New England Chapter election ballots have been sent out to members. James Reid-Cunningham has been nominated for president, Michele Waters for Treasurer, and Luisa Granitto for Secretary. They will take office in September. The Chapter's recent activities include the Chapter Meeting on Ethics and Standards, reported on in the June issue of this newsletter, and a Seminar on Writing Condition and Treatment Reports given by Nicholas Pickwoad, book conservator in private practice.
At the Lone Star Chapter's Annual Meeting in San Antonio, Texas, on May 4, 1996 Chapter President Pat Clark announced her resignation. It was decided that since there were two regional vice-presidents, Jim Wiley in Dallas and Bobbie Pilette in Austin, they will work together on behalf of the entire Chapter. After the General meeting, participants toured the papermaking studio at the Southwest Craft Center. Following the tour, Gary Frost gave a slide presentation on the historic perspective behind headbands, and Priscilla Spitler gave a demonstration of an English style headband with a vellum-laminated leather single core and front bead in two colors. Myssie Light demonstrated a double French headband using batonets. In May the Austin Book Workers held a "Book Arts Flea Market" and swap meet and a Book Arts Fair in June. The Flea Market and swap meet were so successful that the Lone Star Chapter thinks they will hold another, as a fundraiser, at their February meeting. The Chapter's Annual Meeting will take place next May in Dallas, coinciding with the Helen DeGolyer Binding Exhibition.
Midwest Chapter's 1996 Meeting took place May 31 & June 1 in Iowa City, under considerable difficulties with weather and assorted catastrophes. 16 binders attended and toured the Iowa Production Papermaking Facility, where they made paper with Tim Barrett. Cris Takacs reports that Tim says they are always looking for volunteers to help with the Japanese paper production in the winter. If you want to learn the craft, and you can take an Iowa winter, it would be a great experience.
The afternoon was taken up with a tour of the University and the rest of the Center for the Book: the letterpress facility where they talked with Lynn Ridenour, Richard Baker and Jeff Sandlin about photopolymer plate making and printing; the conservation lab where Pam Spitzmueller showed them Bill Anthony's book models; and a demonstration by Cheryl Jacobsen of calligraphy.
The following day began with a presentation by Emily Martin on Japanese [paper] hinges, followed by a slide show of Jim Canary's 1995 trip to Tibet with two papermakers and a paper historian in search of papermakers and materials to get the craft active again in Tibet. A discussion of the problems of self-employment finished the morning. Some time after lunch was spent in the University Library collection looking at their gems, then Annie Wilcox showed them items , mainly ones that had belonged to Edith Diehl, in the Guild of Book Workers Library. They all saw books they wanted to borrow from the GBW Library and busily jotted down titles to send for. Their business meeting followed, with discussions of the 1997 Standards Seminar to be held in Ann Arbor, and the Chapter exhibition which opened this month at the University of Kentucky.
The Rocky Mountain Chapter has elected co-chairs: Pam Barrios in Provo, Utah, and Laura Wait in Denver, Colo. The Chapter has joined with the Utah Calligraphic Artists to announce a juried exhibit of members' work to be held in Salt Lake City in May to July 1997. (See Calendar) The Vital Arts Gallery, site of the exhibition, was created in the new fhp Hospital in recognition of the role of art as a vital part of a healthy environment. The Potomac Chapter held elections at its May meeting. Erin Loftus was=elected president of the chapter. She will take office in September. Southeast Chapter's Invitation to Participate in an Exhibition. A letterpress printed version of Colin Franklin's keynote address, "Bookbinder's Lettering: A Neglected Art", given at the 1995 GBW Standards Seminar in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, has been produced in a collaborative effort by September Lynne Kirk and Paula Marie Gourley. Printed under the Saffron Press/Pelagaya Paperworks imprint, the small-format book is available in sheets to those interested in binding a copy.
As a special incentive, the Southeast Chapter invites those who purchase an unbound copy of the book to participate in an exhibition of those bindings. Tentatively scheduled to open in the Fall of 1997 in Tuscaloosa, they invite other chapters to share the hosting of this traveling exhibition. They also are seeking European sites for this small-format book exhibition, representing fine bindings and finishing by members of the Guild of Book Workers.
Copies of the book, printed letterpress from polymer plates on Mohawk recycled "Hemp" paper and signed by Franklin, will be available in late August. The regular copies are $50, including shipping. A limited number of copies, printed on handmade linen paper, are also available at $65 per copy. Please make your check to Paula M. Gourley and mail to her at 2811 Sixth Street, Tuscaloosa al 35401.