Workshops

Upcoming

June 16–17, 2018
Traditional Ethiopian Bookbinding
North Bennet Street School, Boston, MA

This two-day workshop will begin with a presentation detailing the traditional methods and materials of the Ethiopian scribe and bookbinder. Students will then construct two historical models. The first will be a basic binding with bare wooden boards demonstrating the fundamentals of the unsupported link stitch, board attachment and repair, and the construction of a lebas (a protective cloth over-cover). The second will be a full leather binding with board linings of patterned cloth and traditional endbands of interwoven leather strips. Basic tooling techniques as well as common designs and motifs will be discussed and demonstrated. Students will be given the opportunity to decorate their bindings as time allows.

July 28–29, 2018
Folded Books
North Bennet Street School, Boston, MA

Explore the intersection of origami and bookbinding. Students put the techniques of traditional paper-folding to work creating structures that draw inspiration from many corners of bookbinding. The accordion fold, the codex, albums, maps, and even boxes and envelopes all make appearances. Your hands, supplemented by only the simplest set of tools, transform flat sheets of paper through folding (and the occasional cut), resulting in a variety of elegantly simple and dynamic structures.

August 18–19
Book Structures for Prints and Photographs
North Bennet Street School, Boston, MA

This two-day class will present students with three different bindings that are ideal for artists working with printmaking, photography, and collage: The Drum Leaf; Hedi Kyle’s Storage Book; and the Japanese Accordion Album ("Nori-ire gajo"). Unlike a traditional sewn codex, these structures use only adhesive in their construction, allowing for a full view of the image with minimal preparation before binding. Students will learn about proper materials and applications for each structure, as well as additional modifications that can be made to enhance content.

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Scheduling
To schedule any of the workshops listed below for your group or institution please contact me at bill [at] billhanscom [.] com or leave a comment. Most workshops can be formatted or combined for half-day, 1-, 2-, 3-day, or week-long schedules.

Available Workshops

Book Structures for Prints and Photographs
This two-day class will present students with three different bindings that are ideal for artists working with printmaking, photography, and collage: The Drum Leaf; Hedi Kyle’s Storage Book; and the Japanese Accordion Album ("Nori-ire gajo"). Unlike a traditional sewn codex, these structures use only adhesive in their construction, allowing for a full view of the image with minimal preparation before binding. Students will learn about proper materials and applications for each structure, as well as additional modifications that can be made to enhance content.

Bookbinding Basics I
This introductory workshop will help familiarize you with the materials and techniques of (non-adhesive) sewn book construction as well as the basic principles of book function. Students will make a series of models of elementary book structures including one, two and three section sewings, and a long stitch sewing. Hands-on demonstration will be illuminated by discussion of book cloth and paper (selection, folding, cutting, grain direction), adhesives (types, uses, tips for application), sewing (thread and needle selection, techniques), and structure (mechanics, strengths/weaknesses, incorporating content).

Bookbinding Basics II
Expanding on the topics covered in Bookbinding Basics I, this course will present more advanced sewing structures as we continue our investigation into the elements of bookbinding. We will cover topics such as supported vs. unsupported sewing, use of adhesives (or lack of) in book construction, and cover-to-text block attachment. Participants will produce three bindings: the Cross Structure Binding, Simplified Ethiopian Binding, and a Simple Case Binding.

Enclosures for Preservation and Beyond
Boxes, wrappers and slipcases are widely used to house and protect library and archival collections, but they also offer terrific opportunities for artistic exploration. Beyond the protective housing of original artistic works such as books or print portfolios, enclosures can be altered and embellished to complement, enhance, and conspire with their contents. Over the course of this workshop students will work to create a reference set of enclosures which neatly nest together.

Folded Books
Explore the intersection of origami and bookbinding. Students put the techniques of traditional paper-folding to work creating structures that draw inspiration from many corners of bookbinding. The accordion fold, the codex, albums, maps, and even boxes and envelopes all make appearances. Your hands, supplemented by only the simplest set of tools, transform flat sheets of paper through folding (and the occasional cut), resulting in a variety of elegantly simple and dynamic structures.

German Paper Bindings
This two-day course examines one corner of the history of inexpensive paper-covered books used from the advent of the printed book in Europe through the industrial revolution of the nineteenth century. Participants construct three common German paper-bound structures (paper wrapper, stiffened paper binding, and trade paper case with lapped components) using the associated sewing variations and end-sheet constructions. Structural variations and decoration are examined through images and historical examples from the instructor's collection.

Italian Paper Bindings
Explore the history and use of inexpensive paper-covered book structures beginning at the advent of the printed book in Europe and continuing through the industrial revolution of the nineteenth century. Participants will create four models of bindings commonly used in the Italian region including a plain wrapper, laminated case wrapper, basic long-stitch, and paper case. Models will incorporate decorated and handmade papers, as well as historically-employed sewing techniques and end-sheet constructions. Structural variations and decoration will be examined through images and historical examples from the instructor's collection. All materials will be provided by the instructor.

Leather Satchel for Ethiopian Books
Learn to construct a maḫdär, the two-piece leather satchel used for transporting and storing manuscripts in Ethiopia. In this two-day workshop, using a pattern based on historical examples, students will create a model of this traditional case by scoring, folding and lacing together pieces of heavy cowhide leather. The models will feature many common elements: a case with flap, carrying strap, lifting cord, and a telescoping slipcase cover called a difat.

Medieval Long- and Link-stitch Bindings
In this two-day workshop, participants will learn about the history and construction of European long and link stitch bookbinding structures. Long and link stitches, which connect the text block directly to a limp parchment cover, can be used individually or in combination to create striking exposed-sewing patterns on the spine. The patterns can be enhanced by using different materials — such as leather, wood, or horn — to reinforce the spine, or with secondary stitching that is both structural and decorative. The spine can also be further embellished with decorative punching.

Traditional Ethiopian Bookbinding
This two-day workshop will begin with a presentation detailing the traditional methods and materials of the Ethiopian scribe and bookbinder. Students will then construct two historical models. The first will be a basic binding with bare wooden boards demonstrating the fundamentals of the unsupported link stitch, board attachment and repair, and the construction of a ləbas (a protective cloth over-cover). The second will be a full leather binding with inlays of patterned cloth and traditional endbands of interwoven leather strips. Basic tooling techniques as well as common designs and motifs will be discussed and demonstrated. Students will be given the opportunity to decorate their bindings as time allows.