Shelter Bookworks Blog

New Artist's Book

2012-02-07T17:35:45Z

I'm thrilled to announce the publication of my new limted edition artist's book, Labor / Movement (seven workers). It is available for pre-publication order through April 1st, 2012. Books ship April 15th, 2012. Please see the full gallery of images, order information, and artist's statement here. Photographs above by Stephen Petegorsky.

Massachusetts Cultural Council Artist's Fellowship Finalist

2012-02-07T17:31:34Z

I am a finalist in this year's Artist Fellowship program through the Massachusetts Cultural Council for my artist's books. See more great work from the Fellows and Finalists here. Thanks to the state of Massachusetts for supporting artists with substantial grants.

Edition Binding: Orchises Press

2012-01-25T20:29:42Z

Exit Island, poems by Terri Witek, Images by Cyriaco Lopes. 26 copies of the Deluxe Edition contain a photographic print on metal by Cyriaco Lopes. Published by Orchises Press.

Edition Binding: The Loan Oak Press

2011-10-29T20:59:36Z

Abigail Rorer is a phenomenal wood engraver. I am honored to be editioning her latest book, The King of the Alps. You can read more about this book on her website. The binding is designed by Daniel Gehnrich. The spine and labels are goatskin. The cover papers are decorated by hand by Abigail. Cave paper endsheets. The text was designed and printed by Michael Russem at Kat Ran Press. Abigail and her books and prints will be in England this coming week for the Oxford Fine Press Book Fair

Paste Papers of the Pioneer Valley

2011-10-04T17:35:39Z

Kat Ran Press and Catawba Press have recently published a new book, Paste Papers of the Pioneer Valley. My work is among the paste papers included in this survey.

Frome the Kat Ran website:
In his introduction to this survey of paste papers made by nineteen bookbinders, the late David P. Bourbeau gives a fascinating history of fine printing and binding in the Pioneer Valley of western Massachusetts, with special attention paid to decorated and paste papers. This precedes full-page reproductions of nineteen paste papers with short biographies of their makers—many of whom are the unsung hero-binders of books from fine press publishers such as Gehenna Press, Pennyroyal Press, Cheloniidae Press, Warwick Press, ELM Press, The Lone Oak Press, and Double Elephant Press.

I'm honored to be among other binders' work, including Carol J. Blinn, David Bourbeau, Meredith Broberg, Claudia Cohen, Sarah Creighton, Babette Gehnrich, Dabiel Gehnrich, Peter Geraty, Stephanie Gibbs, Elisabeth Hyder, Sami Keats, Daniel Kelm, Kylin Lee, Amy Morris Pickens, Julia Leete Rabin, Mark Tomlinson, Lisa Van Pelt, and Arno Werner.

Look for a follow up tutorial in the next week about how I created this paste paper for the book. I also use this paste paper technique in a recent deluxe edition binding for 21st Editions.

Vamp & Tramp Booksellers

2011-10-04T17:26:58Z

My artist's books are being sold by Vamp & Tramp. I look forward to a long and fruitful relationship with them! My work is on their site now, in addition to many interesting bookworks by other artists. I'm working on a new edition now which should be completed by January 2012.

On the Bench: Deluxe Edition Binding

2011-08-29T15:16:48Z

This is a slideshow of a binding I designed for a deluxe edition entitled "Cracked: The Art of Charles Grogg", published by 21st Editions. The book is large, measuring 20 x 21.5 inches with platinum bookcloth over boards. Black goatskin on spine and foredge. Eggshell lacquer panels inset into a goatskin leather lined well in the cover. The fly leaf and doublures are custom paste papers designed and created by me using a technique that echoes the cracked eggshell panels on the cover and the artwork in the book. The paste papers are duplexed by hand with black japanese paper on the verso. Black goatskin leather hinges. Hand processed photos tipped onto pages letterpress printed by the Bixler Press. The box has shaped covers with leather details and a bottom recess which contains loose prints. Edition of 35. I will be working on this edition over the next six months! This is the first completed copy.

On the Bench: Binding and Slipcase for Photographer

2011-08-03T16:49:12Z

Small edition of artist's book by a photographer. Because the photographer gave me single sheets instead of folios, I needed to make a lay flat, perfect bound book, which worked well. Another option is to hinge the sheets together and sew, but there was no budget for that. Perfect binding works best when the grain of the paper is going in the right direction. A slipcase gives a nice finish to the project.

Screw Post Binding with Rounded Spine

2011-07-07T19:31:30Z

Prototype of custom presentation portfolio for photographer.

Custom Presentation Books

2011-07-07T19:28:07Z

Rush job for long time client Mechanica, super talented design and branding firm.