After leaving Rochester, we headed southwest to Aurora, NY.to see Wells College and their Book Arts facility and the beginning of the Summer Arts Institute. I’d seen the pamphlet for the SAI for a few years now — surprising, perhaps, when I learned that this is only their sixth year running — so when Sarah Bryant and Nancy Gil invited us to come check it out, we were delighted. Not only is the college situated on a beautiful campus and lake, but the people here at the College have been really open about talking about their book arts and SAI experiences.
Morgan Hall, which houses the Book Arts rooms
faculty presses
beautiful leather stampers
We had a lovely dinner together where everyone was introduced to each other and fell immediately into some great conservations about the college and the SAI. There are people from all over — we saw license plates as far away as New Mexico, and of course Julie Chen flew out from San Francisco to give a class. Many people have made the SAI a repeat experience, and one fellow has been to five of the six SAIs. It’s obvious in the way the talk about their experiences that the participants have a completely worthwhile time, and apparently quite a lot of fun as well.
Afterwards some of us went to view the sunset on the dock together.
sunset on the lake
artists on the dock
The next morning we met again for breakfast and I had a great time continuing the conversation about SAI experiences with some new folks. I even learned about some new art start ups in my home state of Alabama: the Alabama Art Kitchen. I love how both tight-knit and varied the book arts community is!
During this time, Cheryl Jacobson, a calligrapher who also teaches at the University of Iowa Center for the Book, invited us to see her portfolio and the beginning stages of her class.
Cheryl with some of her work
some of Cheryl's portfolio
Matt and I both loved this set
The beginnings of class
Thanks everyone! We had a great time with you and will surely keep in contact. Enjoy the rest of your week!
