For the first time in several years, Centrum is offering a workshop, open to all ages, with a focus on visual art. The Art of the Book  examines three distinct ways to approach handmade books.

Rachel Fish, a book artist from Portland, OR, is well-versed in traditional styles of bookmaking. Join Rachel and learn to make three of the most basic bindings for handmade books, as well as Japanese stab binding, long stick binding, leporello and accordion books. The team of Lauren Atkinson and Anne Marie Grgich (Whidbey Island, WA and Portland OR) takes you in another direction-using old books and completely transforming them with paint, wax, wire and more. Darwin Nordin (Seattle, WA) helps you to create and sequence a series of creative ideas into a form best suited to the work. He will have you exploring creative content with collage, paint, print and more to create unique artists books. Special guest Jean Tarascio (Port Townsend, WA) treats the book as sculpture in a hands-on presentation/workshop on Saturday evening.

This four-day workshop takes place over the long Veterans Day weekend, beginning Friday, November 11, and continuing with morning and afternoon studio sessions, and special evening programs.  In addition, a field trip to Port Townsend’s own Watermark Bindery is part of the schedule.

For this program both day students and residential students are welcome. Housing is in one of Fort Worden’s dormitories. Supervision is provided for students 13-18. Younger students may come with an adult.

The Art of the Book is designed to be a creative learning experience for ALL-AGES – that means adults may come on their own and either stay in the dorm for the workshop, or be a non-residential participant.

Educators who come to the Art of The Book will receive professional development clock hours for this program, which is scheduled to coincide with teacher release time.

Register for the Art of the Book TODAY!  For more information, visit the home of Young Artist programming at Centrum, or call Martha Worthley at 360.385.3102, ext. 120.