Florence, Italy - Course Descriptions - Book Arts

Course Information

Contact Hours and Credits

Availability

Summary

This intensive course will introduce students to the traditions and methods of the handmade book, as well as the expressive possibilities available with bookworks. The student will begin with simple foundational structures such as pamphlet-stitched and accordion style books and progress through more complex historical structures such as books sewn on supports, longstitch and coptic bindings. Exploration with materials is encouraged and students can combine other media (such as photography, printmaking, painting, etc.) they are familiar with in creating their bookworks. In addition students will be introduced to traditional methods of typesetting. To help acquaint the student with the long and on-going tradition of book arts in Italy, time permitting, fieldtrips will be organized to visit contemporary artists (bookbinders, papermakers) in their studios as well as visits to museums and institutions in the area which maintain collections relevant to the art of the book. Lastly, through slide presentations, sample works and lectures, the student will be given an overview of the history of the book and its development in Western art.

Full Description

Student Work

Book Arts presents the artist with unlimited creative potential. In this hands-on course students will learn to make beautifully crafted bindings and book structures. They will also experiment with European style papermaking, text, image and multi-media techniques to make expressive and personal statements. Book Arts can be combined with printmaking, papermaking, photography, digital imaging, letterpress, drawing and painting to make this a very exciting and flexible medium.

This course is open to all students with an interest in the book as an art form. Previous bookmaking experience is helpful, but not required. Students with experience in other artistic techniques will be encouraged to use those in their bookmaking. For example, a photography student might want to produce a one-of-a-kind or limited edition photo book, exploring issues of composition, form, content, sequencing, pacing and expression in the production of their books.

Class meetings will be a combination of lecture/discussion and demo/practical work in the studio. Classroom instruction and practice will include basic bookmaking skills and explore the relationship between image, text and The Book.

You will learn a number of binding structures as well as produce several modern artists’ books. Artists’ books are books that are art objects. They can combine text, image, multi-media techniques to express a creative idea or simply be decorative expressions in themselves. Each student will produce at least one model of each binding structure covered, several small artists’ books, as well as a Final Book Project (an artists’ book or series of books). The Final Project is meant to use acquired bookmaking skills to explore new structures and techniques.

Book Arts Facilities

Exploration with materials is encouraged and students can combine other media they are familiar with (i.e., printmaking, papermaking, photography, letterpress) in creating their own unique book or edition of books. Several sessions will be devoted to using letterpress and introducing students to the use of hand printed type in their books.

You will also visit a paper marbling studio and one of the libraries of historic books in Florence. There will be 2 group critiques in this class – one Mid-term and one Final Critique – friendly, supportive, open group discussions about students’ books. This is an opportunity for you to present your work to other students and to your instructor. Critiques are an essential part of producing and bettering your artwork. They help you learn how to articulate your thoughts and motivations as an artist and aid you in gaining insights into your work and artistic production.

The city of Florence provides the backdrop to this intensive workshop, and there is frequent class time outside the studio in which to work on-site. The city itself - rich in history as the epicenter of the Italian Renaissance - is resplendent with some of the world's finest museums and monuments. The hill towns of Settingnano and Fiesole are only fifteen minutes away by car or bus and provide breathtaking panoramic views of the city from which the group will work. Two half-day guided walking tours of Florence, and an additional one of Siena, are included in the course and provide further opportunity for on-site work.

Prerequisites

None; however, previous bookbinding experience is helpful.

Instructor

Coptic Binding Book by Jill Vartenigian

Jill Vartenigian received her BA in Art History/ Minor in Studio Art from Oberlin College, her MA and MFA in Design from the University of Iowa, and a Certificate in Book Technologies at the Center for the Book (University of Iowa). Currently she works as a Senior Designer for a design company located in Bellevue, WA. In addition to her design work she creates one of kind and limited edition artist’s books which are shown both locally and nationally. Jill is an instructor at Pratt Fine Arts, in Seattle, WA, where she has been teaching Book Arts related courses since 1997.

Note: Final schedule of class times will be available when students arrive in Florence.

Facilities

The Santa Reparata's 19th Century Bookbinding Press

Book Arts presents the artist with unlimited creative potential. Students learn to make beautifully crafted bindings and book structures. They also learn to use traditional letterpress typesetting, combine text, image and multi-media techniques to make expressive and personal statements. Book Arts can be combined with printmaking, papermaking, photography, digital imaging, letterpress, drawing and painting to make this a very exciting and flexible medium.

Letterpresses at Santa Reparata are two Swiss made models that are motorized for inking, and have precision adjustments for color registration. The press beds will accommodate galleys of up to 40cm x 60cm. Santa Reparata has acquired a very large supply of lead and wooden fonts. Some of the wooden fonts are 19th century and many are very rare and large formats.

Required Supplies and Course Fees

Book Arts supplies are not included in the tuition. Students will be supplied with a complete list of required and optional materials that can be purchased in Florence (approximately 30 Euro). Students may wish to bring other supplies with them as well.

A required bound readings packet will be available at "Mailboxes Etc.", next to Santa Reparata on Via San Gallo. This packet includes instructions for completing all the book structures covered in this course. A bookbinding kit and other communal bookmaking materials are included in your €30 course supply fee. Supplies that are NOT INCLUDED in the Course Supply Fee will be purchased by students, as needed. They include but may not be limited to: a large portfolio to store work/paper in (optional), book paper, printmaking paper, decorative papers, linen cloth, etc.