Johanna Smick is a professionally trained hand bookbinder and restorer. Johanna received her BFA in Printmaking from Washington University in St Louis, MO. During her undergraduate degree she focused much of her time to letterpress and artist books, as well as the history of bookbinding and conservation. After graduating Johanna spent many months in India creating an inventory of precious objects for the Tsuklakhang monastery in Gangtok, Sikkim. There she was introduced to many thangka paintings and prayer books that required restoration. To further her education she went to the North Bennet Street School in Boston, MA for bookbinding and restoration. During her time in school she worked for Quercus Press in Waltham, MA where she was able to continue working in letterpress and custom binding. At the end of her time in school she began working for the Boston Public Library in their rare books lab and continued after graduation. There, Johanna worked on numerous books from the John Quincy Adams collection. Today Johanna lives and works in Asheville, NC and is the owner of Monkfish Bindery. Here she offers custom binding work as well as restoration.
Click to see a list of workshops Johanna is teaching.
Opening on Saturday December 3rd & through the month of December, the gallery will be transformed into a book arts and letterpress destination for those looking for unique gifts, ornaments, cards, handmade books, prints, and more.
Invite Friends and Family to join us on Saturday December 3, 1 – 5 for the best selection along with some spiced cider and ginger snaps!
If you’re a Letterpress Printer, Book Artist or Printmaker and are interested in participating, more info and a consignment sheet to fill out, is posted as a .pdf on the Co-op Page.
Get Your Bells ON!
December 1, 2011, Thursday, 7 – 9 PM
These two-hour orientations are geared for the person who has a curiosity for the world of Book Arts. What exactly is bookbinding, printmaking, hand papermaking and letterpress printing? Join us to learn about the basic areas of Book Arts and the types of work that we do through discussion and demonstrations. $15/session!
Dec. 1 - Intro to Asheville BookWorks
$15.00
- Date:
- Thursday, Dec. 1, 2011
- Time:
- 7:00 – 10:00 pm
December 2, 3 and 4, 2011
Friday, Saturday & Sunday: 9:00 am – 5:00 pm (1 hour lunch break)
Instructor: Frank Brannon
$328, includes a $20 studio fee
Prerequisite: Papermaking 1 or equivalent experience
The focus of the three-day course is in the use of the Hollander paper beater as well as improving your sheet formation. Using various fibers participants will become comfortable with the use of beater with a special emphasis on safety. The goal is to provide you with the experience to successfully rent space in the studio for your own work. Studio fee covers all fibers and supplies needed for papermaking and contributes to the on-going upkeep of the equipment.
Please bring the following items:
- Plastic apron if you have one, and wear rubber-soled shoes and clothes you don’t mind getting wet, and ear plugs.
Dec 3 - Papermaking II
$303.00
- Dates:
- Friday, Saturday & Sunday: December 3 – 5, 2010
- Time:
- 9:00 am – 5:00 pm (1 hour lunch break)
Johanna Smick is a professionally trained hand bookbinder and restorer. Johanna received her BFA in Printmaking from Washington University in St Louis, MO. During her undergraduate degree she focused much of her time to letterpress and artist books, as well as the history of bookbinding and conservation. After graduating Johanna spent many months in India creating an inventory of precious objects for the Tsuklakhang monastery in Gangtok, Sikkim. There she was introduced to many thangka paintings and prayer books that required restoration. To further her education she went to the North Bennet Street School in Boston, MA for bookbinding and restoration. During her time in school she worked for Quercus Press in Waltham, MA where she was able to continue working in letterpress and custom binding. At the end of her time in school she began working for the Boston Public Library in their rare books lab and continued after graduation. There, Johanna worked on numerous books from the John Quincy Adams collection. Today Johanna lives and works in Asheville, NC and is the owner of Monkfish Bindery. Here she offers custom binding work as well as restoration.
