This two-day, in-person workshop takes place at CBA on Saturday and Sunday, November 18th and 19th, 2023 from 11:00 am—4:00 pm.
- Saturday, November 18, 11:00am — 4:00pm
- Sunday, November 19, 11:00am — 4:00pm
Please Note: Registration for this workshop closes on Saturday, November 11th, 2023 at 11:59pm.
About the Workshop:
This in-person class at Center for Book Arts is taught by instructor Maria G Pisano. A carousel book is an ingenious work, containing three-dimensional panoramic scenes that are revealed in multilayered openings that recede into space. Its seductiveness comes as a result of its construction, a series of five scenes, which when taken together are a play in five acts. Viewed through windows or other intricate opening, they take the viewer in their world, beckoning with surprises of creative multidimensional visual experiences. When fully opened it creates a full 180 degrees stage, which from an aerial perspective can be seen as a complex star, with the viewer performing a dance around it.
Participants in this workshop will learn how to conceptualize a 3D structure where all the parts relate to one another to tell a story; will come away with a working knowledge of binding methodology for a carousel book, including covers and pages; will learn proper cutting for this book form; and will learn the history of movable structure.
Required Materials:
Please note that for the Carousel Book Workshop we are working with content. Because of our limited time, please choose the alphabet or landscape as a subject. Come with images that will support your chosen theme, for Front, Middle, Back and Front cover - Suggestions are drawings, photos or images that you can cut up, etc. – these should be printed or Xeroxed on cover weight paper (65lb.or heavier) Each book is created with four layers - Backing panel, Front panel, Middle panel, and a Cover.
Additionally, in your pages, you can use stencils, assorted decorative papers, and any collage materials you would like to incorporate in your works, and / or direct drawing. When designing the book consider line, movement, colors, composition, contrast, unity and balance of entire work.
We will use two themes:
Theme #1: Alphatheatre: Using your name or any 5 letters create a 3D diorama, composed of five separate scenes.
Theme #2: Real or Imaginary Landscape: Design a book that contains 5 nature scenes, real or imaginary. You can reference a trip you have taken, a city you love, or an imaginary voyage.
Below are final sizes of book pages – choose your images accordingly.
Front: 7" W x 5.5” H - cut 5 - this allows for 1/4" tab on either side of sheet
Middle: 8" W x 5.5” H- cut 5- this allows for 1/4" tab on either side of sheet
Cover: 1 sheet measuring 14" W x 5.5” H – you only need F. cover image – 5.5 H x 5 W
Please see dimensions below for all your pages - you will need 16 images total, color or black and white, they must be printed on cover weight paper 65lb or higher:
Backing: Five images each: 10" W x 5 1/2H
Front: Five images - 7" W x 5 1/2" H
Middle: Five images 8" W x 5 1/2" H
Front Cover: one image – 5 W x 5.5 H
Additional Required Materials:
Self healing mat, no smaller than 12" x 18"
Small snap blade knife (note: that there is a lot of cutting involved for the book, to reveal all the many layers, and I recommend the Olfa knife)
7" high plastic or metal triangle
Stick glue
Small scissors
Pencil
Eraser
12" metal ruler
Bone folder
All other materials will be provided by Center for Book Arts at no additional cost.
About Maria G. Pisano
Maria G. Pisano (she/her) is a book artist, printmaker, curator, and educator.
Her Memory Press works are represented in the Library of Congress, 9-11 Memorial Museum, Carnegie Mellon University, Columbia University, Lafayette College, University of Delaware, Wesleyan University, and many more. Ms. Pisano has exhibited widely—including a solo exhibition titled Reflections: Artist Books and Works on Paper.
Over the years she has curated a number of exhibitions at Center for Book Arts in NYC, such as Book as Witness: The Artist’s Response. In 2021 she curated Crossroads at the Hunterdon Museum of Art in New Jersey.
Ms. Pisano contributes to book arts publications and has presented lectures at the Library of Congress, College Book Arts Association, and the Art Libraries Society of North America. Her article Mark To Impress was published in the California Society of Printmakers 2018 Journal as well as in 2019 in The Blue Notebook in the UK.
She continuously teaches workshops nationally and internationally at venues including the Bridwell Library in Dallas TX, Hand Bookbinders of California, and Center for Book Arts in NYC.
All images courtesy of the instructor.
Class size is limited to ensure an optimal participant to Instructor ratio. Register now before spots fill up! Registration for this workshop closes on November 11 at 11:59pm. 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. The price of the class is $350 tuition plus a $25 materials fee