Books samples displayed at a recent Art Intersection workshop
Our house is home to four new books thanks to a bookmaking class I attended last night with our oldest daughter, Jennifer — an ASU student who readily admits her new bookmaking skills will make it harder to slog through all that summer session homework.
When we got to Art Intersection in Gilbert, Jennifer quickly made her way to the book-making class being taught by Carol Panaro-Smith. I joined her after taking a stroll through the “All Art Arizona 2012” exhibition that runs through July 28, but tried to lay low while Jennifer did her thing.
Portion of the gallery space at Art Intersection in Gilbert
Jennifer was one of seven women taking the three-hour class that night, and all went home with four styles of books created from various recycled papers. Picking which papers to use seemed like half the fun — and I was touched when Jennifer thought to grab a piece picturing Shakespeare, knowing that her sister Lizabeth is a big fan of the Bard.
You can learn a lot about a person by watching them in art-making mode. Do they like to wing it or meticulously follow step-by-step instruction? How well do they tolerate imperfections? Do they prefer conversation or keen concentration? Are they comfortable posing questions or asking for help when it’s needed?
Carol Panaro-Smith (L) works with Jennifer on sewing a handmade book
Coming days will find me trolling used book stores and such in search of interesting papers for futute evenings filled with bookmaking. Maybe even returning for a second spin through the Phoenix Art Museum’s “Paper!” exhibit running through Sept. 23 (there’s a related event for the “Under 21” set at the museum tonight at 5:30pm).
Folks eager to learn the fine art of paper making can sign-up for the Phoenix Art Museum’s July 14 “Paper Making Workshop” — featuring “hand-papermaking and a fun exploration of simple and elegant book forms” with Rachel Nore, a graduate student in printmaking at ASU, and local artist Gabriela Muñoz, curatorial assistant of modern and contemporary art at the museum.
One of several books Jennifer created during the Art Intersection workshop
I’ve heard several news reports in recent days about the dwindling attention span of many Americans, and the toll that endless technological thrill-seeking is taking on our ability to engage in slow, deliberate thought. Seems far too many folks favor tweeting over reading.
Maybe the fine art of bookmaking, accessible to anyone with a few scraps of paper who learns just a few basic steps, can help us all embrace the meditative qualities that might help us weather the fast-paced fury of modern society.
— Lynn
Note: Click here to learn about upcoming classes and exhibits offered by Art Intersection in Gilbert.
Coming up: Another night with “Rent”
Stage Mom Musings 