Syllabus
GID 94: Book Arts Professional Practices
July 2007- June 2008
Foothill College
Book Arts Professional Practices is a student-run class initiated to serve the artistic needs and develop the professional skills of the extended community of Bay Area book artists, including the active members of Bay Area Book Artists (BABA), an ongoing 11-year old informal association of book artists which welcomes new members. The class goes from July 2007 through June 2008. As an annual project, BABA co-sponsors the annual Book Arts Jam with Foothill College.
We meet the first Sunday of each month at Foothill's main campus (Los Altos Hills) from noon to 4:00 pm, for studio demonstrations, teaching, and work sessions on a specific topic.We also meet the third Thursday evening of each month at Foothill College's Middlefield campus (Palo Alto) from 7:30 to 9:30 pm to plan group events, share information about book events and resources, and share book works with each other.
Instructor: Kent Manske, Instructor
Office: 1709, Foothill College campus
Phone: 650.949.7409
Email: manskekent at foothill.edu
Website: www.foothill.edu/~kmanske/
Office Hours: see website
Address: Kent Manske, Foothill College, 12345 El Monte Road , Los Altos Hills, CA 94022-4599
Meeting Times
First Sunday of every month, 12 pm – 4:00 pm, Foothill Campus, room 1801
- Sunday, July 1
- Sunday, August 5
- Sunday, September 9 (second Sunday due to Labor Day)
- Sunday, October 7
- Sunday, November 4
- Sunday, December 2
- Sunday, January 6
- Sunday, February 3
- Sunday, March 2
- Sunday, April 6
- Sunday, May 4
- Sunday, June 1
Third Thursday of every month, 7:30 – 9:30 pm, Middlefield Campus, room MCJ5
- Thursday, July 19
- Thursday, August 16
- Thursday, September 20
- Thursday, October 18
- Thursday, November 15
- Thursday, December 20
- Thursday, January 17
- Thursday, February 21
- Thursday, March 21
- Thursday, April 17
- Thursday, May 15
- Thursday, June 19
About the Course
Course Description:
Introduction to the professional practices of the book artist and book arts organizations. Application of strategies to create, critique, exhibit and distribute artist’s books. Participation in community based learning through the organization and implementation of book art events and activities.
Course Objectives:
Provide activities, information, resources, support and excitement, that will enable class participants to:
• set and achieve goals for their individual development as artists working in the medium of artists’ books;
• share their information and skills with other participants and, in so doing, develop their skills as workshop leaders and teachers; and
• learn how to present book arts exhibitions and public activities that will generate interest and support for the book arts in the local Bay Area community
Expected Outcomes:
Participants will:
1. make original books.
2. demonstrate an understanding of the design process: information gathering, idea generation, concept development and distribution.
3. present your work and critique the work of other book artists.
4. provide demonstrations of graphic arts techniques.
5. prepare and submit your work for gallery exhibitions.
6. prepare and submit digital files for online gallery exhibitions.
7. participate in the functions of a book arts organization.
8. help plan, organize and participate in public book arts educational events.
9. demonstrate an understanding of organizational fundraising and grant writing for artists and arts organizations.
10. recognize and appreciate the artistic contributions made by people from diverse cultures and backgrounds.
Goals and Participation
Individual Goals
Please bring your goals for discussion to the Thursday, August 16, business meeting.
Suggestions for writing a goal statement.
1. How you will develop your individual work as an artist.
For example:
- what interests you want to pursue and how you will pursue them.
- what skills you want to gain or improve and how you plan to apply these skills in your work.
- what work you want to plan, work on, and/or complete and how you plan to document and disseminate/exhibit your completed work.
2. How you will share your skills and interests within the BABA community.
For example:
- by leading or helping with a Sunday session/demonstration or workshop
- by sharing resources with the rest of us through the BABA listserv or face-to-face meetings
- by helping to plan additional BABA activities (field trips, exhibitions, etc.)
3. How you will support BABA's efforts to reach out to the larger community.
For example:
-
contributing to the success of the Book Arts Jam or other BABA exhibitions and events
Debbie Kogan suggested in June 2007 that your statement of goals might be written with a specific audience in mind. You might want to imagine that the audience is:
a) a knowledgeable friend to whom you can talk about your art/craft;
b) a group of your BABA peers; or
c) a jury that is considering you for an artists' grant.
Goals and Evolving Mission Statement of BABA
from Bay Area Book Artists website, July 2007
- Create a community of book artists who support, mentor, laugh, cry, encourage creativity and celebrate with each other.
- Nurture the artistic growth and talents of book artists through sharing ideas, techniques, resources, research and enlightenment.
- Expand horizons in the book arts by making books, organizing exhibitions and maintaining and furthering an awareness of the greater community of book artists and book arts.
- Educate the public about the uniqueness of the book arts as a cultural force, enjoyable activity and experiential art form.
- Be an organization of volunteers who respect diversity, honor the contributions of others, take risks and enjoy what we do.
Evaluation
Final Grades will be based on the performance of the whole class. Each participant is responsible for encouraging the success of both the class and individual participants. You may choose to register for the class “Pass/No Pass.”