Everything Hits at Once

Seems like the universe is telling me to cash in my chips. Maybe that isn't the right metaphor, but a lot has happened recently that seems to be the culmination/pay-off of my efforts. I'm definitely going off to school in the fall. Right now it looks like I'll be attending Syracuse, but there are a couple of other doors I'm still watching to see if they'll open.

I recently attended a workshop given by Karen Hanmer at Pyramid Atlantic Art Center organized by the Potomac Chapter of the Guild of Bookworkers. I took oodles of pictures, some of which I'll share here. Karen taught two different binding structures over the course of the two-day weekend workshop. Drum Leaf and Sewn Boards bindings share some common traits. They are both elegantly simple and versatile structures. We also practiced some edge decoration techniques, which was super messy and fun.

Go, bookbinders, go!

Pyramid manages to be very economical yet generous in workshop space. If you haven't heard of it or taken a class there, I highly recommend you check it out. I volunteered at their open house/31st birthday party last weekend and got to see the resident artists at work in the various workshops... even the glass sculpture studio! 

I found the excellent instruction [peppered with Karen's charming brand of wry humor] and the general enthusiasm and comraderie of the attendees made the experience that much more enjoyable.

Splatter/speckle painting the edges seemed more suited to the outdoors

 

Ahhh.... eye candy

Edge decorating with watercolors and acrylic inks

Right now I'm waiting to hear back from some folks at the University of Kansas about a summer conservation internship. They interviewed me a couple of weeks ago, an interesting and exciting process, and said that they would announce their decision soon. I know how stiff the competition can be for opportunities in this field, so I'm trying to be equanimous about whatever the result may be.

Preservation Week is nearly upon us. Institutions around the country plan events during this time to share resources and ideas. One good man, Kevin Drieger, came up with a neat contribution. He's been profiling established conservators, veritable titans in the field, by asking them a set of questions to prompt them to share their hardwon wisdom. Soon, he'll start posting similar profiles focused on newcomers to the field and, guess what, yours truly will be featured on his blog!

Here's a recruitment message for ya: Hey there bookperson! Are you a binder/conservator/book artist/librarian/general book enthusiast?? Sweet sandals of Zeus, so am I! Wouldn't you like to learn more about all things bibliophilic/bibliopegic happening in your vicinity? I thought so! 

Next time, I'll be putting in my two-cents about the state of book conservation training [or, rather, lack thereof] in our great nation.