Paired Station Coptic – Summer 2021

Two colorful examples of paired station coptic books by Scott McCarney
Two colorful examples of paired station coptic books by Scott McCarney
Scott McCarney looks at you from the other side of his workbench
Scott McCarney headshot

Event Info

This workshop takes place across two sessions:

  • Mon, June 14th, 2–4pm ET
  • Thurs, June 17th, 2–4pm ET

This two-session workshop is an introduction to the paired-station coptic sewing which is suitable for binding single sheets, folios and/or gathered sections in a single book structure. It is an exposed spine, unsupported sewing that is sturdy, looks cool and allows the book to lie flat.

We will be making two books: a single sheet sample with card pages and one of folded and gathered sections. Once these have been mastered, the techniques can be combined to make books of an infinite variety of sections and materials.

Required Materials

  • 10 pieces of light cardboard (cereal boxes or post cards work well) cut to 3 inches square
  • 2 pieces of heavy cardboard (book board or corrugated cardboard or equivalent) cut to 3 inches square for covers
  • 6 sheets of text weight paper measuring 3 x 6 inches (20 or 24 lb. copy paper or equivalent)
  • 16 sheets of text weight paper measuring 8.5 x 11 inches (20 or 24 lb. copy paper or equivalent)
  • (optional) 2 sheets of contrasting color text weight paper measuring 8.5 x 11 inches (20 or 24 lb. copy paper or equivalent)
  • 2 sheets of heavy cardboard (book board or corrugated cardboard or equivalent) measuring 5.5 x 4.25 inches for covers
  • Bone folder
  • Paper awl
  • Paper knife (a table knife or butter knife will suffice)
  • Pencil
  • Ruler
  • Needles
  • Thread (two colors of thread would be good but not a deal breaker)

About the Instructor

Scott McCarney is an artist, designer, and educator based in Rochester, New York. His primary art practice has been in book form since 1980 and spans many media, from offset and digital printing to sculptural and site-specific installation. His bookworks can be found in the collections of The Museum of Modern Art, New York; Victoria & Albert Museum, London; and Yale University Art Gallery, among others. His work is shown internationally (Sao Paulo, Brazil; Melbourne, Australia; Baku, Azerbaijan) as well as closer to home (Hallwalls, Buffalo NY; Everson Museum, Syracuse NY; Memorial Art Gallery, Rochester NY). His teaching and lecturing itinerary is varied and eclectic, carrying the banner of artists books to Australia, New Zealand, Korea, Mexico, and South America. He recently concluded 16 years of teaching in the College of Art and Design at Rochester Institute of Technology.

All images courtesy of the instructor.

In order to best serve our community near and far, many of our online classes are pay-what-you-can. While each class has a suggested price, we wish to make our educational programming as economically accessible as possible as well as to make sure our students feel fulfilled in their creative processes outside of the studio. The amount you choose to pay goes directly toward our instructors and toward creating scholarship opportunities for the future. There is a required minimum payment of $5 for this class. If you cannot afford to meet this minimum, please email education@centerforbookarts.org.

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