Fall Greetings!
September was an exciting and busy month teaching two workshops - in marbling and bookbinding - and exhibiting at the West End ArtsFest, where I was honored with an Award of Merit. See below for details.
I had a fabulous time teaching Basic and Advanced Marbling this past month. The fine fall weather allowed us to work - and keep the mess - outside, where papers dried on the line. The workshop was well attended and we all created many sheets of stunning paper which will be used for bookbinding, collage, and other art/craft projects. I also had a good group of folks for the Secret Belgian Binding workshop. Everyone went home with a beautiful book.
If the workshops that are currently scheduled in October and November don't fit your schedule or interest, contact me to create a custom offering. Consider the possibility of getting 3 or 4 friends together and scheduling your own bookbinding activity.
This year was my inaugural West End ArtFest exhibit - what fun! Despite the soggy weather, the event was well attended and I met many interesting folks. I had opportunity to talk with several people about how I do what I do and I am hopeful that I have additional interest in learning the craft of binding. It was also good to be among so many other artists! I am honored to have received a Merit Award especially for my book, Romanian Doors, created in collaboration with Romanian bookbinder, Razvan Superan. Romanian Doorsincludes pictures of many doors that also serve as a metaphor for the transition between cultures. This book is also the only one I have done in an edition - there are just a few copies left of the 30 we created.
Unfortunately the heavy rains forced cancellation of Festifall, a large art festival in Chapel Hill. Though disappointed in missing that venue for this year, I am spending the weekend profitably in the studio. I have been working on a number of new book structures to exhibit at Deck the Halls, the fine arts and crafts holiday shopping experience that also serves as a fundraiser for the Sawtooth School for Visual Art.
Anne Murray
Bookbinder and Papermaker