Now you can search for offerings by date! The calendar is followed by a listing of current class offerings. Scroll down to the bottom of the page for registration information.
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The Self-Published Chapbook
8 Sessions: Tuesdays & Thursdays, May 7-30, 1:00-4:00pm
$300 ($270 for members) + $5 supply fee
(Students will be responsible for the materials and printing costs for their own books)
Instructor: Emily García
In this workshop, students will design, print, and bind a small edition of a simple chapbook of poetry, fiction, or creative nonfiction. Our chapbooks will have digitally-printed interior pages and letterpress-printed covers. We will cover basic concepts of typography, text & image relationships, page layout, and book design, as well as the fundamentals of letterpress printing and simple binding structures. Students should come to the first class with a laptop, and a completed manuscript in Microsoft Word.
Emily García was introduced to book arts as student at Washington University in St. Louis. Her favorite book structures are simple and require few tools, while leaving lots of room for personalization and innovation. She is the proprietor of Cathemeral Press, a book-centric company which offers graphic design, binding, and letterpress printing. She has been a member of Em Space since fall 2008.
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Fundamentals of Bookbinding, Level I
Saturday & Sunday, May 11 & 12, 10am-3pm
OR
Saturday & Sunday, July 20 & 21, 10am-3pm
$130 ($117 for members) + $20 materials fee
Instructor: Rory Sparks
A great class for those just getting started, or for those looking to strengthen basic practices and good work habits. Students will learn foundations of bookbinding in detail while making several invaluable structures to know, and variations on each. We will play with structural elements and ways to incorporate them into any book, including closures, pockets, and creative folding and cutting techniques. Topics covered will include selecting and sourcing materials and tools, paper grain and proper folding, terminology, shaping and covering boards with 5 different ways to construct a corner, lining and in-fills, adhesives and their properties, ergonomics, and a brief exploration of design.
Rory has been letterpress printing and binding books for 16 years. She learned these crafts through self-study, residency, apprenticeship and at various institutions including Minnesota Center for Book Arts and the American Academy of Bookbinding. She has taught at Oregon College of Art & Craft, Museum of Contemporary Crafts, and Portland Art Museum. Recently, she co-founded Em Space Book Arts Center where artists can have access to space and rare equipment for their book art practice.
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Intro to Linoleum Block Printing Workshop
Saturday & Sunday, May 25 & 26, 12:30-4:00
$105 ($94.50 for members) + $10 supply fee
Instructor: Laura Master
Have fun making your own postcards using linoleum blocks! This workshop teaches the fundamentals and basic techniques of carving and printing linoleum blocks. No prior experience necessary. All skill levels are welcome.
Laura Master has been printing and making art since childhood. She studied linoleum block printing in college, but it wasn’t until after college she discovered letterpress and fell in love with it. The two printing techniques were a perfect match and she’s been printing ever since. Laura designs and creates her artwork under the name PlatemarkX.
www.PlatemarkX.com
www.PlatemarkX.etsy.com
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EXPOSED-SEWN BINDING SERIES
We will explore 3 beautiful and practical exposed-sewn binding structures: longstitch, coptic, and French sewing on tapes. These books are sturdy and lie flat when open, which makes them excellent journals, sketchbooks, and albums. No prior experience in bookbinding is necessary.
Instructor: Emily García
Longstitch binding with leather
Saturday, June 1, 12:30pm-4:30pm
OR
Thursday, July 11, 10:00am-2:30pm
$60 ($54 for members) + $15 supply fee
Multi-needle Coptic binding
Saturday, June 8, 12:30pm-4:30pm
OR
Thursday, July 18, 10:00am-2:30pm
$60 ($54 for members) + $10 supply fee
French Sewing on Tapes
Saturday, June 15, 12:30pm-5:30pm
OR
Thursday, July 25, 10:00am-3:30pm
$75 ($68 for members) + $10 supply fee
Take all 3 workshops in the series for a discounted price of $169 ($153 for members) + $35 supply fee
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Fundamentals of Bookbinding, Level II
Saturday & Sunday, June 22 & 23, 10am-3pm
OR
Saturday & Sunday, August 3 & 4, 10am-3pm
$130 ($117 for members) + $20 materials fee
Instructor: Rory Sparks
Take your bookbinding to the next level! This class will build on the concepts and structures learned in Fundamentals 1, and is appropriate for students who have some prior experience in bookbinding. We will focus on multiple-signature, sewn structures, and will cover both traditional hardcover and exposed-sewn bindings. We will discuss materials in depth with an emphasis on the properties and personalities of each.
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Platen Press Printing
(6 sessions) Wednesdays July 3 – August 7, 6:00-9:00pm
$225 ($202.50 for members) + $15 materials fee
Instructor: Michael D’Alessandro
This 6-week course covers the fundamentals of operating a platen press, including an in-depth look at inking up, make-ready, color registration, press feeding, and more. We will also discuss important topics such as safety, maintenance and limits of the press. Students will have the opportunity to develop their own handset composition and print it using either a foot-operated treadle platen press or a tabletop press.
Michael D’Alessandro is a writer, printer, small press publisher and editor. He edits the semiannual literary journal swap/concessions, and is the founder of bedouin books, which publishes emerging writers of fiction, non-fiction and poetry with a focus on hand bound books in letterpressed covers. He has been published in various journals and is the author of two books of poetry. He teaches at the Independent Publishing Resource Center in Portland, and Marylhurst University
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Intro to Flatbed Letterpress Printing
5 Mondays, July 29-Aug 26. 6:00-9:00pm
$200 ($180 for Members) + $20 materials fee
Instructor: Rory Sparks
This workshop is designed as an introduction to letterpress printing on the flatbed press and hand typesetting. It also serves as a refresher for those who want to review and practice basic skills. Students will learn how to operate a flatbed proof press. Topics to be explored will be packing the press, making ready the form, locking up type, adjusting the form rollers, and fine inking and impression. Troubleshooting and solving printing problems will be a big part of the class. Each participant will print a broadside in a small edition to be shared with the other participants.
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Intro to Boxmaking
Saturday & Sunday, August 17 & 18, 12:30-4:30
$120 ($108 for members) + $15 supply fee
Instructor: Rory Sparks
In this 2-day workshop, students will learn the basics of making boxes. Measuring, cutting, squaring-up and covering will. We will construct three different structures and show variations on each, including a box with a fitted lid and a drop spine box.
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Designing the Broadside
4 Mondays, Sept 9-30, 6:00-9:00pm
$160 ($144 for members) + $10 supply fee
Instructor: Emily García
In this workshop, we will design and print broadsides on a Vandercook flatbed press.
We will cover basic concepts of typography and page layout, as well as the fundamentals of letterpress printing and its inherent design challenges. Many examples will be shared as a starting point and simple image making techniques will be incorporated into our designs. We will print an edition to be shared with the class. Students should come to the first class with a short (100 words or less) text.
Pre-requisite: intro to Flatbed Letterpress printing or equivalent
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Quick printing
Saturday July 13, 10:00-1:00
$60 ($54 for members) + $15 supply fee
Instructor: Alisa Walton
Looking for a quick and easy way to create imagery? In this class students will learn pressure printing techniques and two types of mono printing, including one that doesn’t require a press. These techniques can be done with little planning and use inexpensive, low-tech materials. Come join us and add some new printmaking methods to your routine.
Alisa Walton earned a BFA in Book Arts from Oregon College of Art & Craft. In addition to producing hand bound books she has also worked with a variety of printmaking techniques including lithography, etching, and letterpress printing. She has taught workshops in printmaking and bookbinding to both children and adults. Her work can be found in the retail shop at the Museum of Contemporary Craft and at 23 Sandy Gallery.
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Japanese style paper marbling
3 classes offered:
Monday, May 13, 6:00-9:00
OR
Saturday, July 27, 10:00-1:00
OR
Tuesday, September 17, 6:00-9:00
$45 ($40.50 for members) + $15 supply fee
Instructor: Alisa Walton
Suminagashi, meaning spilled ink, is Japanese paper marbling technique. Inks and a dispersant are used to float rings of color on a vat of water. Traditionally a fan is then used to manipulate the rings of color, creating wave-like patterns. Due to the nature of the materials, patterns are difficult to replicate making each piece of suminagashi unique. A subtle, yet beautiful, decorative paper technique useful for a number of things including end papers, book covers, cards, or collage.
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Hardcover book
2 classes offered:
Saturday & Sunday, June 29 & 30, 10:00-4:00
OR
Saturday & Sunday, September 21 & 28, 10:00-4:00
$105 ($94.50 for members) + $10 supply fee
Instructor: Alisa Walton
Students will make a blank hardcover book. We’ll discuss tips for success such as adhesives, paper grain, and paper choices. All materials will be provided but students are welcome to bring their own decorative papers to use for end papers and covering material. Binding experience is helpful but not necessary, anyone with good handskills (sewers, wood workers, jewelers etc.) will do just fine.
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Paste paper
Sunday, July 28, 10:00-1:00
$45 ($40.50 for members) + $15 supply fee
Instructor: Alisa Walton
Paste paper is a decorative paper technique dating back to the sixteenth century. Bookbinders used this technique to create end papers and cover for their books. Paste paper is a fun and easy technique to learn. Wet colored paste is brushed on paper and various tools can be used to create designs in the paper. It is useful for a number of things including end papers, book covers, cards, or collage.
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We also offer PRIVATE TUTORIALS & GROUP CLASSES!
Please email info@em-space.org if you are interested in learning more.
To Register:
1. Download the pdf form.
2. Mail the form and payment to:
Em Space Book Arts Center
407 SE Ivon St.
Portland, OR 97202
After sending your registration form and payment, please note that your space is not confirmed until you receive a confirmation email.
If you would like to receive info regarding upcoming Em Space workshops and events, sign for our mailing list by sending an email to info@em-space.org with your name and email address. Thank you for your interest!
If you’d like to teach a workshop, contact Rory at info@em-space.org.