- ….. and afterwards, downstairs from the theater, 3 PM – 5 PM Austin Book Arts Center and the Barrel O’ Fun present an afternoon of all things book arts crafting. Stop by to try your hand at letter press printing and book making while learning about Austin Book Arts Center’s programs and services. This event is free and open to all ages. No ticket is required.
- pinBarrel O’ Fun1911 Aldrich St., Suite 120, Austin, Texas 78723
Amplify Austin 2018
Our watch party is on Thursday, March 1st from 6-10pm at the Austin Book Arts Center.
Come celebrate and support the greatest book arts center in Texas!
ABAC at the Texas Book Festival
Children learned how to make multi page books out of one sheet of paper in the Children’s Tent on Sunday, November 4. After they made their books, the kids could illustrate the pages. It was amazing to see the imagination and creativity the kids had as they worked on their books. Their parents learned that book making isn’t just for kids; that there is a variety of classes for adults at the Book Arts Center that are just as fun and creative as the books their children made.
Second Birthday Party
Join us Monday, October 2nd, 6:30-9:30 P.M. to celebrate the accomplishments of the Austin Book Arts Center over the last year!
Master of Ceremonies–Greg Ciotti
Carson McHone will perform.
Eat some cake. Bind a book. Print a keepsake. Bid on items in the Silent Auction.
To support our Texas neighbors affected by Hurricane Harvey, ABAC will collect donations of new or gently used children’s books at the event.
Click here for more information and to buy tickets!
Open Set Exhibition Update
Dear Folks,
After working for the past 2 years, to bring the Open Set Exhibition to Austin bibliophiles, This message is disappointing; Open Set Bookbinding Exhibition will not be shown in Austin this year. The Austin show would have opened July 26, 2017.
Sharon Herfurth of Austin Public Library, and ABAC staff look forward to working together to present the Austin showing of the next Open Set binding Competition and Exhibition in 2020, when the show will be on view at the new downtown Austin Public Library. In 2020 the Open Set Exhibition will travel to only 4 venues and will be on view for longer than one month at each venue.
Thank you to everyone who agreed to speak or entertain in the gallery, volunteer as a docent, help with the opening and closing receptions, assist with publicity, brainstorm, etc. We hope that this team we be able to work on the 2020 Open Set Exhibition.
On a brighter note, this frees up some time in the schedule to plan the Austin Book Arts Center’s Second Birthday Party. Stay tuned!
Bibliophiles can enjoy the Open Set 2017 Exhibition in
· Seattle – Seattle Public Library – September 8 – October 28
· Salt Lake City – University of Utah – November 10 – January 19
The name “Open Set” was chosen because 20 book bindings are unique artistic interpretations for one SET letterpress printed limited edition text: Inside the book, by David Eselmont. 30 book bindings are unique – one of a kind – artistic interpretations of a variety of fine press books.
View the 50 bindings in this traveling exhibition, and purchase the catalog here.
Here is a website for the Open-Set competition and exhibition. Photos of the 79 bindings submitted to the competition, the dates and venues across the USA where the exhibition will be shown, and information about the inspiration for the competition.
The last major exhibition of fine book bindings in Austin was in 2005 at the Ransom Center. The exhibit was produced by the Guild of Book Workers and the title was “In Flight”.
Bookbinding I Scholarship
Austin Book Arts Center has received a generous donation from an anonymous donor who would like to fund the tuition for one student to attend Bookbinding I. This class runs six Wednesday evenings, 6-9pm, beginning February 1, 2017.
Please click here for a full CLASS DESCRIPTION.
This workshop is also a pre-requisite for Book Repair II and Book Repair III.
Interested students should submit a brief application that includes: Complete contact information (Name, Address, Phone, Email), along with an essay in 300 words or less that explains why he/she is interested in taking the class and how it would further personal or professional goals. Please email the application as a PDF attachment to amanda@atxbookarts.org by Wednesday, January 25. The winner will be notified by Friday, January 27.
The recipient should be able to commit to attending all six sessions.
Gift certificates
Looking for a gift idea for the holidays? Austin Book Arts Center has gift certificates for classes and studio time.
Visit us during the East Austin Studio Tour Nov. 14-15 & 21-22
Austin Book Arts People finally have a home
People have been meeting to create books under the auspices of Austin Book Workers since 1986. The ABW group met in schools, libraries, businesses and homes. From 1990 – 2013 a free book arts fair was held annually; for the first two years at Murchison Middle School, thereafter at Laguna Gloria Art School. Rollin Polk and Tom Poyner demonstrated letterpress printing at ABW book Arts Fair at Laguna Gloria Art School.
ABW bibliophiles of all ages made Zines with Anne Rita Taylor at Domy Books.
After years of searching for a meeting place, Austin Book Workers group has merged with the Austin Book Arts Center. Book Arts people will be able to create more than they could in a limited time, in a borrowed space. Heavy equipment that could not be carried to borrowed spaces is now available at the Austin Book Arts Center. NOW is an excellent time to sign up to be a member of Austin Book Arts Center.