The PCBA is a membership organization founded
in 1980 to support and promote interest in the book arts and all its
constituent fields: printing, bookbinding, calligraphy, typography, paper
making, conservation, book design, and illustration.
More information, as well as membership
forms, is available at
on their website.
Photos from the
2008 Member's Exhibition
Green Chair Press
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Ampersand
The Quarterly Journal of the Book Arts |
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From 2005-2009, I edited Ampersand, the quarterly journal of the
PCBA. It had
articles about all aspects of the book arts, from historical commentary to profiles of working artists to practical how-to tutorials. The informative articles are generously illustrated with photographs.
Back issues are no longer available. If you have questions, contact me by email.
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Winter 2010 (vol. 27 no. 1),
22 pages.
In this issue: History/Origin of the California Job Case Ever wondered how the California job case came to be? Fred Williams did the research for you. Profile/Book Artists Who Make Their own Paper: Peter Thomas, Mary Ellen Long and Lisa Beth Robinson. Debbie Kogan talked to three book artists who make their own paper about what making their own paper contributes to their art. This is part one of a two-part series. Took/Book Arts Tools on Etsy Susan Angebranndt shows us some of the book arts tools available on Etsy.com Reflection/So What Do We Call Ourselves Anyway? Peter Thomas proposes a new name for book artists. Let us know what you think! Sold out |
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Fall 2009 (vol. 26 no. 5),
24 pages.
In this issue: A Vandercook Potluck 2009 marked the 100th anniversary of the Vandercook proof press. John McBride reports on a celebration in San Francisco. Profile/Donna Seager: Patron Saint of the Artist Book Donna Seager Gallery in San Rafael is renowned for its selection of artists' books. Emily Marks talks to Donna about her passion for artist's books. Translating a Complex Fine Press Edition into a Trade Edition Johnny Carrera reveals the process of collaborating with Chronicle Books to produce the trade edition of his fine press book, "Pictorial Webster's." Review/Bunny Matters Christine Hemp reviews artist Sas Colby's first editioned book, "Bunnies on Ice." Review/Miscreant: An (Ant)hology Lars Kim reviews the latest book from Litorial Press, a compendium of poems about ants. Appreciation/Carl Dern: A Remembrance
Diversion/A Gothic Text
End Note/Book Manners: Lesson Number 2
10:1 Scale model of the Vandercook Universal 1 Hand Test Press for you to construct
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Summer 2009 (vol. 26 no. 4),
26 pages.
In this issue: Doing Business / 23 Sandy Gallery Deborah Kogan talks to Laura Russell about building a successful business as a photographer, book artist, gallery owner, and arts promoter in Portland, Oregon. Broadside / Showing off Weiss Leonard Seastone’s homage quote to type designer Emil Rudolf Weiss. Book Review / Book + Art Susan Angebranndt looks at Dorothy Simpson Krause’s new book. Review / The Hybrid Book Conference Linda Smith’s review of this conference, held earlier this year in Philadelphia. Techniques / Making Losing Ground Dorothy Simpson Krause shows us how she made the collages in her newest artist’s book. Book Review / How to Make Books cj grossman looks at Esther Smith’s book. Influences / Nigel Poor The 2007 artist-in-residence at the San Francisco Center for the Book talks about the development of her artist’s book The Relative Value of Things. History of the Book / Limp Bindings Monica Langwe looks at the interesting limp bindings she found in Estonia. Techniques / The Star Book | | | | Ginger Burrell gives us instructions for making two variations of this visually interesting structure.Sold out |
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Spring 2009 (vol. 26 no. 3),
20 pages.
In this issue: Profile / Carol Blinn Carol Blinn has been a letterpress printer and book artist for over 30 years. She talks to Deborah Kogan about her work and how she’s made a successful business. Connections / Cootie Catchers Esther K. Smith’s instructions for making cootie catchers. Included with this issue is a pre-printed sheet for making your own. Doing Business / Selling on Etsy Selling online can be a lot of work. Rhonda Miller tells us about Etsy, a website for selling handmade goods directly from the artist. Exhibitions / BABA’s Conversations Deborah Kogan talks about a recent exhibition organized by the Bay Area Book Artists called “Conversations.” In the third of three articles on papermaking, Ginger Burrell explores embedding photographs while forming sheets and printing directly on handmade paper using an inkjet printer and Golden Digital Grounds.Techniques / Lining Envelopes Kim Vanderheiden tells us her trick for lining envelopes with thin tissue or paper. Book Review / The Craftsman
Photos from the 2009 PCBA Printers’ Fair
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Winter 2009 (vol. 26 no. 2),
24 pages.
In this issue: Profile / Tamar Stone Tamar Stone creates bookworks that present narratives from the lives of women from the 1800s to the present day. Deborah Kogan describes how Stone has developed two major bodies of work. Connections / A Poem in Your Pocket | | | | Celebrate Poem in Your Pocket Day — April 30 — by making a book to share. Cathy Miranker explains how.In the second of three articles on papermaking, Ginger Burrell talks about artist's books using embedded objects in handmade paper.Techniques / Double-Fan Adhesive Binding | | | | Quick and easy, the double-fan adhesive or millennial binding is a great solution for turning single sheets into an extremely durable paperback book that opens flat and stays open. Susan Angebranndt tells how.Book Review / Magic Books & Paper Toys
Appreciation / Steve Woodall Last fall, Steve, long active in the PCBA, moved from San Francisco to Chicago to become the Director of Columbia College's Center for Book & Paper Arts. He'll be much missed by those of us in San Francisco. Sold out |
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Fall 2008 (vol. 26 no. 1),
29 pages.
In this issue: Profile / Tara Bryan Deborah Kogan tells us how artist Tara Bryan found her way to the book arts. Techniques / Single Sheet Tunnel Book | | | | Tara Bryan used this structure for the tunnel book on the cover of this "Ampersand." Included with this issue is a separate sheet, pre-scored, for you to make your own tunnel book.Techniques / Making Wood Type Scott Polzen tells us about making his own wood type. Techniques / Papermaking with Plants | | | | In the first of three articles on handmade paper, Ginger Burrell gives detailed instructions for making paper from plants in your garden.Techniques / A Simple Origami Booklet Carolyn Leigh's theme and variations on a simple folded book structure. Techniques / The Youngest Bookmakers Cathy Miranker shares some of her tips and tricks for teaching bookmaking to pre-reading, pre-writing kids. Reflections /The Background's the Thing Alisa Golden contemplates the similarities between short short fiction and artists' books. Doing Business / Selling Your Books Jill Timm talks about "Artist Book News". End Note / A Recent Obsession Emma Sovich's experience designing and letterpress printing a book of poetry. Back Cover / In the Beginning A collaboration between Jennie Hinchcliff and Peter Thomas. Sold out |
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Summer 2008 (vol. 25 no. 4),
29 pages.
In this issue: Catalog for 2008 Members Exhibition, Booksworks Documents the over 100 entries in our 13th Triennial Members Exhibition Sold out |
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Spring 2008 (vol. 25 no. 3),
22 pages.
In this issue: History of the Book / Broadsides At one time it would have been hard to know anything about anything without broadsides. They were the radio drama, television news, billboard, CD ROM, public opinion poll, and tabloid all rolled into one. Theresa Whitehill shares some old and new examples. On Collecting / Coveting Type Holli Conger talks about her typography collection. Influences Kitty Maryatt answers the question "Is there an (artist's) book that has particularly affected your own work?" Doing Business / The Public Record | | | | What information should you include with a bookwork or edition? Retired academic librarian Charles Brownson has some suggestions.Exhibitions / Conceptually Bound D. Cichon tells us about a recent exhibition of artists books in Mountain View, CA. Influences Emily Martin answers the question "Is there an (artist's) book that has particularly affected your own work?" Traveling often involves lots of waiting; Carolyn Leigh uses the spare time to make books and shares her travel kits with us.Doing Business / Getting Permission | | | | Ever wondered if you could use the illustrations from an old book in your own artwork? Attorney Sarah Feingold demystifies what you can and cannot use.Influences Bonnie Thompson Norman answers the question "Is there an (artist's) book that has particularly affected your own work?" Book Reviews People of the Book and three books on binding techniques. End Page Photos from the 2008 Printers' Fair Sold out |
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Winter 2008 (vol. 25 no. 2),
22 pages.
In this issue: Interviews / On Craft Inge Bruggeman, Michelle Burgess, Bill Kelly, Emily McVarish, Harry Reese and BarbaraTetenbaum comment on the role of craft in their work. Influences / Interplay of Type and Image Elsi Vassdal Ellis answers the question "Is there an (artist's) book that has particularly affected your own work?" Appreciation / On Helvetica Andrew Hoyem on the 50th anniversary of the typeface Helvetica. Broadside / Ruth McGurk A broadside for this seemingly endless election year: "A Chicken in Every Pot." On Collecting / The Thrill of the Swap Anne Rita Taylor talks about the book swaps she's participated in. Techniques / Tiny Relief Printing | | | | Sarah Whorf's nifty method for printing on a modified credit card imprinter.Review / Personal Book Printing Kevin Kelly looks at services that provide printed-on-demand books. History of the Book / The Book as Spinate | | | | Hedi Kyle contemplates the book spine in this reprint from the Autumn 1991 Ampersand.Influences / Wordlist Poetry Jocelyn Bergen answers the question "Is there an (artist's) book that has particularly affected your own work?" Sold out |
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Fall 2007 (vol. 25 no. 1),
26 pages.
In this issue: Profile / Artists Making Fabric Books Deborah Kogan profiles four artists making books using fabric and cloth pages. Exhibition Review / Fiber + Book Steven Daiber reviews Fiber + Book at the Fiber Art Center Gallery in Amherst MA. Exhibition Review / Quilted Books? John Cutrone reports on the books from the Gold Coast Quilters Guild Book Arts competition. Broadside / Melissa Kaup-Augustine Melissa Kaup-Augustine talks about the broadside she made for the Mutanabi Street Coalition exhibition in October. History of the Book / al-Mutanabi Street An excerpt from the blog of Dr Saad Eskander, the director of the Iraq National Library and Archive, about the al-Mutanabi Street bombing and efforts to save and restore the Library. Around the Bay / Two Member Shows This fall PCBA sponsored two member shows: the juried exhibition Cutting Edge Books and the annual exhibit and fund-raiser, The Calendar. Tools / Print Gocco Nikki Thompson reports on the efforts to save production of the Japanese-made printing system, Print Gocco. She also interviews Gocco printer Lois Morrison. Influences / Phil Zimmermann Phil answers the question "Is there an artists' book that has particularly effected your own work?" End Note / Letter from a Muddy Island Juliet Doyle muses on ampersands. Sold out |
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Summer 2007 (vol. 24 no. 4),
26 pages.
In this issue: Interviews / Snapshots of Book Arts in Asia How are artists using the book form in Asia? Alisa Golden finds out. Book Review Alice Austin reviews Barbara Tetenbaum's A Guide to Experimental Letterpress Techniques. Influences / An Accounting of Things John DeMerritt and Nora Pauwels talk about the inception and making of their recent book, De Rekening. Broadside / Laura Szujewska Laurie Szujewska talks about the broadsides she made for the PCBA-sponsored group exhibit, "Effects of War: Altered Lives, Altered Books." Resources / Zines Carolee Wheeler tells us about some of her favorite zines. Exhibition Review / Effects of War Amy Davidson reviews the PCBA-sponsored group exhibit, "Effects of War: Altered Lives, Altered Books." Appreciation / Gloria Helfgott Steve Woodall remembers LA-based book artist Gloria Helfgott. Sold out |
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Spring 2007 (vol. 24 no. 3),
26 pages.
In this issue:History of the Book / Pochoir | | | | In this article reprinted from Bookways, Frances Butler gives a history of and techniques for pochoir, a coloring technique using stencilsInterview / Remembering the Light Kyle Schlesinger talks to book artist and printer Mary Laird Techniques / Flipbooks In the second of two articles, Deborah Kogan shares her experiences making her first flip book, 'hip hop at fifteen' Doing Business / Setting the Table Kate Godfrey gives hints and suggestions for showing off your work at book and craft fairs Reviews Georgette Freeman comments on the recent Codex Foundation book fair, Nikki Thompson reviews an exhibit at the National Museum of Women in the Arts in Washington DC and Alisa Golden tells us about her serendipitous discovery of an exhibit of mexican street graphics Resources / Artists' Sketchbooks Andie Thrames shares her list of favorite books on artists' sketchbooks and visual journals. Sold out |
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Winter 2007 (vol. 24 no. 2),
22 pages.
In this issue: History of the Book / Flipbooks In the first of two articles, Deborah Kogan explores the artists' flipbook Interview / New Paradigms From The Outset Kyle Schlesinger talks to Granary Books' Steve Clay about publishing Broadside / The Lovers' Tree Bill Denham and Kim Vanderheiden collaborate on a broadside of Bill's poetry Profile / Memorial Bookworks Kate Godfrey talks to Gabriel Ella about his bookwork Influences Mary Laird answers the question "What artist's book has particularly effected your own work?" Appreciation / Inside Out Lisa Rappoport's on-going compilation of poetry about printing Doing Business / Get Printed Deb Carlen suggests ways to get your story into the newspaper Tools / Edgy Alisa Golden tells us about some nifty tools that can add to your work without being cute or kitschy Around the Bay / The Calendar 2007 A sampler of works from the annual member show at SFCB Endnote / Movable Books? Peter Thomas ruminates on what makes a book "movable" Sold out |
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Fall 2006 (vol. 24 no. 1),
22 pages.
In this issue: History of the Book / Orihon's Triumph Hedi Kyle looks at the origin and adaptations of the concertina fold Profile / Play, Weaving, Risk, Pattern Sara McManus gives us a glimpse into Kitty Maryatt's class, "Typography and the Book Arts," at Scripps College Broadside / I Speak of the Jazz Poets Lisa Rappoport's broadside of a Jack Crimmin's poem Appreciation / Lloyd Reynolds Gay Walker remembers the calligrapher and teacher Lloyd Reynolds Around the Bay / Out of Our Control Deborah Kogan looks at Margaret Tedesco's flip books Techniques / A Tie Clasp Deborah Kogan & Catherine Helfer detail instructions for making a tie clasp with your own hand-made linen cord Book Reviews Gerald Lange reviews Neil Macmillian's An A-Z of Type Designers, and Amy Davidson looks at the recent multiplicity of books about altered books Tools / When Good Pens Go South Georgette Freeman's love affair with her Manuscript calligraphic pen Resources / Royalty-free Images
Endnote / Letter from Italy Cathy Miranker discovers a book bonanza in Siena, Italy Sold out |
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Summer 2006 (vol. 23 no. 4),
25 pages.
In this issue: Retrospective / Janus Press A pictorial walk through 25 years of Claire Van Vliet's broadsides Profile / Cari Ferraro Calligrapher Cari Ferraro talks about contemporary calligraphic artists' books Techniques / A Surprise Inside David Rosen gives instructions and tips for the Turkish map fold Collaborations / Thicket Press Katherine Case reports on how her poetry group tackles publishing their own limited edition books Doing Business / Money Matters Claire Van Vliet talks about running Janus Press, artistically and financially Around the Bay / Bound to Inspire The Bay Area Book Artists' 10th Anniversary Member Show Book Reviews Betty Bright's No Longer Innocent, Karen Cheng's Designing Type, and two books issued in conjunction with the 2005 "ABC: The Artists' Books Conference" — Keynote Addresses and Resonance and Response Tools A review of the Japanese Book Drill plus instructions on how to make a simple finishing press Appreciation / Weather Bird Press Pat Reagh remembers the fine press printer and publisher Vance Gerry End Note Peter Thomas has suggestions for showing artists' books in galleries Sold out |
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Winter/Spring 2006 (vol. 23 no. 2-3),
34 pages.
In this issue: Appreciation / Heagy's Warehouse Why we'll miss Jim Heagy's Hunters Point warehouse, a treasure-trove for letterpress printers all over Northern California for more than 25 years Doing Business / Photographing Books Tips and tricks for documenting and staging your work In Brief / Books Carol Barton's The Pocket Paper Engineer; Sarah Bodman's Creating Artists' Books 2006 Member Show Catalogue of the 12th Triennial PCBA Members Exhibition, Bookworks 2006, including photos of the 83 works in the show and the winners of the Steven Corey Award for emerging artists and the Alastair Johnston Award for fine printing Interview / Swiss Impressions Merilyn Umboh talks with Swiss typographer and letterpress printer, Romano Hänni Techniques / Through the Looking Glass Mary Brennan & George Simonson look at pastepapers that go beyond book covers and end sheets Sold out |
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Fall 2005 (vol. 23 no. 1),
24 pages.
In this issue: Profile / Bea Nettles Over the last 35 years, Bea Nettles has built a successful career as a fine art photographer and book artist by quietly breaking the rules and feeling her own way forward. Debbie Kogan reviews her career. (Read the article) Around the Bay / Cowell Press Gregory Graalfs discusses the unique legacy of the Cowell Press at UC Santa Cruz on book arts in the Bay Area Collaborations / Staying Limber Macy Chadwick talks about her playful long-distance collaborations with Lisa Hasegawa (Read the article) Reader's Notebook / Judging a photobook by its cover | | | | Molly Schwartzburg looks at Langston Hughes and Roy DeCarava's "The Sweet Flypaper of Life"Resources / Opportunities in Europe for Book Artists Carrie Galbraith's guide includes exhibitions, book fairs, collections, residencies, schools, and more Doing Business / On the Web Tips for a successful website to promote your book arts business Techniques / Gocco Etching | | | | Nicholas Yeager explains how to use a Gocco printer to etch images in metalAppreciation / Gaza Bowen Friends remember the Santa Cruz book artist, who was known for her shoe sculptures as well as her bookworks End Note Comments on a book arts exhibit at the Getty Center in Los Angeles Sold out |
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Summer 2005 (vol. 22 no. 4),
24 pages.
In this issue: Working Methods / By Chance: Serendipity and Randomness in Contemporary Artists' Books Yale special collections librarian Jae Jennifer Rossman and book artist Robin Price survey the approaches of artists who use unpredictability and chance in their work. They discuss such methods as the Exquisite Corpse and reader-determined randomness. Includes photographs of many of the works discussed. Collaborations / Concert for Letterpress, Guitar and Percussion Kathleen Walkup discusses the concert that was the culmination of Helen Mirra's residency at Mills College. Profile / Hedi Kyle: Liberating the Book | | | | For over 30 years, Kyle has been folding paper and inventing book structures. Debbie Kogan reviews her career. Includes photographs of several of Kyle's book structures.Techniques / Two Structures from Hedi Kyle Instructions, with illustrations, for Kyle's "blizzard" and "crown" bindings Doing Business / At Book Fairs Fairs can be good venues for marketing and selling your work; a number of book artists share their experiences. End Note Charles Hobson comments on what makes an artist's book. Sold out |
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Inside page: Calendar Show Catalogue
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Spring 2005: Marking Time (vol. 22 no. 3),
16 pages. The first half of this issue documents the 2005 Member Show, which included calendar works by 29 PCBA artists and was on display at the San Francisco Center for the Book during January and February 2005. The second article describes how the digital age has liberated book artists by enabling them to combine traditional craft skills and digital technologies. Finally, we look at how three book artists have used the calendar format and its matrix of days and weeks to explore aspects of time and meaning in their daily lives.
In this issue: The 2005 Calendar Show catalogue
Realizing the Artistic Vision Saul Rosenfield, Daniel Gonzalez, and Nicholas Yeager each combined traditional mark-making skills and newer digital technologies to make their works for the Calendar Show. Quantifying the Quotidian Most of Arthur Huang's documentations mark the passage of time through the most quotidian elements of daily life: food and money. Telling Time Beata Wehr's calendar grids exist, not to faithfully replicate a given month or year, but to tell time as a visual story. Exploring the Visual World of Dreams For over twenty years, Genie Shenk has given visual form to her nightly dreams and collected these images into an annual dream calendar. Sold out |
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Fall 2004/Winter 2005: Resource Guide (vol. 22 no. 1-2),
32 pages. The biannual PCBA Resource Guide is a 32-page practical catalogue of book-arts resources for practitioners at all stages of experience. It's also intended as a source of inspiration and a spur to further inquiry. Brief annotations throughout endeavor to supply insight about the listings. The marginalia are eclectic, listing how-to tips, useful websites, helpful suppliers, thought-provoking quotations and must-read books. The Guide concludes with an index so you can zero in on your particular needs. Its generous white space is yours to fill with opinions and discoveries of your own. The chapters include: Printing, Typography & Book Design, Paper, Bookbinding, Stocking your Studio, Schools & Workshops, Promoting your Bookwork, and Web links.
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