27th, at 11:59 pm Eastern Time.
About the Workshop
In the 1960’s, Bronx-based Child Guidance Books published a series that exploits a unique mechanical approach to animation: a self-pulling mechanism—integrated into the binding— that causes figures to dance on the page without apparent means. Wouldn’t you like to add this animation strategy to your book artist toolbox? Join paper engineer Shawn Sheehy in building this five-spread workshop model, featuring various applications of this dynamic and versatile mechanism. Lift volumes, create lateral and rotational movement, and more! All you’ll need is a handful of simple tools, a kit of pre-cut pieces, and an interest in engaging with paper mechanics. All skill levels welcome. (See the structure in motion here: https://youtu.be/SJUc8Nmpd0A)
Required Tools
- X-acto knife
- Bone folder
- Binding needle
- Microspatula
- Tweezers
- Steel ruler
- Self-healing mat
- PVA
- One roll 1/4" 415 double stick tape (talasonline.com/3M-415-Tape)
- Pencil
All other materials will be shipped in a kit closer to the start date of the workshop.
About the Instructor
Shawn Sheehy has been teaching book arts courses and workshops since 2001. His broadsides and artist book editions have been collected by such prestigious institutions as Stanford, Carnegie Mellon, University of Chicago, Library of Congress, UCLA, and Harvard. Sheehy’s trade pop-up books Welcome to the Neighborwood and Beyond the Sixth Extinction (both mass-market versions of previous artist books) were published by Candlewick, winning numerous awards. Sheehy served as director of The Movable Book Society from 2018 to 2023. He holds an MFA in the Book Arts from Columbia College Chicago.
All images courtesy of the instructor.