TUNNEL BOOK

 

Our June workshop will be a lesson in how to make a basic tunnel book. Taught by Celeste Chalasani, this will be an introduction into the world of tunnel books. What is a tunnel book? It is a structure that contains pages that are held together by folded strips of paper on each side that resemble an accordion. To “read” a tunnel book you look through a hole in the front cover. Each page features openings that allow the reader to see through to the back page. The images on each page work together to form a three-dimensional scene. The overall effect is an illusion of depth and perspective. According to Wonderopolis, https://wonderopolis.org/wonder/what-is-a-tunnel-book#  tunnel books date back to the mid-18^th century when they were originally called “peep shows.” The concept was inspired by theatrical stage sets.

Participants in this workshop will need to print and cut out photos and “things” to go on four pages. In the workshop, we’ll cut frames, attach the “things” to the frames, create the accordion folds for the sides, and then attach the pages to the sides. Celeste will talk about variations—specifically about how you can add more pages and make the accordion longer to avoid the swell (and what that does to the book).

Materials:

• One 3" x 5" photo printed out on cardstock. The photo should be a background photograph, showing something in the distance.  Celeste's photo above is from the "Meanwhile in Saskatchewan" Facebook page. Cut out your photo leaving a 1/2" margin all around so that the actual piece will be 4" x  6".
• Three additional "things" of varying sizes for the foreground of the tunnel. Celeste's examples are two trees and a deer, both clipart found using Google images. "Thing" number one that's the closest to you, should be the largest. "Thing" two should be slightly smaller, and "thing" three should be the smallest. All three of these "things" should be larger than what's shown in your background photo. The three "things" will need to touch the frame they are attached to and should be cut out leaving a 1/2" tab on the side where they'll touch: underneath (if they touch the ground), above (if they touch the sky), or on either side.
• Three (3) pieces of cardstock cut to 4" x 6"
• Two (2) pieces of text-weight paper cut to 4" x 4"
• Ruler
• Xacto knife
• Stylus or similar scoring tool
• Glue stick 
• scrap paper for gluing

When:    Saturday June 8, at 10 a.ml PDT

Where:   On your computer, tablet or smartphone via Zoom

RSVP:     Dolores Guffey by June 3

Workshop Questions:  Celeste Chalasani

Zoom Questions:  Bobbie Hayes

Contact information is in the newsletter.

Here are three more photos from the May Interlocking Accordion workshop taught by Mary Conley.

Sherrill Story

Thanks Sherrill for sharing your photos.

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INTERLOCKING ACCORDION REVIEW

 We had a great workshop on May 11 learning how to make an interlocking accordion. Mary Conley led us through the steps of how to put together this simple yet adaptable structure. Perhaps the best part is that there is no sewing and minimal gluing required. The size can be altered as long as you keep the ratio the same between the two accordion strips. We also learned a nifty little tip on how to easily fold a 10 sided accordion. Many thanks to Mary for coming up with this variation of a structure she learned from another NORBAG member, Kit Davey.

Here are some of the books that were made during or after the workshop.

Emmy Nelson

Stephanie Weigel

Michele Kamprath

Dolores Guffey

Notes from the Art Lab

By Bonnie Halfpenny

If you live anywhere near Minneapolis I’m sure you’re aware of the Minnesota Center for the Book Arts (MCBA). If not, you can still benefit by a visit to their excellent website at https://www.mnbookarts.org/. Now housed in a facility called Open Book, it is part of a comprehensive literary and book arts facility that served some 82,000 patrons of all ages last year.

Classes of all skill levels are taught. Some that are available online include Book Arts 101, Eleven Basic Book Structures, and Mail is Magic; all found under the Education Tab.

Under Exhibits & Events there are several virtual exhibits including Solastalgia: Book Art & the Climate Crisis, Drop Dead Gorgeous: Fine Bindings, and Bound/Unbound.

Besides residencies and fellowships, the Center also invites artists across the country to submit their work for sale in the consignment shop which can be found under the Shop tab. The application is online and they generally review applications within two weeks. The artist retains 60% of the sale price.

Summer’s coming…if you are headed to this part of the world, this would be a great place to visit in person!