Hands on Self-Publishing

The Center for Book Arts is proud to be a part of the Annual Chapbook Festival , co-sponsored by The Office of Academic Affairs, The Center for the Humanities, The Graduate Center and MFA Programs in Creative Writing of the City University of New York; The Center for Book Arts; Poets House; Poetry Society of America; and Poets & Writers. Now in its second year, the Chapbook Festival celebrates the chapbook as a work of art and as a vehicle for alternative and emerging writers and publishers. This year’s festival features two days of workshops, panels, readings, a book fair of chapbook publishers, and a reception at the CUNY Graduate Center on Monday and Tuesday, May 3-4. The complete schedule of events is here.

Directly following the events at CUNY, we'll ask, how do you go from manuscript to object? What are your options for getting text to page? How exactly do you make a book, anyway? Join us on Wednesday, May 5th, from 10 am to 5pm when instructors Susan Mills and Karen Randall will teach basic bookbinding and printing techniques for writers interested in publishing their own work. Writers will learn a few structures suitable for binding their words, and get their hands dirty printing some letterpress book covers. Students will come away with models, ideals and inspiration for producing their own chapbooks. RSVP at 212-481-0295; there's a $20 fee for materials.

We'll cap off the day with our first Broadside reading of the year's series; John Yau has invited Boni Joi and Albert Mobilio to read at 6:30pm, and letterpress printed broadsides are being produced by artists here at the Center to commemorate the event. $10 suggested donation at the door gets you a complimentary broadside. Wine and cheese reception to follow.

History of Art Series: The Book in Time

Please join us this week for the next session of this year's History of Art series!

We organized a series of talks this year around the general theme of the book as a material object; we invited a wide range of artists, writers, and scholars from a variety of backgrounds to give us different perspectives on the book. We wanted to focus on the book's relationship with time, how people have interacted with books throughout history, and how it continues to function in the present.

Back in February Jane Siegel was kind enough (in a blizzard!) to give a curator's tour to a packed house of how we have interacted with the written word over time, via her favorite treasures from the collection she works with as Rare Book Librarian at Columbia University. This Wednesday we're pleased to present the second installment:

This Wednesday, March 3rd, 6:30PM
Co-sponsored by the American Printing History Association, New York Chapter.

A Force Beyond Function: The Conversation, Technology, and Significance of the Codex.

Join us for a panel discussion centered on the form of the book as an expression of technology.

With Jeff Peachy, Book Conservator; Sarah Lowengard, Historian of Technology and Science, The Cooper Union; Marie Fredricks, Drue Heinz Book Conservator, The Morgan Library and Museum; and John Townsend, Independent Bookbinder and Conservator

How Much: $10/$5 members of the Center & APHA (suggested)

Where: The Center for Book Arts,
28 West 27th Street, 3rd Floor