Category: Adult Workshops

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Adult Workshops

MCBA’s in-person and virtual workshops in book arts are designed for adults looking to spark their creativity and professionals aiming to hone their practice. Our in-studio workshops offer hands-on experiences with specialized equipment and small class sizes, and often include a physical takeaway like a book, poster, or handmade paper. Virtual workshops feature processes that require easy-to-source materials and the opportunity to connect with artists from near and far. Our teaching artists—who bring a wide range of experience and education—thoughtfully balance lecture, demonstration, work time, and group sharing.

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Art Practice Circle: October

with Laura Brown
Tuesday, October 3; 7–8:30pm CT

Art Practice Circle meets virtually and offers a friendly community space to listen and share about artmaking. The benefits of connecting with fellow makers are multiple: to inspire and encourage one another, to be an audience for one another’s work and creative process, and to move our work forward by talking about it out loud. This monthly gathering will provide time for each person to share about their work—a particular work in progress, an idea that needs exploring, or a struggle with a specific work—as well as a conversation about what inspires us and strategies for tracking progress. Recommended for those who practice some form of book arts (book/paper/print) or related process (such as calligraphy, papercutting, marbling, etc.).

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Dos-à-Dos Binding

with Rosae Reeder
Wednesday, October 4; 5–8pm CT

In this virtual workshop, learn how to create books that are bound together—sharing a back cover—and open in opposite directions. First, create a simple single-page dos-à-dos to get familiar with the concept of the structure. Next, make a softcover book with two sections sewn in. Finally, create a hardcover dos-à-dos structure with a sewn open spine. The stories or imagery in these versatile books can be viewed as one continuous story, or as two parallel stories. Basic binding skills are helpful, but not required. Continue reading “Dos-à-Dos Binding”

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Introduction to Screen Printing

with Ben Etten and Michelle Lee Lagerroos
Thursdays: October 5, 12, 19; 6–9pm CT

Get familiar with MCBA’s screen printing studio and practice the photo emulsion process, from positive creation and screen coating to exposure and reclaiming. Each participant will complete an edition of multi-layered screen prints and come away from the workshop with the confidence to work independently at MCBA’s Screen Print Labs.

Create your design positives using hand-drawn artwork and/or cut paper stencils. Bring your sketches and ideas to the workshop. Final designs should fit on a letter-sized sheet of paper (maximum width 8.5 inches) and may include up to two colors. Continue reading “Introduction to Screen Printing”

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Paper Beater Training: October 7

Saturday, October 7; 11am-12pm CT
Papermaking Experience Required

If you aren’t already trained to use our paper beaters, here is your opportunity! Through hands-on training you will learn the capabilities of each piece of MCBA’s paper beaters, and how to use them correctly and safely. Completion of this training will allow you to rent this equipment and use it independently. Studio Labs are not eligible for Certificate credit.
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Cutting Equipment Orientation: October 10

Tuesday, October 10; 6:30-7:30pm CT

If you aren’t already trained to use our cutting equipment, here is your opportunity! Through hands-on training you will learn the capabilities of each piece of MCBA’s bindery cutting equipment, and how to use them correctly and safely. Completion of this training will allow you to rent this equipment and use it independently. This orientation was previously titled Cutting Equipment Training. Studio Labs are not eligible for Certificate credit.

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Copyright 101: Rights and Permissions for Artists

with Suzanne Glémot
Tuesday, October 10; 7–9pm CT

Publishing is essentially the activity of making information available to the public, whether for sale or free of charge. Depending on their context, art practices like printing and calligraphy can be considered forms of publishing. Because of copyright, artists working in these techniques are responsible for securing formal permission to use and work with text and/or images not originally their own.

In this virtual workshop, we’ll dig into copyright as it works in the US, what it protects, and when artists need to obtain permissions from copyright owners. We’ll cover the public domain, the fair use doctrine, and unusual cases like song lyrics and epigraphs. We’ll also walk through how to request permission for copyrighted material from authors or publishers. Participants will come away from this session with a base of knowledge and resources towards addressing copyright in their future projects. Continue reading “Copyright 101: Rights and Permissions for Artists”

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Introduction to Hand Bookbinding (Morning Session)

with India Johnson
Wednesdays: October 11, 18, 25; 9am–12pm CT

In this in-person workshop, learn foundational skills in bookbinding while making three book structures: pamphlet binding (single- and double-section), slotted tape binding, and a hardcover, flat-back book with three-piece case. An introduction to basic tools and materials will equip you with the knowledge and skills needed to make these bindings again in different sizes and with other options for materials. Learn how to find the grain direction in a variety of papers along with how to score and fold paper. Get familiar with book cloth and how to handle common bookbinding adhesives. Learn methods of measuring paper and basic cutting equipment operation. Come away with a strong foundation for growing your confidence in bookbinding and the skills needed to make your own notebooks and journals at MCBA’s Bookbinding Labs. Continue reading “Introduction to Hand Bookbinding (Morning Session)”

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The Stenciled Image

with Stephanie Wolff
Wednesday, October 11; 5–8pm CT

Stenciled artwork generally breaks down an image into its most essential parts. Think of graffiti artists whose spray-painted graphics use stencils for making quick, repeatable images. In this workshop we will cover a basic method of creating and using stencils to make multiple copies on paper. Our focus will be on learning the general mechanics of stenciling. The instructor will focus on the use of acrylic ink for stenciling and will show demos of other mediums (not including spray painting). Additionally, the use of jigs to get good registration both of the image and its placement on the paper will be addressed. This one-session workshop will provide a good basis for further experimentation afterward.  Continue reading “The Stenciled Image”

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Box Building for Beginners

with Erin Maurelli
Wednesdays: October 11, 18, 25, November 1; 7–9pm CT

This workshop is perfect for anyone new to book arts who would like to learn something a little different. Building boxes with high-density board, often called “book board,” is a time-honored tradition within book arts. Hand-built boxes serve many functions, from holding tools to preserving fragile books. Participants will learn the basics of box building while creating two unique boxes with lids. Continue reading “Box Building for Beginners”

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Introduction to Hand Bookbinding (Evening Session)

with India Johnson
Thursdays: October 12, 19, 26; 6–9pm CT

In this in-person workshop, learn foundational skills in bookbinding while making three book structures: pamphlet binding (single- and double-section), slotted tape binding, and a hardcover, flat-back book with three-piece case. An introduction to basic tools and materials will equip you with the knowledge and skills needed to make these bindings again in different sizes and with other options for materials. Learn how to find the grain direction in a variety of papers along with how to score and fold paper. Get familiar with book cloth and how to handle common bookbinding adhesives. Learn methods of measuring paper and basic cutting equipment operation. Come away with a strong foundation for growing your confidence in bookbinding and the skills needed to make your own notebooks and journals at MCBA’s Bookbinding Labs. Continue reading “Introduction to Hand Bookbinding (Evening Session)”

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Letterpress 1: Printing Basics (October)

with Bethany Rahn
Thursdays: October 12 & 19; 6–9pm CT

This in-person letterpress workshop offers an introduction to MCBA’s print studio—including key equipment, tools, and terminology—in addition to an opportunity to experience the satisfaction of printing a message through the hands-on process of letterpress printing. Get to know MCBA’s wood type collection and learn beginning typesetting with wood type. Learn the basics of working with a flatbed cylinder press, including operation, safety, and care while building skills using the equipment with support from a teaching artist. In pairs, choose a text (three to five words) and print your own small edition of posters on a Vandercook press.  Continue reading “Letterpress 1: Printing Basics (October)”

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Content for Artist’s Books: How to Get Started (And Keep Going!)

with Dana King
Saturday, October 14; 10am–4pm and Sunday, October 15; 1–4pm CT

In this in-person workshop, gain tools to generate and refine content for artist’s books. Begin with a short presentation on form and content in artist’s books. Next, we’ll discuss a list of generative exercises and try one out! We’ll also work through two sequencing exercises developed by Gregory Halpern—photographer, teacher, and Guggenheim Fellow. Make simple book structures to build a habit of making “book sketches” or simple, cost-effective models used to see how a book’s content and structure will work together in a physical book form before committing to a final version with more expensive materials. The remainder of the workshop will be spent putting ideas into practice with support from the instructor and friendly group feedback. Participants are encouraged to bring works in progress, images and/or writing for book projects, and any other materials of interest. Continue reading “Content for Artist’s Books: How to Get Started (And Keep Going!)”

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Harvest Papermaking

with Bridget O’Malley
Saturday, October 14; 10am–4pm CT

Fall is the time of abundance for papermakers. This workshop will focus on harvesting and preparing plants from the garden to make unique and beautiful papers. Grasses, leaves, stalks, and bast can be used cooked or raw, beaten by hand, beaten by machine, combined with other plants, and more. Let’s see how many different results can be achieved by trying as many options as time permits. Bring plenty of plant material for experimentation. Hostas, daylily leaves, grasses, straw, cattail, yarrow, milkweed stalks and seed fibers, corn husks, and hollyhocks are all plants that make great paper.  Continue reading “Harvest Papermaking”

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Letterpress: Reduction Block Printing

with Mary Bruno
Saturday, October 14; 10am–4pm CT

Reduction block printing is an image-making process where multiple colors are letterpress printed from one linoleum block to create a single image with vibrant color and depth.

Experience reduction block printing on the Vandercook with Mary Bruno of Bruno Press (St. Joseph, Minnesota)! Mary will share examples of her work, which demonstrate a wide range of possibilities in reduction block printing. Learn how to simplify an image for greatest success and how to transfer it onto a linoleum block. Carve your block and create a plan for each color or layer of printing in a minimum of three stages. Instruction will also cover strategies for planning the size of your reduction block in relation to the size of your paper, registration, and other tips and tricks for successful reduction block printing on a flatbed cylinder press. Come ready to have fun and make prints! Continue reading “Letterpress: Reduction Block Printing”