'Handmade & Bound' Sets 9/30-10/1 Event Schedule

First edition of free community event unfolds Sept. 30–Oct. 1 at Watkins with workshops for all ages

(Sept. 15, 2011)

Handmade & Bound Nashville, a free book arts festival for the entire family, has set their event schedule for the free community celebration on Friday, Sept. 30–Saturday, Oct. 1, at Watkins College of Art, Design & Film.  In addition to a gallery exhibition reception and film screening on Friday and day-long marketplace on Saturday, a total of 16 workshops, demos and discussions covering a variety of book arts and interests will be offered.

Presented by the Watkins Library, Handmade & Bound Nashville is sponsored by Bongo Java, Jerry’s Artarama, Plaza Artist Materials, and the Watkins Community Education department.

All events and activities are free and open to the public. 

The festival launches Friday, Sept. 30, with a 6:30 p.m. reception celebrating the juried book arts and zine exhibition Encoded Structures: Interpreting the Story, on display in the Brownlee O. Currey, Jr. Gallery (through Oct. 28).  Immediately following at 8:00 p.m. in the Watkins Theater is a screening of the award-winning 2004 documentary “$100 and a T-shirt,” a cultural analysis of the zine community directed by Joe Biel (51 min.).

Artists’ book, zine and comics authors, artisans, publishers, distributors and aficionados will buy, sell, trade and exhibit handmade and affordable publications, creations and other book-ish items at the marketplace on Saturday, Oct. 1, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.  Regional artisans and entrepreneurs will offer instruction and insight through workshops, demos and discussions in miniature books, origami books, papermaking, printing, zine making, publishing, writing and bookbinding, with many of the activities suitable for children.

A complete event schedule is available for download below, and online at handmadeboundnashville.com, but among the highlights are these workshops:

“Pixels, Print and Presence: How to Make the Most of Digital When It Comes to Print” – an introduction to web and digital assets for anyone from a DIY zinester to small press publishers. Ages 16 to adult.

**Findings & Bindings {found objects & creative notions journal}** – A workshop to create a one-of-a-kind handmade journal from discarded books and papers.  Free, but space is limited. Ages 8 to adult.

Zines with Kids & Teens – An intro to zines, with kids making their own folded one-sheet zine. Ages 8 through teen.

Storytime for Children – Natalie VanBalen will read from her book Garlic-Onion-Beet-Spinach-Mango-Carrot-Grapefruit Juice and listeners will make paper finger puppets.
All ages.

**Miniature Accordion Popup Books** – A workshop to craft a miniature hardback accordion book with pages that pop up, spill out, and burst from the folds. All supplies are provided. Free, but space is limited. Teens & adults.

“Toward A Self-Sufficient, Long-Lived Zine” – Discussion examining the nuts and bolts of what it takes to keep an independent project alive and vital. Adults.

**Felt Sketchbook** – A workshop to make an easy 4.5” x 6” sketchbook with felt covers and post-and-screw binding.Free, but space is limited. All ages.

“The Art of Saying Something Worth Saving” – A discussion of aspects of language and text in the book arts. Adults.

**Quadraflip or Infinity Card** – A workshop to create this card which, when turning its pages, changes orientation and reveals hidden pages. Free, but space is limited. Teens & adults.

**NOTE:**  These workshops are free, but registration is necessary to secure space:  contact [email protected]

Demos conducted throughout the day include:

• Papermaking with Watkins adjunct instructor Annie Herlocker
• Sidewalk mural drawing for kids of all ages with Watkins art students and teachers
• Pamphlet Stitch Books for Kids with Lesley Patterson-Marx
• Letterpress printing with Bryce McCloud of Isle of Printing
• Proofpress printing with Cindy Marsh of the Goldsmith Press and Rare Type Collection at Austin Peay State University
• Wooden books demo by Jennifer Knowles McQuistion of Brown Dog Bindery
• Fine bindings and gold tooling demo by Bob Roberts of Gilded Leaf Bindery

Saturday will also feature music from indie pop duo Kristy West and Nick Perreault, and a food truck “food court” with several of Nashville’s most popular rolling restaurants.

For more information or to reserve workshop space, contact the Watkins Library at [email protected], 615.277.7427 or visit watkins.edu.

Handmade & Bound Nashville is presented by the librarians and staff of Watkins College of Art, Design & Film, plus the Watkins Community Education department and local librarians and book artists.  Watkins is located at 2298 Rosa L. Parks Boulevard in MetroCenter; free parking is available in the campus lot.

Event schedule for download: