A BLOG for students, faculty and friends of the American Academy of Bookbinding
Sunday, December 12, 2010
AAB Welcomes New Employee!!
I am delighted to announce that Deb Stevens has joined me at the AAB office. Deb has been training just minimal part time the past month, and will start to work 20 hours/week beginning January 1, 2011. Deb will be helping me with all aspects of administration, including registering students, working with instructors, developing material lists, handling donations and financial aid, ordering materials, assisting with housing, answering emails and so much more. I can't tell you how excited I am! I have known Deb for a long time—we sing together in an all women's a cappella group, Heartbeat. So, maybe you will get to hear us rehearsing in the office in between phone calls!
Besides being a very kind person with a big heart, Deb has a long interest in art and brings great qualities to her position. From 1974-1990, Deb was a full time production potter. She also worked at the Arvada Center for the Arts in Arvada, Colorado, where she was the Deaf Access Coordinator. She is a stained glass artist, sings with the Telluride Choral Society (where she is also a semi-administrator), and does graphic design in her free time. Oh, did I mention she plays the harp? She also can't wait to take some bookbinding classes! Deb lives with her husband Dalen on Hastings Mesa in their beautiful handmade house they built from scratch, along with their dog Chinle, and cats Chutzphah, Bailey and Poh.
I look forward to introducing you to Deb on your next trip to Telluride. You may also be getting correspondence from Deb instead of me if you send an email.
Welcome to the AAB family, Deb! I know you will develop great friendships with the wonderful students and faculty whom you will soon meet.
Monday, November 8, 2010
kiss from his wife, Sonja Jordan-Mowery.
GBW CONFERENCE IN TUCSON A BLAST!!!!
Though I was delayed arriving in Tucson, and had to spend the night in Phoenix without my luggage, the GBW Conference was terrific. There weren't as many attendees and visitors to the vendor's room this year (we had so much more traffic at the San Francisco Conference last year, due to the high number of binders in the area) but I was able to chat more in-depth with people. It was great to see students and faculty. I rented a glass book case and my table was a big attraction. Everyone wanted to see and hold the books by Monique Lallier, Don Glaister, Lang Ingalls and Brenda Parsons.
Once again I failed to take photos of everyone, but I was able to visit with a few people including Rebecca Chamlee (I hope you are recovering quickly), Sherry Barber, Marilyn Chambers, Karen Hanmer, Ethan Ensign, Taylor Crosby, Christine Fabian, Lang Ingalls, Frank Lehmann, Cathy Adelman, Jim Welker, Lesa Dowd, Sandra Good, Elaine Nelson, Patricia Owen, Toby Schwartzburg, Wilfredo Geigel, Edna Wright and several other students that I can't recall at the moment (so sorry!) I also had a good time chatting with the other vendors, and I need to tell you all that I bought a good supply of decorative papers and leather! So you can 'shop away' next time you are here. I enjoyed seeing Don G. and Suzanne M, as well as Frank Mowery and Sonya Jordan-Mowery, Alicia Bailey, Betsy Palmer Eldridge and Bill Minter.
Here are a few snapshots:
Thursday, October 7, 2010
SEPARATE BOARD STRUCTURE with Monique Lallier
Monique Lallier is teaching a one-week class in Separate Board Structure. The beauty of this technique is that the spine can be in leather and the boards covered in with decorative papers, cloth or leather. If the boards are covered in leather, the design is worked on the boards prior to attaching them to the book. The spine is titled by hand as well. Most students are using the beautiful papers that they designed in the last class with Suzanne Moore.
Another fabulous class with a fabulous teacher.
Monday, October 4, 2010
PIGMENT ON PAPER......WORLD CLASS!!
Wonderful week of making paper with artist Suzanne Moore. We held an open house for the community on Thursday, and Suzanne also presented a slide show/talk of her work. According to one attendee, "That was world class! What an amazing artist!"
Everyone made loads of paper, experimented with new techniques, and learned a lot.
We can't wait for Suzanne to come back next fall when she teaches a class with her husband, Don Glaister.
I'll post the 2011 schedule later this week!
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
SUZANNE MOORE IN FULL SWING
Suzanne Moore, acclaimed artist extraordinaire, is at AAB teaching "Pigment on Paper." The class of 11 1/2 (the half is me, who observes lectures and will be making paper by the end of the week...I swear!) is the largest class we have had in some time. We are managing extremely well with the new tables, new sinks, etc. Everyone seems happy and comfortable. Since this is only day 2, the experimenting is just taking off. Suzanne has demoed a number of techniques and participants are launching on individual projects with a book in mind. They will be making sheets for their books...paste paper sheets that could be used for the end pages, the covers or the textblock sheets.
I must say before I go any further that I am humbled and in awe of the creative genius of Suzanne Moore. WOW! What imagination, what a creative mind, what a long career filled with amazing calligraphy and books. This is the best part of my job, being able to work with such amazing artists. I am so lucky. I am so lucky to be able to see these artists at work, and to learn from them. I can't say enough about the extraordinary artists that teach here at AAB.
Enough from me. Enjoy the photos from these first two days of class. On Thursday we host an open house for the public to see the work, catch a slide show by Suzanne, and check out the facility. If you are in the area, please stop by between 5:00 and 7:oopm.
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
ANN ARBOR CLASS FANTASTIC!!
Monique Lallier is in Ann Arbor teaching Fundamentals of Bookbinding at Hollander's. According to several students the class is "fantastic!" There are eight students from all over, including Alaska, Hong Kong, Michigan, Wisconsin and Kentucky. Here are a few photos from the class.




Monique Lallier is in Ann Arbor teaching Fundamentals of Bookbinding at Hollander's. According to several students the class is "fantastic!" There are eight students from all over, including Alaska, Hong Kong, Michigan, Wisconsin and Kentucky. Here are a few photos from the class.




