Spring Session Starts!

Renate Mesmer is here teaching Basics in Paper Conservation to kick off the spring session of the American Academy of Bookbinding. Yeah! Students are here from Virginia, Wyoming, Utah, Missouri, Nebraska and Colorado. The past three days it has snowed about a foot, which is a surprise but not totally uncommon here in the high Rocky Mountains. Hopefully by the time the rest of you get here the snow will be over!

Congratulations to Renate, who has just been named "Acting Head of Conservation" at the Folger Shakespeare Library, moving up from Assistant Head to take Frank Mowery's place. Frank is still the Folger but is onto some new projects. CONGRATULATIONS RENATE!!

 

AH HAA STAFF BOOKBINDING DAY!

From L-R: Laura, Judy, Kathleen, Daniel, Lauren, Kate

Rachel couldn't make it and Deb prefers being behind the camera!

On Thursday the 17th, the staff at Ah Haa took a little mini retreat to the bookbinding studio to get a taste of what this bookbinding business was about. Call it continuing education to improve one's knowledge of what it is they're supporting/promoting. Call it a good, happy time. Everyone had fun learning a couple simple book forms and going away with two to four books for show and tell. Judy used papers she made herself and the rest of us relied on Daniel's inventory that he brought along. All were unique and personal. Laura, a very meticulous sort, produced a couple lovely and precise little books and claimed her comfort level to be higher in making books than in painting a self portrait. Kate branched out in three dimensions and accents on her second book with a miniature book on the cover. Lauren did some cut-outs as a decorative element and Kathleen made books specifically to hold photos and tickets.

 

Judy with her wonderful paper she made

Laura checking her edges

Kate at play

Kathleen showing off her ticket book

Lauren cradling her 'babies'

Posted by Deb at 4:27 PM

 

SIALIA RIEKE AWARDED HILBRANDT

Fine Binding Diploma aspirant from Santa Fe, Sialia Reike, is thrilled to be selected the recipient of the Hilbrandt Scholarship this year! Sialia had applied last year but was not selected, so she is especially grateful to be the winner this year. This year's field of applicants were all very qualified, submitting fine examples of their work representing a broad range of distinctiveness and creativity. Sialia will use her scholarship award to participate in Monique Lallier's Intermediate/Advanced Fine Binding class here in Telluride in October.


The Roberta Hilbrandt Scholarship was created by her husband, Bill Hilbrandt, in recognition of Roberta's love of the book arts and her love of lifelong learning. A former student at AAB, Roberta lost her courageous battle with cancer in 2009. She was a dear friend and enthusiastic student. Numerous fellow students, friends and acquaintances have contributed generously to the fund which supports the growth and education of one career minded student per year.

Roberta Hilbrandt

Congratulations Sialia! We look forward to witnessing your progress as you work toward your goal. Please enjoy viewing her work below!

Posted by Deb at 4:28 PM




 

A WEEK WITH MONIQUE THE BEST!

I have not yet had the pleasure of meeting Monique Lallier, but the responses from her students in San Francisco indicate that I'd better roll out the red carpet when she comes to Telluride in the Fall. The best thing for me to do for this blog entry is to let an enthusiastic student (and some of Monique's photos) tell the story.


"There are masters, but Madame Lallier is a master's master, her command of her materials and her refined skills are so easily communicated that for one minute, o' so briefly, one imagines being her and bathing in her light.  But then, she says something very softly to give us a tip on how to improve a gesture or a way of doing something.  This course was a delight and the tips alone were well worth the price of admission.  Unfortunately, the week ended, too soon.  I went back to my studio with a smile and a promise to improve every day and be ready for my next week with Madame..."  - Momo

  Sabina's book with strips of magazine paper and tissue paper over cloth new oriental binding.

  Beth's book with strips of tissue paper…very interesting.

 

Monique Racine's book.

 Signa with her book. She made the papers in the class.

 

  Sabina's second book with paper she made in class.

  Ellen's book with magazine paper and leather over cloth binding.

We do not yet have photos of everyone's book but will happily post them when available!

Posted by Deb at 12:17 PM

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DANIEL TUCKER!

Enjoy being the center of attention!

SIMPLE BOX MAKING AN ENJOYABLE CHALLENGE!

Last Saturday Daniel Tucker once again provided a full day of fun learning and focus with his  "Simple Box Making" class offered through the Ah Haa School's winter curriculum. Though there were only four students, we managed to cover every square inch of the available tables. I don't know how students in a full class keep their projects contained! The morning was spent cutting and folding simple origami projects - though we live in this region of topographical diversity, we learned about mountains and valleys in a whole new light. Then, in the afternoon, we proceeded to build and cover boxes with enough structural integrity they could not be crumpled in one hand. We all felt so accomplished and happy with our tidy little 2 x 2 x 6 boxes and lids (some of us are very easy to please ;-) The truth is that Daniel teaches in a way that allows us to succeed and leave feeling very good about the time spent creating something new. And that, of course, just motivates us to do more!

Daniel's creation 

Posted by Deb

AND WHILE THE BINDERS ARE AWAY …

Have you ever wondered what happens at the studio when the bookbinding classes are not in session? Though in my previous post I said something about it being “quiet”, that is not entirely true. As a part of Telluride’s Ah Haa School for the Arts, we often host classes offered by the school such as; Nuno Felting, Watercolor Painting, Drawing, Portrait Painting, Found Object Sculpture, Cold Wax & Oil Painting, Printmaking & Fiber Arts, and on and on. Who knew? Most recently Kathy Green and her students made the Stone Building their home for three weeks of complete color chaos as they submerged themselves into the Batik dying of numerous silk scarves. Beautiful! What a delight it was to walk in the door and float through a riot of color and design as the sun filtered through the studio. So Judy and I thought we would share this with you – ENJOY!

Meredith Nemirov teaches a private in "the lounge"

For more information about classes offered through the Ah Haa School http://www.ahhaa.org

Posted by Deb

REGISTER SOON - BOOKBINDING CLASSES ARE FILLING

It’s a quiet (and somewhat snowy) time of year here around the studio. Judy and I feel a “calm before the storm” as we prepare for the upcoming season of classes. Though registrations come in steadily, we still have spaces available. If you are considering taking one or more of the fabulous course offerings for 2011, we encourage you get in touch with us soon if you haven’t already!

A reminder to Financial Aid and Scholarship Applicants - applications for the spring and summer sessions of the American Academy of Bookbinding are due March 1, 2011. The due date for the fall classes is July 1. In 2010, AAB awarded over $10,000 in tuition and housing assistance and the Roberta Hilbrandt Scholarship. For information about how to apply for financial assistance, please contact:

AAB at aab@ahhaa.org,

or go to http://www.ahhaa.org/academy-bookbinding/admission/financial-aid/

We look forward to seeing you in Telluride or Summerfield this year!

DANIEL TUCKER TEACHES LOCAL'S CLASS
"MAKE YOUR FIRST BLANK BOOK"

As AAB's new employee, ignorant in the ways and means of bookbinding, it was especially exciting for me to jump into my first (but definitely not last) bookbinding class last weekend. Designed for true beginners such as myself, Daniel guided his enthusiastic students through so many of the basic skills, concepts and applications that our heads were spinning! He packed a lot of information into two, very focused days, and all nine of us loved every minute; so much so, that we're clamoring for more! Some of us skipped lunch and stayed after class we were so absorbed in our creations. A few of us actually finished a project or two, while others of us (yes, I was one of them) didn't finish anything but got a good start on a few different projects. I'm excited to complete my beginner projects and move on! - Deb

Our one representative from the younger generation, Zakiya, displaying the book she made especially for her friend.

Posted by Deb

The lovely and talented Deb Stevens

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.