First Friday: Books, Meet Their Makers!
This First Friday, explore the intersection between art and science!
Come see a display of artists’ books created by the Guild of Book Workers inspired by the Institute’s collection of historic sample books on textiles, paints, and dyes. These works of art will be on view on the museum’s mezzanine level, along with the Institute’s inspirational sample books on display on the first floor. Members of the Guild will also be on hand at a bookmaking table to show off the tools of their trade and to demonstrate how the magic happens!
Hear from the president of the Guild and Institute curator Jesse Smith, who will kick off the opening of this unique exhibit with a gallery talk at 6pm.
And for all you bookworms: you’re in the right place! Learn about the history of parchment and discover what the materials of books can tell us beyond the words contained within them with handling collection activities in our museum from 5pm to 7pm.
Agenda
4pm
Library Tour (space is limited!)
5pm
First Friday Programming Begins
6pm
Gallery Talk
7pm
Event Concludes
Registration is requested.
Othmer Library Tour
We are now giving public tours of our research library every First Friday! Come upstairs before the event at 4pm to get a behind-the-scenes look at the resources and archives available to all scientifically curious minds. Registration is not required, but space is limited. Learn more here.
About the Guild of Book Workers
The Guild of Book Workers was founded in 1906 to “establish and maintain a feeling of kinship and mutual interest among workers in the several hand book crafts.” Among its early members are well-known artist-craft workers such as bookbinder Edith Diehl and printers and typographers W.A. Dwiggins and Frederic W. Goudy.
Members are committed to sustaining the crafts involved with the production of books while striving to broaden public awareness of handbound books and related arts, stimulating commissions of bindings and book-adjacent work, and advocating for sound principles of book conservation and/or restoration.
About First Fridays
Spark your curiosity while exploring the exhibits after hours! First Fridays bring together a myriad of activities covering everyday science, historical oddities, and everything in between. Grab your friends, and kick off an evening of discovery, surprise, and a little nerdy fun.
First Fridays at the Institute are always free and open to the public. Attendees will receive a 10% discount to National Mechanics restaurant.
Featured image from Indanthren Dyeings on Rayon (Viscose) Yarn, after 1920
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