Workshops & Events
Artist’s Books from Start to Finish
This virtual workshop will take you through the process of making an artist’s book from start to finish.
Collage Test Kitchen
In this virtual workshop, learn a generative approach to collage-making that will help you explore your creative voice and learn to recognize patterns and connections in your work.
Handmade Book: Materials & Techniques: Morning
Learn to sew a two-color silk headband, make custom book cloth from any fabric, and color a book edge with gouache.
Headbands: History, Use & Techniques
In this virtual workshop, learn how to make headbands for a variety of styles of bindings such as case binding, Coptic, slotted tapes, etc.
Textile Bookmaking
Join us for a sensory-rich virtual workshop and create a unique hand-sewn textile book.
Suminagashi
Immerse yourself in the oldest form of marbling, Suminagashi 墨流し (“spilled or floating ink”).
Tactile Books: Fiber Arts and Bookbinding
In this in-person workshop, explore the area where fibers and book arts overlap to create truly tactile books, engaging with a variety of materials to make one-of-a-kind works that satisfy both the visual and sensual experience of the reader.
Introduction to Marbling: April
Experience the magic of marbling firsthand with this in-person workshop!
Screen Print Cards: April
Get familiar with MCBA’s screen printing studio and print your unique design on a set of cards!
Multicolor Woodcut Printmaking
Sharpen your technique and gain a deeper understanding of the reductive printmaking process.
A Study in Sliceforms
Build pop-up volumes using a sculptural, flexible technique in this rare in-person workshop with Chicago-based artist Shawn Sheehy.
The Pop-Up Vegetable Garden
Build a garden of delicious-looking, dimensional paper vegetables.
European Papermaking: April
Learn the tools, terminology, and procedures of European-style papermaking in this in-person studio workshop.
Letterpress 1: Printing Basics (April)
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.
Letterpress 3: Two-Color Prints (April)
Letterpress 3: Two-Color Prints focuses on printing multiple layers and building printers’ confidence using Vandercook presses through practice.
Handmade Book: Materials & Techniques: Evening
Learn to sew a two-color silk headband, make custom book cloth from any fabric, and color a book edge with gouache.
Box Building Magic
In this in-person workshop, learn how to build this unique and playful structure with an artist who has fine-tuned the box design.
Marbling Focus: Nonpareil & Chevron Variations
This in-person workshop focuses on sharpening skills needed to marble nonpareil and chevron patterns.
Flag Books
Learn to make a Flag Book, an innovative and adaptable book structure that uses an accordion spine and attachable "flag" pages.
Introduction to Hand Bookbinding: Weekend
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.
Introduction to Marbling: May
Experience the magic of marbling firsthand with this in-person workshop!
Box Building for Beginners: Virtual
Building boxes with high-density board, often called “book board,” is a time-honored tradition within book arts.
Quick & Dirty Letterpress Posters (May)
Learn about the history and power of the printing press as a tool for sharing information, and use a Vandercook printing press to print a message!
Mechanical Spine Binding
In this virtual workshop, learn how to create a simple, non-adhesive binding with a mechanical spine that collapses when the book is opened on a flat surface.
Summer Moon Flag Book
Create an original flag book—inspired by smiling moons and summer blooms—that showcases your painting and collage skills, in this virtual workshop
Letterpress 1: Printing Basics (May)
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.
Phežúta Mniȟúha: Medicine Paper
This in-person workshop explores the incorporation of traditional Indigenous plant material with papermaking processes.
East Asian Side-Sewn Bindings 1: Traditional Patterns
In this in-person workshop, we’ll focus on proper text preparation and traditional sewing patterns for side-sewn bindings.
Hand-Lettering 1: Art of Letters (Virtual)
Discover hand-lettering techniques through a guided approach to drawing letters and short words, and walk away with a poster featuring your own lettering alphabet or your favorite letter!
Hand-Lettering 1: Art of Letters (In-Person)
In this in-person workshop, you'll discover hand-lettering techniques through a guided approach to drawing letters and short words, and walk away with a poster featuring your own lettering alphabet or your favorite letter!
Hand-Lettering 2: Composition & Balance (Virtual)
Building on the fundamentals of drawing letters and short words in Hand-Lettering 1: Art of Letters (previously called The Art of Hand-Lettering), this follow-up workshop focuses on working with multiple words and short phrases.
Adding 2D Content to Artist’s Books
Add supplementary two-dimensional material—including photographs, letters, or found ephemera—to artist’s books and other book arts projects in this in-person workshop.
Hand-Lettering 2: Composition & Balance (In-Person)
Building on the fundamentals of drawing letters and short words in Hand-Lettering 1: Art of Letters (previously called The Art of Hand-Lettering), this follow-up workshop focuses on working with multiple words and short phrases.
Watercolor Marbling
Watercolor marbling has been used by bookbinders since its introduction to Europe during the 17th century until the advent of vibrant acrylic paints in the second part of the 20th century.
Introduction to Screen Printing: Weekend
Get familiar with MCBA’s screen printing studio and practice the photo emulsion process, from positive creation and screen coating to exposure and reclaiming.
Year of the Horse Pop-Up Card
Join instructor Shawn Sheehy (a Fire Horse!) in celebrating your astrological luck with an energetic and cheerful pop-up!
Exploding Books: Turkish & Petal Fold Structures
Construct a dynamic, adhesive binding with Turkish map-folds and petal-fold variations, in this virtual workshop.
Box Building: Clamshell Boxes (Virtual)
Clamshell boxes are used to store and protect precious objects—anything from books to a collection of artworks to sheet music.
Introduction to Hand Bookbinding: Morning
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.
Accordion Collage Book with Surprise Tunnel
Using ephemera, images, and scrap paper, build a unique structure that houses a folded accordion, which reveals a dimensional tunnel attached to the inside of the back cover.
Introduction to Hand Bookbinding: Evening
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.
Introduction to Screen Printing: June
Get familiar with MCBA’s screen printing studio and practice the photo emulsion process, from positive creation and screen coating to exposure and reclaiming.
Papyrus Reimagined: Food-Based Papermaking
Inspired by the methods of papyrus-making, we will transform materials such as beet, apple, zucchini, and carrot into handmade paper.
Introduction to Marbling: Weekday Intensive
Experience the magic of marbling firsthand with this in-person workshop!
Embroidery on Paper
In this virtual workshop, learn embroidery techniques for paper and how to create a wide range of effects.
Letterpress 1: Printing Basics (Weekday Intensive)
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.
Marbling Focus: Stone and Moire (Weekday Intensive)
This in-person workshop focuses on honing skills needed to marble stone and moire patterns.
Animated Cards
In this virtual workshop, transform flat sheets of paper into several different types of performative and entertaining paper cards.
Letterpress 2: Setting Type (Weekday Intensive)
This in-person letterpress workshop focuses on setting metal type and building familiarity with printing on the Vandercook press.
Marbling Focus: Bouquet Patterns (Weekday Intensive)
Step into the world of bouquet comb artistry with this immersive, in-person workshop!
Letterpress 3: Two-Color Prints (Weekday Intensive)
Letterpress 3: Two-Color Prints focuses on printing multiple layers and building printers’ confidence using Vandercook presses through practice.
Experimental Modern Marbling
Combine traditional marbling and painterly suminagashi techniques in this in-person marbling intensive.
Linocut for Everyone
In this in-person workshop, learn the full linocut printmaking process from start to finish: transferring an image, carving safely and effectively, and printing by hand.
Hide & Seek: Transforming Paper Toys
Transform images before your very eyes! In this in-person workshop, make assorted paper toys that use transparencies and sliding panels to hide and reveal content.
Quick & Dirty Letterpress Posters (June)
Learn about the history and power of the printing press as a tool for sharing information, and use a Vandercook printing press to print a message!
Suminagashi
Immerse yourself in the oldest form of marbling, Suminagashi 墨流し (“spilled or floating ink”).
Box Building for Beginners (In-Person)
This in-person workshop is perfect for anyone new to book arts who would like to learn something a little different.
Suminagashi: Guided Exploration
Explore and experiment with the art of Japanese marbling—or suminagashi 墨流し (“spilled or floating ink”)—in a supportive, collaborative environment.
Papermaking Intensive: Surface Treatment Study
Join Amanda Degener and Rachel Payne in an immersive, in-person workshop featuring surface treatment on flax paper and sturdy paper bindings.
Digital & Analog Zines
Learn to fold six different styles of zines—from the classic 8-page structure to larger, more innovative booklets—then experiment with creating your own structures.
And your very flesh shall be a great poem
Join us for a collaborative concrete poetry and low-fi printmaking workshop in MCBA’s studios, drawing on the history of concrete poetry, the work of screenprinter and text-combiner Corita Kent, and Walt Whitman's insistence that a just society is poetry's embodiment.
Digital Resources: Geometry and Illusion for Visual Artists
In this virtual workshop, we’ll dive into some cool tools—both digital and on paper—to create tessellations, anaglyphs, patterns, and origami templates.
Polygonal Book Forms
Explore a book structure made from equilateral polygons that are hinged together to function in multiple ways, in this in-person workshop.
Paper Spectacle: A Pop-Up Panorama Book
Design and construct a layered pop-up panorama book inspired by Lothar Meggendorfer’s International Circus, in this in-person workshop with visiting artists Julie Chen and Erin McAdams.
Coptic Binding
Explore Coptic bindings, the most common form of link-stitch binding and possibly the oldest continuously used book sewing pattern.
Japanese Papermaking: March
Explore the tools and techniques of Japanese papermaking in this in-person workshop.
Letterpress 2: Setting Type (March)
This in-person letterpress workshop focuses on setting metal type and building familiarity with printing on the Vandercook press.
Blizzard Books
In this in-person workshop, learn to make the Blizzard Book, an innovative book structure designed by book artist Heidi Kyle.
Upcycled Collage Book with Glassine Envelopes
In this virtual workshop, use recycled materials to transform glassine envelopes and a cardboard box (or other light-weight board) into a truly original book, showcasing your collage and book making techniques.
Letterpress 1: Printing Basics (March)
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.
Introduction to Marbling: March
Experience the magic of marbling firsthand with this in-person workshop!
Book Repair: When Paper Fails
In this in-person workshop, learn foundational techniques and methods to care for aged and damaged paper.
Digital Zine Design
This virtual workshop, design zines digitally using free tools such as Google Docs, Spectrolite, and Affinity.
Printing on the Hand Press
250 years ago, printers composed and inked type to print the first copy of the Declaration of Independence on a hand press.
Layers in Pulp: A Stenciled Approach to Papermaking
Get ready to play with pulp! In this relaxed, hands-on studio workshop, dive into the colorful world of stenciling with pigmented pulp on freshly formed sheets of handmade paper.
Woodcut Printmaking for Beginners: February
Experience the process of relief printing while carving and printing your own design in this in-person workshop.
Accordion Collage Book with Surprise Tunnel
Using ephemera, images, and scrap paper, build a unique structure that houses a folded accordion, which reveals a dimensional tunnel attached to the inside of the back cover.
European Papermaking: February
Learn the tools, terminology, and procedures of European-style papermaking in this in-person studio workshop.
Letterpress 1: Printing Basics (February)
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.
Introduction to Marbling: February
Experience the magic of marbling firsthand with this in-person workshop!
Hot Foil Stamping on Kwikprint Machines
Foil adds rich gold, shiny silver, and wild holographic accents to prints and bindings. Learn how to use the hot foil stamping machines in MCBA’s bindery, aptly named Kwikprint machines.
Suminagashi
Immerse yourself in the oldest form of marbling, Suminagashi 墨流し (“spilled or floating ink”).
Hand-Lettering 1: Art of Letters
In this virtual workshop, you'll discover hand-lettering techniques through a guided approach to drawing letters and short words, and walk away with a poster featuring your own lettering alphabet or your favorite letter!
Screen Print Totes
Screen print your unique design on three totes ahead of the gift-giving season!