The Morgan Art of Papermaking Conservatory Announces Fall Workshop Schedule

The Morgan Art of Papermaking Conservatory & Educational Foundation in Cleveland, OH is proud to announce more fall and winter workshops than ever before. With a dozen workshops to choose from, there's something for everyone.

Please visit http://morganconservatory.org/events/category/workshops to find out more or to register for a workshop or call (216) 361-9255.

Fall/Winter Workshops at the Morgan Conservatory

Introduction to Pulp Painting with Anna Tararova
Saturday, November 7th, 2015 from 10am–4pm

In this workshop students will learn to paint with pulp using many thin layers of finely beaten cotton fiber. Workshop participants will have the opportunity to pulp paint with multiple stencils, as well as using one stencil reductively. Overlapping and mixing pigmented fiber will create atmospheric, watercolor-like papers, which can be used for printing, drawing or bookbinding.

The Magic Box with Betsy Begue
Saturday, November 7th, 2015 from 10am–4pm

A combination of bookbinding and French cartonnage techniques will be used to construct a multi-compartmented box base from book board. A lid will be added that opens in two opposite directions, thus exposing different interior compartments. This advanced box structure is intriguing to look at and requires repetition of many basic box-making skills. It is an excellent project for experienced and novice box-makers alike.

Papermaking with Native Milkweed with Aimee Lee
Saturday, November 21st–Sunday, November 22nd, 2015 from 10am–4pm

In this brand-new course, students will be taught how to identify, harvest and fully process native milkweed plants in the Morgan’s urban garden. After steaming, stripping, cooking and beating these long, silky stem fibers, students will set up vats to make paper of 100% milkweed and variants that include abaca and other strong, buffer fibers. This is an ideal experience for those who already have milkweed in their gardens or access to abundant plants, enjoy working hard with their hands and bodies and are interested in making paper directly from plants.

Basics of Western Calligraphy with the Broad-Edge Pen with Martha Ericson
Saturday, December 5th–Sunday, December 6th, 2015 from 10am–4pm

Using the graceful, italic forms of the European Renaissance as a model, students will explore how the broad-edge pen created the building blocks of Western type and cursive writing traditions. Those who have already worked with calligraphic tools can use this workshop as a brush up and diagnostic clinic and beginners will be given the skills to begin practicing the craft.

Introduction to Letterpress on the Vandercook with Radha Pandey
Saturday, December 5th–Sunday, December 6th, 2015 from 10am–4pm

In this workshop, students will learn about typesetting, composition, proofing, lockup, inking and cleanup in the letterpress studio. Participants will design and print a limited edition of personalized postcards on the Vandercook SP15 and No. 4 proof presses. They will have access to the extensive collection of movable metal and wood type and image blocks available for use in the Morgan’s print studio.

Pleats on Pleats: Folding Origami Corrugations with James Peake
Saturday, January 9th, 2016 from 10am–4pm

Delve into the world of origami corrugations! This abstract and somewhat improvisational approach to paper folding yields beautiful, faceted arrays whose beauty stems from the interplay of light and shadow on the surface of the paper. Students will learn a particular folding technique that employs a system of recursive and reflective pleating, yielding interesting and often stunning paper sculptures. Artists may also find ways to apply corrugation folding to other media, such as bookmaking, printing, and photography.

Paste Paper with Kerri Harding
Saturday, January 16th, 2016 from 10am–4pm

In this introduction to paste paper, workshop participants will use acrylic paints suspended in paste to make decorated papers. Both historic and contemporary techniques will be explored and students will have ample time to produce beautiful papers to be used for bookbinding, box-making, giftwrap paper, collage or stationery. This low-cost, low-tech method of paper decoration can easily be done at home.

The Piano Hinge Book with Clare Murray Adams
Saturday, January 23rd, 2016 from 10am–4pm

The Piano Hinge book structure is a combination of a concertina spine with signatures sewn into it and a reinforced hinge. The hinge spans the entire spine and when the pin that holds the front and back covers together is removed, an illustration or image is revealed. Participants will create a book with blank pages that can be filled in later, while concentrating in class on making the hinge structure with its hidden and surprising concertina.

Long Stitch, Link Stitch with Fran Kovac
Saturday, January 30th, 2016 from 10am–4pm

A medieval binding comes into the 21st century to create a beautiful, soft-cover journal with a leather reinforced spine and a simple closure. There are many variations of this basic binding technique, but all are ideal for travel journals and small sketch books. The woven spine adds strength and protects the sewing threads, so your journal will last a lifetime. No bookbinding experience is required for this workshop.

The Miniature Book with Aimee Lee
Saturday, February 6th, 2016 from 10am–4pm

With one sheet of fine handmade paper from the Morgan, at least one miniature book with a matching slipcase can be produced. In this workshop, students will have the opportunity to learn how to bridle single sheets together for an elegant, exposed spine binding. With the same paper, a 3-piece paper slipcase will be constructed to house the miniature book (or books!). At the scale of a matchbox, one sheet will be enough to construct multiple books, though there is an abundance of paper at the Morgan to consider when multiplying or enlarging these versatile structures.

Natural Dyes on Paper with Aimee Lee
Saturday, February 13th, 2016 from 10am–4pm

Throughout human history, plant material has been a source not only of food, shelter, and clothing, but brilliant and subtle color. In this class, students will have the opportunity to learn the particularities of how handmade paper accepts dyes from plants cultivated in the Morgan garden (dahlias and marigolds) or used in kitchens (onions and pomegranates). Through tests of various papers and natural dyes in combination with mordants and binders, workshop participants will leave with a range of colored papers that are ideal for books, prints, fiber applications and more.

The Tunnel Book with Cris Takacs
Saturday, February 20th, 2016 from 10am–4pm

Participants will learn how to make a tunnel book which will be able to stand by itself through the use of a paper engineered slide. This structure is most useful in exhibition display. Students will begin by constructing a model from pre-cut pieces, then they will use their skill and imagination to make their own unique tunnel book.