We offer a variety of activities for members and the public to practice, learn, and experience the hands-on aesthetic of book arts in a digital world.
Bookmaking, printmaking, and related craft.
Working individually or collaboratively, our members and participants design, print, and bind or assemble hand-made artists’ books, ranging from traditional bound books to one-of-a-kind structures. Examples include an inventive take on the “Bad Quarto” of Hamlet, miniature books, transformational card decks, and a “novel in objects” housed in a sewing box to recount a century of garment worker history following the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire. Member artists also create prints using a variety of mediums and methods, ranging from multicolor linocuts to an installation of letterpressed banners commemorating Black students and teachers who attended a historic Virginia schoolhouse.
Teaching and learning.
Book arts instructors include members and guest artists who lead classes and workshops in old and new methods. Our core courses in letterpress and bookbinding are supplemented by workshops in advanced techniques, such as French link stitching, Korean papermaking, pressure printing, and marbling.
Collaborating, mentoring, and hosting open studios.
At its heart, Virginia Book Arts exists to foster a community of artists who can work with, be inspired by, and learn from each other. Unique to our program is the Annual Members Project, an opportunity for experienced and novice book artists to collaborate from start to finish on a project, receive mentoring, and hone their skills. Our once-a-weeknight “open studios” draw participants who enjoy working on personal projects while sharing conversation and techniques with other artists.
Bringing book arts into the community.
Member artists frequently offer studio programs that involve temporary loans of portable bookmaking equipment at other venues, including schools and libraries. Through these outreach efforts, teachers, school children, scouts, university students, library patrons, and other residents can try their hands at printing and bookmaking, gaining a greater appreciation for books and the book arts.
Stewarding an extensive letterpress collection.
For decades, we have maintained, used, and provided public access to a legacy collection of type and printing presses. Assembled over many years, the collection was bequeathed to VH for our use. We are committed to stewarding or helping to steward this collection into the future.