ART 546: ADVANCED BOOK ARTS
Michele Burgess / San Diego State University
FALL 2015 MW 9-11:40 am Schedule #20275
Prerequisites: Art 446 or Graduate student status
Office hours by appointment (461A)
mburgess@mail.sdsu.edu
"Who are we, who is each one of us, if not a combination of experiences, information, books we have
read, things imagined? Each life is an encyclopedia, a library, an inventory of objects, a series of styles,
and every thing can be constantly shuffled and reordered in every way conceivable... ...think what it
would be to have a work conceived from outside the self, a work that would let us escape the limited
perspective of the individual ego, not only to enter into selves like our own but to give speech to that
which has no language, to the bird perching on the edge of a gutter, to the tree in the spring and the
tree in the fall, to stone, to cement, to plastic...."
-Italo Calvino
From Six Memos for the Next Millennium
"And all the names of tribes, the nomads of faith who walked in the monotone of the desert and saw
brightness and faith and color. The way a stone or found metal box or bone can become loved and turn
eternal in a prayer. Such glory of the country she enters now and becomes part of. We die containing a
richness of lovers and tribes, tastes we have swallowed, bodies we have plunged into and swum up as if
rivers of wisdom, characters we have climbed into as if trees, fears we have hidden in as if caves. I wish
for all this to be marked on my body when I am dead. I believe in such cartography -- to be marked by
nature, not just to label our selves on a map like the names of rich men and women on buildings. We
are communal histories, communal books. We are not owned or monogamous in our taste or
experience. All I desired was to walk upon such an earth that had no maps."
- Michael Ondaatje, The English Patient
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
Design and creation of limited edition artist books made with mixed media and hand printing
techniques such as letterpress, intaglio, woodcut, lithography, and photo. Maximum credit six
units.
In this course, the students will create two different artist’s books:
1. An Altered Book.
Find a hard cover book in a used bookstore (such as Adams Avenue Books) or resale shop.
The subject should resonate with you in some way. Rescue it from obscurity and make it your
own by reworking the pagination creatively. (You can also combine two books).
Use the subject of the book(s) as a jumping off point for an idea or theme of your own.
You will be taking it apart and putting it back together (seamlessly) in a different way. You will
probably add images and other elements, change or rearrange the text, reconsider the title page
and cover. Remember that this is a book and not a sculpture but may contain sculptural
elements if they are appropriate.
**Google search for altered books to see some examples
Bring books and work up a written project proposal (kernel) for Wednesday.
DUE 10/19
2. The second book will be self-designed. You will come up with your own kernel, which will
generate the text and images for the book. This will involve further practice in print media, page
design, hand binding, and letterpress. There will be much more freedom in the format than was
available in Book 2 and these choices will be discussed in depth both technically and
conceptually. The book will be printed in an edition of at least four copies. One copy of this
book will be given to the Love Library Special Collections and one to the class archives.
Media and techniques of choice may include but are not limited to those used in hand binding,
printmaking, painting, digital art and other computer generated imagery, letterpress, creative
writing, metals, photography, wood and furniture techniques, ceramics and clay, drawing,
sculpture, fibers. However, techniques of choice must be adapted to edition standards.
One bound book due 12/02 bind the rest after this one is checked.
Expectations & Grading
The final book for each assignment will be evaluated according to the following criteria:
Pagination/ flow
Image making and composition
Craftsmanship
Development of content
Integration of theme with structure and materials
The Final Grade for the course will be calculated as follow:
30% Book #1
60% Book #2
10% Participation
Attendance at each class session is expected. If you miss any information, assignments, or
demonstrations, it is your responsibility to get it from someone else in the class, rather than
emailing me. Please make sure you have contact information for at least one person. Your
record of class attendance will affect your grade in a substantial way.
Cell phones must be turned off during class, even while you are working alone.
There will be many impromptu suggestions and comments. No earphones or plugs, please. No
texting or email interception during class. Pretend that you’re on a plane, about to take
off…
MATERIALS for Art of the Book 3
Lineco neutral ph adhesive
Snap-off style knife
Bookbinder’s needles
Bookbinder’s awl
Linen thread
Drafting or artist’s tape
Bone folder
12” triangle with flat edge
Flat 1” brush
Small metal triangle
Metal pica ruler
10 or more sheets of printmaking paper for edition printing
3-6” cloth paint roller (available at hardware or paint stores) or black foam roller
Newsprint pad 18” x 24”
Sketchbook (can be one you're currently using)
Drawing tools
Flat palette, palette paper, or glue tray
24” or longer ruler with beveled edge for tearing paper
Scissors
Small stapler
Rubber gloves for cleaning presses and mixing inks
At least 4 sheets of acid free illustration, archival matt board, Letramax board or binder’s
board for binding
Binding cloth, as needed
Printmaking tools, as needed, for chosen technique
Photopolymer plates, as needed, for letterpress text or images
Film negatives as needed for photopolymer
Bookbinder’s leather, as needed (we will order as a group)
One large sheet of Cave paper
ADDITIONAL MATERIALS WILL BE REQUIRED BUT WILL VARY FOR INDIVIDUAL
PROJECTS. Expect to spend about $200.00 or more on supplies over the semester depending
on which materials you choose to work with. All papers must be acid-free.
$40.00 group purchase contribution to cover items that you can get cheaper in bulk, i.e. inks,
solvents, tarlatan, newsprint, chemicals, grounds, rosin, enamel paint, etc. Please bring it in
cash to the next class so that you will have access to them. Failure to pay for these items after
two weeks will result in your losing access to them.