Congratulations to Priscilla Hill. She is the first person to complete Asheville BookWorks workshops in both printing and papermaking so that she can work independently in both studios. We look forward to seeing the upcoming projects she’ll be working on.

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Do you make marbled paper? Paste paper? How do you use it in your work? BookWorks Gallery is seeking work that utilizes hand marbled and paste papers. We often see these papers in a studio as they’re being made, or in a stack of beautiful papers waiting to be used. We’d like to see them in action; put to use in ways that go beyond the endsheet. We are looking for work that uses these papers in unusual and unexpected ways, both in book objects as well as wall hangings.

Steve Pittelkow, an internationally recognized book artist who has been marbling for over 30 years, will jury the exhibit. Artists may submit up to three entries. Digital images of entries must be received via email or CD no later than JUNE 4, 2010. Artists can enter up to 3 pieces for the show and can send up to 3 images of each entry for a maximum of 9 images. There is a flat entry fee of $15. Artists accepted for the exhibition will be notified via email by June 17, 2010.

PLEASE NOTE, WE’VE EXTENDED THE DATES FOR ENTRY AND NOTIFICATION until June 4th, 2010.

Download Marbled and Paste Papers in Action - CALL FOR ENTRIES / PROSPECTUS.

The Paper II workshop is preparation for working on your own in the paper studio. Four participants over the weekend made a lot of beautiful cotton and abaca paper, and we even did a bit of retted flax paper. Images show a cotton rag and abaca pulp.

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Our interns have been making the holders to send out BookWorks brochures. Erin, Donna, Mary and others have been cutting out the brochure holders using a series of jigs. The original design is from commercial packaging work.  Let us know (info@ashevillebookworks.com) and we’ll be happy to send brochures out to your book store, university, book arts center, art center or museum.

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A Bird in the Head is Worth Two in the Hand, Margaret Couch Cogswell

Jessica White, BookWorks Gallery Coordinator, created the inaugural exhibit in the new gallery space, a BookWorks Instructors’ Invitational entitled, “Hands Prompt the Mind.” “This show celebrates all of the tactile, sensory, physical and intellectual growth that takes place here at BookWorks. It includes instructors of the past and present, as well as those just now getting involved with upcoming classes and workshops. These works exemplify them as artists in their respective fields and how their hands have prompted their (and our) minds.” Jessica White, Gallery Coordinator.

“The title of this show is a phrase that I heard often from one of my mentors, Gary Frost, as we worked side by side at the University of Iowa’s Library Conservation Department. He was referring to the idea that ‘the evolution and use of the hands shaped the brain, language and human culture’ and ‘how the development of the brain follows this other development.’ This was a concept developed by Frank R. Wilson in his book, The Hand, where he describes in detail how ‘this circumstance engendered a learning pathway based on discovery by manipulation and tactile observation. This perceptive channel of primate dexterity then prompted the mind toward conceptual thought.’ In other words, we don’t just develop physically and haptically from learning with our hands, but we grow intellectually as well.” Jessica White, 2010