JOURNEY WORKSHOP- Lorraine told. We drew.

Storyteller Lorraine Hartin-Gelardi magically wove the story of a woman's loss and quest into an enchanted world of rocks and caves, fairies and feather capes. (www.Lorrainetells.com)

As Lorraine told this journey tale from Scotland, workshop participants engaged expressive gestural drawing techniques to create images for their books. 

A double accordion book format allowed for many variations and innovations in the visual retelling of the story.  Each book reflected story elements of particular resonance for its maker.  Each book offered a unique and intriguing world to explore.  What delight it was to hear Lorraine tell this vivid tale and to watch so many expressive beautiful books come to life. 

Thanks to all for the pleasure of your company and the flat out fun of making art in community!
Jo


THURSDAY workshop books in progress.

Luanne Panarotti

Pat Joel

Deanna Touhey

Gail Gates

Judy Malstrom

Joann Innello

Santha Cooke

Joan Levitt

The Thursday evening group meets in the historic school house at Pleasant Plains Presbyterian Church, a building that in its span has accommodated students, fire engines, refugees, church committees and now,  most happily for us, book makers!  Many thanks to the church for making its facilities available to the community.



SATURDAY workshop books in progress.

Angela Balletto

Hanne Andersen

Betty Vera

Susan Jane Appollo

Annie Scibienski

Debbie Stone

Karin Lempke

Terry Sennett

Terry and Angela

And what a good place to end this post with a picture of our dear librarian, Terry Sennett, and with thanks to the Clinton Community Library for hosting the Saturday sessions.

March Journey with storyteller Lorraine Hartin-Gellardi

For March, think journey.

Every journey is a story and, to our good fortune, the wonderful storyteller Lorraine Hartin-Gellardi (www.lorrainetells.com) will tell a tale that will put us on the road to more fun with artist books.  We’ll be packing the story into a perfect container – the accordion book – but not just any accordion book.  This one will be full of surprises as journeys always are.

Thurday, March 25, 2010,  7:00 – 9:00 pm
OR
Saturday, March 27, 2010,  10:00 am - noon

Whether experienced or not, you will leave with a unique and satisfying book. Each workshop stands alone, so it is not necessary to have attended other sessions to enjoy this one.  Workshops are free.

To register, please contact Jo Renbeck
845-266-5626
jo@JohanneRenbeck.com

ROOTS Power New Bookworks

We drew roots. We filled sheets of  paper with painted images of roots.  We spoke words of roots and imagined life under the earth in the remarkable bodies of roots.  Remarkable books developed out of all this rooting around.  Once again, I wished for the luxury of time to enjoy each book at leisure. Here are photos that only hint at the unique vision and the innovative detail to be explored in each bookwork.

Judy Malstrom
 

Pam Wright

Nicole Chainese

 

Laura

Donna Wasilewski

 

Santha Cooke

And just for good measure, two more shots of bookworks in the hands of the makers.

There is something tender in our physical relation to books.  Perhaps that comes from the feel of their materials, the movement of their elements, and the almost creature-comfort of their companionship. 

Thursday Night ROOTS Workshop Postponed

Weather happened again.  The Thursday night session is postponed until next Thursday, March 4.  Same time, same place.

February Workshop - You are invited!

     For February's workshop

     think ROOTS.

Think roots of a favorite tree or plant, roots of a family, 

of a vocation or a passion, or even routes. 

 
We'll be making an accordion book with some nifty surprises.  Roots will provide rich subject matter for the adventure.  

Whether experienced or not, you will leave with a unique and satisfying book. (Each workshop stands alone, so it is not necessary to have attended the January session to enjoy this one.)  

To register, please e-mail jo@JohanneRenbeck.com  or call 845-266-5626. Let me know which session you'd like to attend. Both locations are in the Town of Clinton. 

 
Thursday: February 25, 7:00-9:00 pm, The Little Schoolhouse at Pleasant Plains Presbyterian Church,
2 Fiddlers Bridge Rd.  Staatsburg, NY  
-OR-  
Saturday, February 27, 10:00 am - 12:00 noon, Clinton Community Library, 1215 Centre Rd.

Rhinebeck, NY

Cheers,

Jo

Star Book Workshop Photos

I wish I could revisit this evening with the luxury of time.  I would hold each book in my hands and explore it at leisure.  I would savor again the joy we all felt in sharing our books with each other.  Everyone created a lively and beautiful book.  Not only that, each book was excitingly unique, a small world onto itself that begged further exploration. Such fun!

Abundant gifts of the natural world postpone first workshop

Tonight was to have been the first of six monthly free artist book workshops in the Town of Clinton.  The class has been postponed until next Thursday evening due to predictions of more snow on top of this morning's accumulation coupled with high winds and arctic temperatures.  Everyone seems relieved.

Artist Books for the fun of it - session 1
NEW DATE:  Feb. 4, 2010.
7:00 - 9:00 pm
The Little School House at Pleasant Plains Presbyterian Church
2 Fiddler's Bridge Road
Staatsburg, NY 12580


Think STARS.
Think clear winter night sky.

Please bring a glue stick and a favorite pen.
I will have paper for each person to make the book.
Optional:  Bring some interesting paper, new or repurposed, scissors, an exacto knife, a small cutting mat.

Please register if you have not already done so by contacting me at Jo@JohanneRenbeck.com.

Cheers,
Jo