When I started planning out this trip, Women’s Studio Workshop was high up on my list of must-see places. It’s a women-oriented artist residency space that has been producing artists books for over 30 years, as well as lots of other great opportunities that I hope to one day utilize.
Women's Studio Workshop!
Chris Petrone, the WSW studio manager, sent us an invitation to see the space once she heard about my trip, and so, dreams do come true!
Chris Petrone, WSW Studio manager
We stopped by the end of some classes during the Summer Arts Institute, where women of all ages (and some with kids!) were working together to produce their art. So Chris gave us a tour of the building and grounds, which just kept going and going. (These are just a few of the many pictures I wanted to post! didn’t want to cause any jealousy, you understand. ;) )
book arts and screenprinting room (a class was underway, hence all the lovely paper out)
The printmaking facilities
inks in the letterpress room
papermaking room
They have, as many of the great papermaking facilities are developing, a fiber garden! It was interesting to see how the fibers differed from the Cleveland garden, and what they are planning on doing with them. There was also an outdoor fiber cooking space, near the ceramics kiln, and a developing outdoor papermaking space.
papermaking fiber garden
After this, Chris invited us to see some of the artist books producted during residencies here, many of which I recognized. In fact, Maureen Cumming’s Crazy Quilt, which I talked about as an influence on some of my work at the College Book Arts Conference this past January. Matt was interested in looking through all of them, which was a nice turn. (I’ve got to take him to the Flasch collection!)
Matt reading an artist book produced at WSW
One of the things that particularly sticks with me at WSW is how open everyone working there was. Even though we didn’t really talk to anyone much (as class was underway), the sense of openness of the women working together was really palpable. We never felt unwelcome or that we were interrupting — people just seemed interested that we were interested. It was great to see this space and community working together in action.
Thank you so much for having us, WSW!
