Join Daniel Essig in a hands-on workshop that explores the process of creating and filling a uniquely styled hand-bound book using the dynamic mineral, mica.

Dates:
Jul 22, 2024 - Jul 26, 2024

Levels: Beginner, Intermediate,
Workshop Fee: $1550 (Includes materials)
Workshop Duration: 1-week (Monday-Friday)
Workshop Location: On-campus
Class Size: 8

Altered mica book - by Daniel Essig

This workshop will explore the process of creating and filling a hand bound book.

Utilizing a binding that has withstood the test of time with its elegance, flexibility, and strength, we will first bind a book of fine papers and ridged translucent mica sheets.  We will then work back into the pages, constructing niches, alcoves, and secret spaces to house and protect treasures, images, and words. 

Altered mica book - by Daniel Essig

Altered mica book - by Daniel Essig

Participants will learn to work with mica which is a general term for a group of silicate minerals whose outstanding physical characteristic is that individual mica crystals can easily be split into extremely thin elastic plates. This characteristic is described as perfect basal cleavage.

Altered mica book - by Daniel Essig

We will use both the natural and manmade forms of this material becoming familiar with the ins and outs of mica’s unique characteristics. Through the use of mica, the Coptic binding, found objects, and materials, we will push our book structures to sculptural forms.

Students should bring:

  • Thin or lightweight collage materials: decorative and text papers, old photos-paper, tintypes, or ambrotypes (glass), old letters, sheet music, insect wings, leaves, feathers, etc.
  • 3/8” Flexcut palm chisel-single bevel (not a must, but very useful)

All other materials will be provided as part of your tuition.

Altered mica book - by Daniel Essig

Altered mica book - by Daniel Essig

All images copyright Daniel Essig.

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Instructor: Daniel Essig

Daniel Essig was born in St Louis Missouri, and studied at Southern Illinois University, Penland School of Craft, and the University of Iowa.  He maintained a studio at Grovewood Gallery in Asheville NC for 20 years.  He currently continues his full-time studio work in Penland NC. Daniel Essig lectures and offers workshops nationally and internationally at book centers, craft schools, colleges, and artist retreats as well as privately. Daniel has created wooden and sculpture books for over 25 years.  He is a recipient of the North Carolina Artist Fellowship Grant. Daniel exhibits his work nationally and is in numerous private and public collections. His work has been collected by the Smithsonian Institution’s Renwick Gallery, the Mint Museum, the University of California at Santa Cruz McHenry Library, and the Topeka Public Library.