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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Paper Beater Training: December 7

Saturday, December 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.
Continue reading “Paper Beater Training: December 7”

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Hand-Carved Stamps for Winter Cards

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with Hope Amico
Tuesday, December 10; 5–8pm CT

Whatever you celebrate, a handmade card is a treasure! Carving your own stamps means you can make a beautiful variety of designs for a special “hello” on any occasion. In this virtual workshop, learn the basics of carving stamps safely and create both a large central design and modular accent images. Then, use these stamps to create mailable cards for any occasion. Instruction will cover strategies for using patterns and other techniques to make the most of your supplies. Consider registering yourself and a friend or family member and make festive notes together!
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Cutting Equipment Orientation: December 10

Tuesday, December 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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East Asian Stab Bindings

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with Rachel Payne
Thursdays: December 12 & 19; 6–9pm CT

Stab bindings feature single sheets bound with decorative, exposed sewing at the spine. Often referred to as Japanese, the stab binding was developed in many East Asian countries including Japan, China, and Korea, as well as Vietnam—in Southeast Asia. The earliest known stab bindings date back to at least the 15th century—the Ming dynasty in China and the Sengoku period in Japan—and are still made today.

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Introduction to Marbling: December

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with Parry Cadwallader
Saturday, December 14; 10am–4pm CT

Experience the magic of marbling firsthand with this single-day, in-person workshop! Learn the basic process of paper marbling with acrylics, including recipes for the various components of the process. Make four basic patterns (stones, moire/waved, git-gel, and nonpareil), explore seasonal color palettes, and take home your own marbled papers ready to be used in bookbinding and other arts. Participants will leave the workshop with the confidence to work independently at MCBA’s Marbling Labs.

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Letterpress 1: Printing Basics (December)

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with Erin Maurelli
Saturday, December 14; 10am–4pm 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. 

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Finnish Paper Stars

with Sarah Stengle
Saturday, December 21; 1–4pm CT

The Finnish eight-pointed paper star is a cheerful presence in the dark of winter. It is larger and easier to make than the more familiar Moravian star. This in-person workshop will offer the opportunity to make two sizes of stars: one large enough for a window or door, the other small enough to fit in your hand. No folding is required, but some spatial thinking is necessary. Paper strips are woven into two four-pointed stars, which are then joined to form a dimensional eight-pointed star. 

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Paper Beater Training: January 4

Saturday, January 4; 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.
Continue reading “Paper Beater Training: January 4”

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Exquisite Corpse Book

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with Janet Reynolds
Tuesday, January 7; 5–8pm CT

The “exquisite corpse” game is a drawing activity where each participant takes a turn creating a part of the drawing without knowing what the others have added until the finished drawing is revealed at the end. In this virtual workshop, participants will construct a book that features numerous ways to arrange the flaps to create a myriad of image or text combinations. Examples of artist’s books that use this unique structure will be presented along with ideas for content creation and materials to help get you started on your own projects.

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Cutting Equipment Orientation: January 7

Tuesday, January 7; 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.

Continue reading “Cutting Equipment Orientation: January 7”

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Introduction to Hand Bookbinding: Morning Section

with India Johnson
Wednesdays: January 8, 15, 22; 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 Section”

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Visual Journaling Inspired by the Diary of Frida Kahlo

with Teté Montero
Wednesdays: January 8, 15, 22, 29; 5–6:30pm CT

In this virtual workshop, participants will explore Frida Kahlo’s art journal, drawing inspiration from her unique creative vision. Through illustrated lectures, we’ll briefly review Frida’s life, artwork, and key artistic concepts. Over four weeks, we will engage in mindful journaling, brief meditative practice, art prompts, and creative writing, with art journaling as the main focus of this thought-provoking path.

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Watercolor Vision Board for the New Year

with grace (ge) gilbert
Wednesday, January 8; 7–9pm CT

New year, new vision, new skills! In this virtual workshop, we’ll start with goal-oriented journaling, then learn basic watercolor techniques, and ultimately create a watercolor vision board to set our individual goals in motion for the new year. Designed for those who like to visualize their goals and want to grow their skills in watercolor! Continue reading “Watercolor Vision Board for the New Year”

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Introduction to Hand Bookbinding: Evening Section

with India Johnson
Thursdays: January 9, 16, 23; 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 Section”