Bookbinding I

Event Info

This in-person workshop takes place at CBA on Saturday and Sunday, February 1st and 2nd 2024 from 11:00AM – 5:00PM Eastern Time.

• Saturday, February 1, 11:00 pm-5:00 pm
• Sunday,February 2, 11:00 pm-5:00 pm

Please Note: Registration for this workshop closes on January 19th, at 11:59 pm.

About the Workshop:

This in-person class at Center for Book Arts is taught by instructor Sarah Smith. In this introductory class you will learn the basic use of bookbinding tools and materials, along with bookbinding structures.

Students will learn about non-adhesive structures, bindings for single sheets, and other bindings that can be made with little specialized equipment.  Accordions, pamphlets, drum leaf books, and a variety of softcover bindings will be taught during the course.

This class is ideal for those who wish to learn simple forms for presenting work, or for building fundamental knowledge on bookbinding.

Required Materials:

• Pencil and paper for taking notes
• Please wear closed-toed shoes and clothes that can get stained or dirty (CBA will provide aprons, but the ink used on press can stain)
• If you already own the following please bring them. If not, CBA will have some for purchase or to borrow.
  • Bone folder 
  • Awl 
  • Snap off blade knife 

All other materials will be provided by CBA.

About the Instructor

Sarah Smith (b. 1990) is from a small town in Southeastern New Mexico. She moved to New York to attend Parsons School of Design, where she earned a BFA in Communication Design in 2012.

After graduation, Smith apprenticed at The Center for Book Arts in Manhattan and worked at various fine art print shops throughout New York City. She had the privilege of studying under Aurora De Armendi, Ana Cordeiro, Sarah Nicholls, and Celine Lombardi. These apprenticeships helped her hone her skills in bookmaking and printing.

From 2013 to 2019, Smith worked as a Bookbinder and studio manager for Small Editions in Brooklyn, NY. During her six years at Small Editions, she produced small runs of handmade books, designed books for clients, and developed custom structures for the studio’s publishing program. Her work is included in the collections of The Metropolitan Museum of Art, The Museum of Modern Art, the Walker Art Center, the Whitney Museum of American Art, and The New York Public Library.

In 2019, Smith founded Stock Pile, which is currently based in Saugerties, NY. She specializes in contemporary hand bindings, custom enclosures, experimental artist books, and graphic design.

The Center for Book Arts played a key role in helping Smith establish herself in the book arts community after graduation. In 2016, CBA invited her to teach, and she continues to offer classes there. Additionally, Smith has taught at Printed Matter and Cooper Union.