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Standards of Excellence 2012

2012 Standards of Excellence

 

October 11 - 13
University of Utah
Salt Lake City, Utah

 

 

Thanks to all of our Vendors who help
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(Check back later this summer for the full list.)

 

Quick Links

 

Registration

Registration is limited to 140 people. Deadline to register is September 7, 2012, or until conference is filled. Early registration is encouraged as the seminar generally fills before the registration deadline. Online registration is available and encouraged. If you are paying with a credit card, you must use the online registration form.

All questions regarding registration should be directed to Alicia Bailey, Treasurer All fees listed on the registration form are in US dollars. There is a cancellation fee of 10% of the Registration Fee up to 30 days before the Seminar. No refunds are given for cancellations made within the 30 days prior to the conference. Cancellation fees do not apply to scholarship applicants who do not receive an award and are unable to attend without financial assistance.

 

Scholarships

Scholarships are available to attend the Standards of Excellence in Hand Bookbinding Seminar to Guild of Book Workers members for whom attendance would create a financial hardship. There are scholarships for both student and regular members. Non-members may apply, but are required to become a member prior to attending the Seminar.

The scholarship consists of a waiver of registration fees to the seminar, banquet, and half the cost of four nights lodging at the Seminar hotel (does not include phone calls, movie rentals, or any other room service). The scholarship does not include cost of tours before the conference.

Recipients are responsible for making their own travel plans
and hotel reservations. Recipients may be asked to help with
newsletter coverage and/or assist with other tasks during the
seminar. Applications must be received by July 9, 2012. Address
questions to Anna Embree, Scholarship Committee chair.

 

Seminar Schedule

Wednesday, October 10, 2012

3:30 pm - 8:00 pm: Registration and Information Table
4:00 pm - 5:30 pm: Chapter Chair meeting
6:00 pm - 8:00 pm: Board meeting

 

Thursday, October 11, 2012

8:00 am- 5:00 pm: Registration and Information Table
12:00 pm- 5:00 pm: Vendor Room

ALL DAY: Tours of various Salt Lake City book arts venues

6:00 pm - 8:00 pm: Opening Reception, Utah Museum of Fine Art, University of Utah

 

Friday, October 12, 2012

8:00 am - 11:00 am: Registration and Information Table in the hotel lobby
8:00 am - 5:00 pm: Registration and Information Table in the Marriott Library
8:00 am - 6:00 pm: Vendor Room
9:00 am - 12:00 pm: Morning Session (30 minute break at 10:15)
12:00 pm - 2:00 pm: Lunch
2:00 pm - 5:00 pm: Afternoon Session (30 minute break at 3:15)
5:00 pm - 6:00 pm: GBW Annual Business Meeting

 

Saturday, October 13, 2012

8:00 am - 11:00 am: Registration and Information Table in the hotel lobby
8:00 am - 5:00 pm: Registration and Information Table in the Marriott Library
8:00 am - 4:00 pm: Vendor Room
9:00 am - 12:00 pm: Morning Session (30 minute break at 10:15)
12:00 pm - 2:00 pm: Lunch
2:00 pm - 5:00 pm: Afternoon Session (30 minute break at 3:15)
6:00 pm - 7:00 pm: Cash Bar and Silent Auction
7:00 pm - 8:30 pm: Annual Banquet
8:30 pm - 10:00 pm: Auction

 

Presentations and Presenters

Daniel Kelm

Binding Structures Featuring Removable Pages
Daniel E. Kelm is a book artist who is known for his innovative structures and extensive knowledge of materials. He invented a style of bookbinding called “wire edge binding” in the mid-1980s in order to explore the nature of the book as articulated sculpture. Kelm’s experience with bookbinding began in 1978 with employment in the first of several production studios where he learned progressively more specialized traditional techniques. In 1983 he opened his own studio in Easthampton, MA, called The Wide Awake Garage, where he designs and produces artist’s books, interpretive fine bindings, and book sculptures. His expression as an artist emerges from the integration of work in science and the arts. Before Daniel embraced the book arts he received formal training in chemistry and taught at the University of Minnesota. Alchemy is a common theme in his book work. Daniel teaches widely, and founded the Garage Annex School for Book Arts in 1990.

Removable and interchangeable pages are sometimes desirable in a binding. For example, they allow one to remove pages for exhibition. They are a practical feature in a presentation portfolio as well, allowing one to update or tailor a presentation. This challege led Daniel to develop numerous binding structures that allow the user to dismantle the binding and then put it back together. He will demonstrate the mechanics of various systems, some utilizing his wire edge binding structures and others that modify existing technologies, such as the Chicago screw post, for use in large and heavy books. Discussion relating to the making of various types of structures will be illustrated with models showing the production steps, and with images of finished work.

Steve Miller

The Sandragraph Approach
Steve Miller was born in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin and educated at The University of Wisconsin-Madison. Having taken letterpress printing classes with Walter Hamady of The Perishable Press, he founded Red Ozier Press in 1976 – a fine press devoted to publishing literary first editions in handmade limited editions. In 1979, Miller moved the Press to New York City where he and Ken Botnick refined bookmaking to an art, and achieved national prominence both for the craftsmanship of the books, and for the importance of texts they chose to publish. The books have been widely exhibited and reviewed, and are in the collections of many libraries and private collections. Steve currently teaches letterpress printing, hand papermaking, and coordinates the MFA in the Book Arts Program at The University of Alabama. Although his primary focus at the University is in the teaching of traditional bookmaking, he is also the proprietor of Red Hydra Press, and collaborates on various limited edition publishing projects with authors and artists. Steve is Co-director of Paper and Book Intensive, a nationally-recognized annual series of summer workshops in the book arts. He is a past president of the Friends of Dard Hunter, a group of artists, crafts persons, conservators and scientists devoted to the art and craft of hand papermaking and related book arts. The College Book Art Association presented Steve with its Distinguished Career Award in 2012.

The blank page offers an array of opportunities for creating layers upon which art and type may be printed. Sandragraph low-relief printing plates are simple to make, varied, and exciting to print. They result in letterpress-printed shapes and images that stand alone or provide a fascinating background to other content layers. The Sandragraph is also a wonderful and creative way to produce unique end sheets and printed papers for bookbinding purposes. In this session the process of plate making will be demonstrated, and we will examine all the various elements of letterpress printing that effect the printed outcome. We will also look at examples of work that have been printed using this technique, and talk about possibilities for employing the Sandragraph in your work.

J. Franklin Mowery

A Conservator’s Journey Through History
In 1982 Frank Mowery held a one man showing of his Fine Bindings at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the first ever of a living artist. A few years later he served as President of the GBW for ten years, introducing the video filming of Seminar presentations. Frank was one of the initiators of the Standards Seminars, hosting the first
at the Folger Shakespeare Library. He has also presented at GBW Standards numerous times and is the only person to have attended all of the past Seminars. Throughout this time, Frank was the head of conservation at the Folger Shakespeare Library for 35 years, having taught nearly one hundred interns, many who have gone on to head conservation programs around the world. He has introduced numerous tools and tricks and has also developed new methods and instruments used in conservation. Since retiring from the position of Head of Conservation at the Folger Library, he has gone back to his Fine Binding background and training, and is using that knowledge to document and digitize the Fine Binding collection at the Folger Library, and making it accessible through the world wide web at www.luna.folger.edu. He still occasionally makes fine bindings for clients.

For his presentation, Frank will focus on improvements in book conservation over the years, including changes and mishaps. He will discuss raising the standards in book conservation, the quality of materials, and various tips and tricks. He will also talk about devices and tools that can be used in conservation.

Pamela Smith

Marbling: Traditional and More
Pamela Smith launched her marbling career over 40 years ago in tandem with her work as founding director of the Press of the Palace of the Governors, the Museum of New Mexico’s small press program and working exhibition. Since her retirement from the Museum in 2001, she has taught book art classes at the former College of Santa Fe and continues to produce marbled paper editions in her Abiquiu, New Mexico studio. Her MarbleSmith work reflects a dedication to creating unique patterns, textures, and color combinations for the finely bound book and is widely distributed in both this country and abroad.

The history of the Marbling process is steeped in tradition where patterns and their color palettes are strictly dictated. In this presentation long-time paper marbler Pamela Smith will demonstrate techniques for both adhering to tradition and breaking free of its limitations. Her demonstration will move step by step through the making of 18th century gold-veined French Shell, oak leaf, and zebra patterns and then focus on the use of historic techniques to create non-traditional patterns – delicate floral designs infused with mica powers, unusual background textures, double marbles making use of resist methods. The idea is to push the edges, to bring marbling into the realm of 21st century book design.

 

Tours

Tours take place on Thursday, October 11, 2012. Only one tour can be attended, if desired, except the tour of the Special Collections Reading Room (see note below).

Please make selection on Registration Form.

Salt Lake City Printers: Mandate Press, Copper Palate Press, and Saltgrass Printmakers

9:00 am – 1:00 pm
Salt Lake City is home to a wide variety of printmaking facilities. This tour will introduce visitors to three unique shops, owned and operated by some of Utah’s most renowned printers. Saltgrass Printmakers, which was founded by two local artists, is home to a gallery and working space equipped for nearly every printmaking technique imaginable. Local, national, and international artists can be found teaching workshops, exhibiting their work, and taking advantage of the all-access membership opportunity. Copper Palate Press is located in the heart of downtown and was started by graduates of the University of Utah’s printmaking department. This shop, known for its stylish workspace and hip exhibits featuring local artists, has become a main attraction of Salt Lake’s monthly gallery stroll. The Mandate Press is quickly becoming an international name. This letterpress shop combines the latest digital technology with some of the world’s oldest printing technology on jobs for clients around the world. Make sure to check out the shows and take home a keepsake from these local celebrities. <www.saltgrassprintmakers.org>, <www. copperpalatepress.com>, <www.themandatepress.com>.
Cost: $25.00. Lunch not included.

Great Salt Lake and Kennecott Mine

9:00 am – 1:00 pm
This exciting tour is full of contrast. Begin by visiting “America’s Dead Sea”, the Great Salt Lake. You will hear tales of its origin and the many legends the lake has spawned. View Saltair Pavilion and have a chance to touch the salty water or buy some delicious saltwater taffy. Continue on along the base of the Oquirrh Mountains as you make your way to Kennecott’s Bingham Canyon Copper Mine. The largest open pit mining operation ever undertaken, the Kennecott Mine is one of only two man-made objects visible from space. While there, you will have time to see the Observation Deck and the Visitor’s Center, and to view the workings of the mine.
Cost: $45.00. Lunch included.

J. Willard Marriott Library: Special Collections, Preservation Lab, and Artists’ Books Presentation

9:00 am – 12:00 pm
The J. Willard Marriott Library at the University of Utah is home to valuable and diverse collections ranging from ancient artifacts to e-books. Experience the many marvels of the library in a tour guided by experts in their fields. Highlights include the Automatic Retrieval Center (ARC), the Espresso Book Machine, the Grand Reading Room, the Middle East Library (one of the largest in the country), and several large comis- sioned artworks. Of particular interest to book workers is the fully renovated and well-equipped Preservation Lab and Special Collections. Along with more than two million photographs and other multimedia and thousands of significant personal and corporate manuscript collections, the Special Collections Department includes the Rare Books Division, often described as “the most valuable asset owned by the state of Utah”. The Rare Books Division holds nearly 80,000 items, including the largest and oldest collection of artists’ books in any library in the region. This tour culminates in the opportunity to sit down in the Rare Books Classroom with books from this collection pulled especially for you by Luise Poulton, Rare Books Manager.
No charge. Lunch not included.

Church History Library

9:00 am – 12:00 pm
At the heart of Salt Lake City, the collection of the Church History Library chronicles the legacy of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints from its beginnings in 1830 at Fayett, New York to its current worldwide presence. This half-day tour will acquaint you with the archiving, preservation, and conservation practices of the library. Tread the peacock-marbled carpets of the library’s reading room, then jacket up for a wintry stroll through the cold storage vaults. Be sure to nab your mittens for the quick trek through the arctic terraine of the -4o F archival habitat of color motion picture films, photographs, and records of special significance. Stop for a chat with the library’s audiovisual preservation specialist and get the skinny on microfilm and digital preservation efforts. Finish the afternoon with an up-close look at the library’s conservation lab where selected forgeries of the infamous Mark Hoffman will be available for your scrupulous perusal.
Cost: $25.00. Lunch not included.

Special Collections Reading Room

Participants may register for this activity in addition to one of the earlier tours. The hours listed above reflect availability, but participants are not required to stay through the entire allotted time.
1:30 pm – 6:00 pm
Spend some quiet time with material from Rare Books in the Special Collections Reading Room. Use USearch or go to the RareBooks website to discover thousands of opportunities for research, including the largest collection of fine press and artists’ books in the region. Spend one-on- one time with books of your choice in the intimate setting of the Reading Room. During this time, Rare Books staff is happy to help you make your research dreams come true. Those who wish to take advantage of this opportunity are strongly encouraged, for best service, to send requests to Luise Poulton (luise.poulton@utah.edu) a minimum of two weeks ahead of time, though earlier is preferred. <www.lib.utah.edu/collections/rare-books.php>, <www.lib.utah.edu/index.php>.
No charge. Lunch not included.

 

Hotel and Travel Information

The conference hotel is the University Guest House:

110 South Fort Douglas Boulevard
Salt Lake City, UT 84113-5036
Phone: (801) 587-1000 or (888) 416-4075
Web: www.universityguesthouse.com

The Guild room rate is $89 for a single/double:

• single kings (one or two people)
• double queens (one or two people).

In these rooms the cost for the 3rd or 4th person is $10/person. In other words, the rates are $89 for 1-2 people; $99 for 3 people, and $109 for 4 people. This room rate is available until September 19 or until the Guild’s room block is full. The Guest House is located on campus, close to conference activities, but if you prefer to stay downtown or elsewhere, please see the Standards Pullout Section for alternate hotel options.

Transportation Information

The University Guest House is ten miles from Salt Lake City International Airport. Taxi and shuttle services are available at the Ground Transportation desks at either terminal. You may also direct inquiries or make reservations with one of the following services:

  • Express Shuttle: (801) 596-1600 or (800) 397-0773
  • City Cab: (801) 363-5550
  • Yellow Cab: (801) 521-2100

For a complete listing of ground transportation options from the airport (including cabs, shuttles, limousines, and rental car agencies) visit <www.slcairport.com/ground-transportation.asp>.