never mind the press

2012

Studio Classes in Albany, CA

Here is the Tentative Schedule for Upcoming Classes. More information and photos will be available in April, when registration begins. Schedule is subject to change. updated: 26 January 2012
THE BOOK AS PLACE: A Series of Workshops Inside Book Art
In these five workshops we will look at the notion of the physical book as a place and how the contents can deepen our understanding of where we are. All classes will be held in the evenings from 7 - 9:15pm.

1. Tuesday, May 29: Painting the Walls: Surface Treatments for Paper
Taking our inspiration from wallpaper in literature and in connection with writers, we will paint paper in a variety of ways that could be starting points for new artist's books. Our creative responses may take many forms, from pearlescent acrylic inks depicting Charlotte Perkin Gilman's yellow wallpaper that "changes as the light changes," paste paper frottage suggesting Ray Bradbury's nursery walls depicting the African veldt, simple stencils echoing Gertrude Stein's "American Pigeon" wallpaper, or other acrylic ink techniques indicating wallpaper in houses that Jack Kerouac visited. Each student may choose to work with one theme or try connecting with one of each to create 2-6 different painted papers. You may also wish to use one of more of these papers in an upcoming bookmaking structures workshop. This class is a painting and paper decoration class. ($75 includes materials)

2. Tuesday, June 5: Architectural Books: Structures as Stages
Books are three-dimensional, and when standing they create new spaces and room, like a gallery ready for an exhibit or a theatrical stage waiting for a play. We will play with these spaces and make two or three examples of structures that invite interactivity. Structures may include the Little Room Book, Guest Book, Back-to-Back Accordion, or others to be determined. This class is a structures class. All levels welcome. ($75 includes materials)

3. Tuesday, June 12: Hearing Voices Under the Eaves: Exploring Writing through Conversation
Eavesdropping can spark a book. Through a series of activities and games we will explore tips for catching sound on paper and learning about storytelling through dialogue. We will make a House Book as a notebook to take home. This class is a gentle writing class, primarily for beginners. ($65)

4. Tuesday, June 19: Books with a View: Looking Through Windows and Out at Landscapes
When we look around we don't always see everything at once. Things are hidden. Perhaps we never find them, or perhaps we take our time to look more carefully. We will look at projects that incorporate layering potential and the possibilities of hidden elements in a Window Envelope that will hold a Three-Panel Jacob's Ladder with Translucent Pages. A Jacob's Ladder changes, revealing and concealing its imagery. This is a structures class that also looks at page treatments and layering. ($75 includes materials)

5. Tuesday, June 26: Finishing Touches: Studio Time and Individual Projects Consult
Bring a book you've started in one of these workshops or something you have made elsewhere that you may have questions about. We will begin by discussing and/or brainstorming about each other's books, then each student will receive instruction based on individual needs. Bring materials and a project you would like to work with. This class is a combination of personal studio time and consultation. ($65)

GENERAL INFORMATION
Registration for the above workshops begins April 1, 2012. Click on the link to the contact page to find my address and Email me or leave a message at (510) 524-5947 to indicate interest in a class or if you need more information. I will return your call as soon as possible. You may also leave your email address. I respond much more promptly to email messages.

Payment is due one week prior to the session you plan to attend or your space may be given to someone else. Bring a friend! Classes may be canceled due to low enrollment (three or fewer) for a full refund. No refunds after the class has begun. No makeups. All classes are limited to six students. Materials are included in the price, unless otherwise noted.

All classes are held at the never mind the press studio in Albany, CA. Reserve a space by sending a check for the full amount to: Alisa Golden, P.O. Box 8106, Berkeley, CA 94707. Your check will be held until one week before class is due to begin, then it will be deposited, no refunds. Please include your email so I can send you a reminder, give you the address, and let you know if there is anything you should bring.

Meanwhile, you might find something of interest in the new blog. I'm exploring art, craft, and creative writing, and creative process through projects, musings, essays, and experiments.

Spring Course at JFK University, Berkeley Campus - Open to the Public

I have been asked to teach a 1.5 unit course called "Writing and the Creative Process" at JFKU this spring in the Arts & Consciousness program. The finalized syllabus will be available online in the coming months. I'll keep you posted and provide a link since you would register through JFKU. This is an artmaking/writing class; it is not a bookmaking class; and it is open to the public and to auditors. The Berkeley campus is at Ashby and San Pablo Ave. Hope to see you there! More details to come…
Dates: Thursdays, May 10 - June 14 (6 weeks), 4:30 pm - 7 pm.

Course Description: Art in all forms is a way of seeing. This course will shine light on how words can be used like other art media to describe an object, to capture a mood, to tell a story, and to transform how we see the world. Through the arrangement of tangible objects and projects that incorporate visual materials we will discover ways to use words as our artistic medium. We will work with both artmaking and writing as we explore a variety of concepts including: repetition and revision, juxtaposition, visualization, layered meaning, memory, and rhythm.

Educational Objective: To put the visual artist at ease with writing and to provide gentle approaches and practices to access storytelling and imagery through words. To create a body of work inspired by these processes.

Other Classes in the San Francisco Bay Area

See Lisa Kokin's site for her monthly workshops in the East Bay involving altered books and found materials.
Check out the variety of book arts classes at the San Francisco Center for the Book.

Instructional Books

For reference, try these how-to books: Making Handmade Books, Creating Handmade Books, and Unique Handmade Books and Expressive Handmade Books and Painted Paper: Techniques and Projects for Handmade Books and Cards. Detailed descriptions are at the links.

Making Handmade Books: 100+ Bindings, Structures & Forms
Creating Handmade Books

Unique Handmade Books (out of print)

Expressive Handmade Books

Painted Paper: Techniques & Projects for Handmade Books & Cards
This one focuses on a variety of painting techniques for paper, with one chapter on structures that work well with it.

Ideas: One-Page Books

Want to make books from a single piece of 8 1/2" x 11" or A4 paper? You can use any size paper, actually, but they would be good structures for use with Photoshop or Illustrator. Here are some examples from never mind the press. Instructions for making them are in the books listed. Scroll down for links to the books.
Accordion with Tunnel Creating Handmade Books, Making Handmade Books
T-cut Maze Making Handmade Books
X-Book, Hidden Book or Slit Book and here and here Creating Handmade Books, Making Handmade Books
Check Book or Winged Book This is really made of several square sheets sewn together. Expressive Handmade Books, Making Handmade Books
Simple Accordion or Pants Book Creating Handmade Books, Expressive Handmade Books, Making Handmade Books
Ox-Plow Pamphlet or Shorts Book Expressive Handmade Books, Making Handmade Books

GENERAL STUDIO CLASS INFORMATION

Payment is due one week prior to the session you plan to attend or your space may be given to someone else. Bring a friend! Classes may be canceled due to low enrollment (three or fewer) for a full refund. No refunds after the class has begun. No makeups. All classes are limited to six students. Materials are included in the price, unless otherwise noted.

All classes are held at the never mind the press studio in Albany, CA. Reserve a space by sending a check for the full amount to: Alisa Golden, P.O. Box 8106, Berkeley, CA 94707. Your check will be held until one week before class is due to begin, then it will be deposited, no refunds. Please include your email so I can send you a reminder, give you the address, and let you know if there is anything you should bring.