About


The mission of Austin Book Arts Center is to engage people of all ages in creative, interpretive, and educational experiences related to the arts of the book.

ABAC regularly offers workshops in letterpress printing, bookbinding, papermaking, typography, book history and design, and various arts of the book. In addition, ABAC provides access to equipment for qualified users during regularly scheduled Open Studio times.

VISION
Through its activities, ABAC seeks to advance the book as a vital contemporary art form, preserve the traditional and robust crafts related to making books, promote the contemporary arts of making books, inspire diverse artists and learners, and engage the community in creative, interpretive, and educational experiences, including the improvement of literacy for people of all ages.

ABAC rejects the notion that the printed book is no longer relevant. For centuries, the book has been the prime mode for communicating knowledge and continues to be a vital force for literacy and education. We envision a future where books continue to play an important role in our everyday lives. Our children and grandchildren will share with us the tactile experience of holding a book in our hands and turning the pages, no batteries required. Through books we learn of the world around us; imaginations are sparked; spirits are ignited. We seek continuity in these intellectual experiences and wish to share the delight in the sight and touch of a well-constructed book.

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Amanda Stevenson

BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Kevin Auer
Mary Baughman
Keelin Burrows
Susan Forrester
Mark Hall
Deborah Hartigan
Jim Kuhn
Matt Magruder
Dana Manickavasagam
Sara Pedrosa 
Jen Poteat
Adam Robinson
Keri Schroeder
Margi Tenney

ADVISORY COUNCIL
Betty Sue Flowers
Gary Frost
Craig Jensen
Sarah Nicholls
Kyle Schlesinger
Priscilla Spitler
Beck Whitehead 2015-2021

A BRIEF HISTORY
The Austin Book Arts Center has been years in the making and is the result of the efforts and interests of a diverse array of persons who share a passion for the traditions and crafts of the book arts. The ABAC evolved from the Austin Book Workers, a group that has met in schools, libraries, businesses, and homes since 1986. From 1990 to 2013, the ABW sponsored a book arts fair annually first at Murchison Middle School and later at the Laguna Gloria Art School.

In May 2015, the newly forming Austin Book Arts Center was offered an opportunity to rent a studio at Flatbed Press, an art gallery and workshop for printers and artists, located on the burgeoning east side of Austin. Several local printers, bookmakers, and other book artists contributed a variety of essential equipment, including letterpresses, tabletop cutters, and a board shear.

In the summer of 2015, the Austin Book Arts Center Board of Directors was formed and application was made to the IRS for tax-exempt status. The Austin Book Arts Center became an official 501(c)(3) organization in September 2015.


BOARD OF DIRECTORS BIOS

Kevin Auer trained as an apprentice in bookbinding with Scott Mullenberg in Portland, Maine. He then worked as a conservation technician for a number of years at Cornell University. After graduating from the conservation program at the University of Texas at Austin, Kevin worked as a book conservator at the Walters Art Museum. Kevin learned letterpress from David Wolfe in Portland, Maine. He co-owned Wolfe Editions, a small shop that specialized in artists’ books and limited edition work. Kevin also ran his own shop for a number of years doing letterpress printing and book binding. He has taught letterpress at Dartmouth College, The Maryland Institute College of Art, and The University of Texas at Austin. Kevin is currently the Director of the Communication Design Program at The University of Houston, Victoria.


Mary Baughman’s career spanned 40 years at the University of Texas, most of that time caring for unique books at the Ransom Center. Her years of work in that dynamic institution convinced her that books are the technology of the future. Teaching book arts for children has convinced her that children who learn to love books continue to love reading and writing, and will support the libraries of the future. Promoting book arts and 3 years of volunteer work as the Board Chair of Austin Book Arts Center has convinced Mary that ABAC is enthusiastically welcome in Austin. Mary is a member of the Lone Star chapter of the Guild of Book Workers, a founding member of Austin Book Workers, and one of the originators of the Book Arts Fair held for 20+ years at Laguna Gloria Art Museum.



Keelin Burrows BIO FORTHCOMING

 

 

 

 


Mark Hall has been studying book arts and collecting design bindings since the 1980’s. He is a filmmaker, book artist, and attorney. Born in Panamá, his award-winning documentary films have often focused on international themes such as the environment, education, politics, and culture. He has filmed in Japan, Turkey, Australia, and Central America. His 4th film, “After the Bullets” deals with reconciliation after dictatorship and is due for release in late 2021. Mark holds a BBA from Texas A&M, an MBA from Arizona State University, a JD from Southern Methodist University, and an LLM from McGeorge School of Law.

 


Deborah Hartigan is a lifelong proponent of the transformative power of the written and spoken word. She earned her Master’s Degree in Speech Communication from Indiana University and a B.S. in English from Ball State University. A National Board Certified teacher, Deborah taught high school English and Speech in Indiana and Ohio, also serving as English Department Chair and Small School Coordinator. She has studied book arts for many years and is a committed book nerd.

 


Jim Kuhn is Associate Director for the Library Division and Hobby Foundation Librarian at the Harry Ransom Center, a position he has held since 2016. Jim has master’s degrees in Philosophy and Library Science, is a member of the Grolier Club, and grew up working and playing with a tabletop Kelsey press. Jim also volunteers as a member of the Victims Advocate Network at the University of Texas at Austin, and serves on the board of the Texas After Violence Project, an Austin-based archive and documentary project cultivating deeper understandings of the impacts of state-sanctioned violence on individuals, families, and communities. In addition to taking occasional ABAC courses when time permits, Jim also collects 78 rpm records and late 19-early 20 c. vernacular photography.

 



Dana Manickavasagam BIO FORTHCOMING

 

 

 

 


Sara Pedrosa first became interested in bookbinding in 2017, thanks to a workshop at the Austin Book Arts Center. She loves that book and paper arts combines her artistic interests of writing and photography with her scholarly and professional interests in history and archival studies. Sara has served as an information management consultant with various small business and non-profit organizations. She holds a B.A. in Latin American Studies and a M.S. in Information Studies from the University of Texas at Austin.

 


Jennifer Poteat is an artist and Director within the non-profit sector. She brings a creative lens and design thinking skills to address complex issues. Her work has focused across broad communities with diverse demographics to help improve the lives of Texans across the state. Poteat is a graduate of the Master’s of Health Care Transformation program at the University of Texas, conferred by Dell Medical School and McCombs School of Business in 2021, in addition to earning the Executive Master’s of Public Leadership from the LBJ School of Public Affairs at UT Austin. Her experience includes organizational leadership in communications, development, advocacy/policy advancement, strategic planning, project and grant management. Poteat regularly attends printmaking and bookbinding sessions at Penland School of Craft and the Ladies of Letterpress workshops. She has taught at Austin Book Arts Center.


Adam Robinson BIO FORTHCOMING

 

 

 

 


Keri Miki-Lani Schroeder is a book artist and proprietor of Coyote Bones Press. Keri holds an MFA in Book Art and Creative Writing from Mills College. She has worked as a studio assistant for Julie Chen at Flying Fish Press, and as a bookbinder at BookLab II. She is the 2019-2021 Artist-in-Residence for Jaffe Center for Book Arts, and hosts Books in the Wild podcast. Keri’s artist’s books are held in special collections libraries including UC Berkeley, UCLA, Penn State, Stanford, RISD, Otis College of Art and Design, and Savannah College of Art and Design.


 


Amanda Stevenson is the director of the Austin Book Arts Center. She began her career in the book arts at the Center for Book Arts in New York City, where she was the Registrar/Administrator in the early aughts. Availing herself with many classes in bookbinding and letterpress, she learned from some of the best. Before co-founding the Austin Book Arts Center in 2015, she worked for seven years at The Printing Museum in Houston, primarily as the Curator, where she was responsible for organizing exhibitions, collections management, and education programs. She holds a Master’s degree in Library Science from Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, with a concentration in special collections management, and a BA in Art History from UT Austin. She believes in the enduring power of books.


My life experience with books began as a child, reading and spending countless hours at the neighborhood library. My working career with books began with my first job at Brown’s Bookshop in Houston in the early 1970s. I’ve spent about 12 years in the retail book business between bouts of traveling and living abroad. After getting my undergraduate degree in English Literature at the University of Houston I began working in libraries. I worked at Austin Public Library while getting my MLIS at UT. From there I worked as a professional librarian at Houston Public in their special collections. When I moved to Austin I began working at the Ransom Center. I worked there 15 years in a professional librarian position as Head of the Reading Room. To keep active in my field I’ve been to many classes at Rare Book School at UVA and was an active member of the Rare Books and Manuscripts section of ACRL for my entire professional career.