The Flag Book: A Travel Quest 2022

Event Info

This workshop takes place virtually via Zoom on Tuesday, January 25 from 12-2pm ET.


About the Workshop:

The pandemic may have limited your ability to travel to new places, but you can still go on a creative adventure in this virtual flag-book workshop for students 18+ years of age who with some book-making experience. The workshop is led by longtime CBA Instructor—and intrepid tour guide—Maria G. Pisano.

Originally created by artist Hedi Kyle, the flag book form has pages that criss-cross each other when the book opens and closes—creating excitement, movement, and interactivity. Students in this course will design their own 3-dimensional flag book by collaging travel-related images of their own choosing across the pages and covers. Each person will complete a truly unique travel-inspired work of art!


Required Materials:

  • Travel-inspired collage materials of your choosing*
  • 10 images/photos for the pages & cover
  • 9 images 2” H x 4.5″ W for the pages
  • 1 or more images any size, to fit front cover that measures 5.5″ W x 8.5″ H
  • Cover weight/cardstock (65lb) paper for covers/support and pages:
    two colors, light for pages and darker for covers/support
  • 9 flags/pages per book:
    Cut 6 flags – 5” W x 2.25″ H
    Cut 3 flags – 5” W x 2.5″ H
  • Covers + support – 3 pages in the same color – each 8.5″ x 11″
  • White scrap paper for protecting your working surface when gluing and/or for stencils
  • Self-healing mat
  • X-acto or small snap blade knife
  • Scissors
  • Bone folder or popsicle sticks
  • Glue stick or double sided tape

*Students should come prepared with their own collage materials inspired by travel. Some items that would be appropriate include images of places you have visited and/or places you would like to visit—real or imagined; maps of cities, countries, continents, planets; photos of yourself and/or family and friends (or anyone) you want to travel with; travel ephemera like postcards and ticket stubs; and whatever else you would like to include! If you do not want to use the original items, please make copies.

Optional Materials:

  • Colored pencils, stamp pads, and make-up sponges can be used to add more decorative elements to your book.

About the Instructor

Maria G. Pisano is a book artist, printmaker, curator, and educator.

Her Memory Press works are represented in The Library of Congress, 9-11 Memorial Museum, Carnegie Mellon University, Columbia University, Lafayette College, University of Delaware, Wesleyan University, and many more. Ms. Pisano has exhibited widely—including a solo exhibition titled Reflections: Artist Books and Works on Paper.

Over the years she has curated a number of exhibitions at Center for Book Arts in NYC, such as Book as Witness: The Artist’s Response. In 2021 she curated Crossroads at the Hunterdon Museum of Art in New Jersey.

Ms. Pisano contributes to book arts publications and has presented lectures at the Library of Congress, College Book Arts Association, and the Art Libraries Society of North America. Her article Mark To Impress was published in California Society of Printmakers 2018 Journal and 2019 in The Blue Notebook in the UK.

She continuously teaches workshops nationally and internationally at venues including the Bridwell Library in Dallas TX, Hand Bookbinders of California, and Center for Book Arts in NYC.


All images courtesy of the instructor. 

Class size is limited to ensure an optimal student-to-teacher ratio. Register now before the remaining spots fill up!

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