Sample visible sewn spine, with multiple pages and a wood cover. Provided photo.
The Newark Valley Historical Society will sponsor a Coptic Book Binding workshop with book artist Laura Rowley on April 21. Coptic Book Binding is the second of three folk art workshops featured in this Paper Series, which includes Paste Papers on April 14 and Nature Sketching on May 5.
Participants may decide to take all three workshops; which can result in your own hand made journal or artist book. Or you may decide to take just one of the three projects. All three of the workshop projects are related; however, each may be enjoyed and registered for separately.
Coptic is now a general term for books sewn along the spine with hardcover’s attached (bookboard or wood). The historic Coptic book structure was created by early Christians in Egypt, the Copts, and used from the second century ad to the 11th century. It was made with wooden boards and sewn with one needle. The historic Ethiopian structure differs in the sewing pattern because two or more needles were used.
Students will learn how to sew sections of the inside pages to bookboard covers (a firm paper material) for this historic book structure. The spine of this book has a chain stitch, which lays flat when opened. Bookboard covers will be wrapped in traditional cloth. Materials will be provided. Students from the previously held paste paper workshop may choose to apply paste paper to their coptic books. The book is approx 5-inches by 7-inches with 80 sheets quality paper for sketching or journaling.
Pictured is a 1700’s book with a sewn spine, and paste paper cover on a bookboard. Provided photo.
Laura Rowley is a teaching book artist and currently teaches classes in public libraries, schools, and community art spaces to all ages and abilities. She also maintains a studio practice of letterpress printing and bookbinding, and collaborates with writers and artists to produce editions of projects and artists books. Visit www.illuminatedfirefly.com/ to learn more
The April 21 workshop will run from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Bement Billings Farmstead Museum located at Route 38 in Newark Valley. Register by April 4 for the workshop by calling Leslie at (607) 642-5412.
To learn more about the Folk Art workshops, visit www.nvhistory.org.
This program is made possible in part, with public funds from NYSCA’s Decentralization Program administered regionally by The Arts Council of the Southern Finger Lakes.
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