Two fun workshops are scheduled for December and January at The Carnegie Center. Fittingly, since the Center is a department of the New Albany-Floyd County Public Library, these workshops are all about books. (Fun facts: Indiana is home to more Carnegie Libraries than any other state. The Carnegie Center is housed in the building that served as New Albany’s Carnegie Library from 1904-1969.)
Local artist, educator, and Outreach Programs Coordinator for the Louisville Visual Art Association, Ehren Reed, will lead the two workshops, one for adults and one for teens.
Saturday, December 27, from noon to 4:00 p.m., Reed offers the adult workshop, “Exploring Altered Books.” Reed wants participants to be spontaneous with this session on book art, where books will merge with other materials. Participants are invited to bring their own materials, such as photographs, special paper or other notions, to incorporate into their projects. Books and other materials will be provided at the workshop.
“… we will repurpose old books using a variety of techniques - slicing, stitching, painting, collaging and more to transform these treasures into unexpected works of art. … The resulting artworks will range from found poetry to art journals to sculptural objects, using a variety of tools and techniques, as well as found objects and other ephemera,” explains Reed.
Saturday, January 3, from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m., Reed offers the teen workshop, “Secret Keepers: Create Your Own Hide-Away Book.” Participants will create their own unique book with a secret compartment for treasures and keepsakes. “We will use specialized tools and techniques to create a top-secret hiding place and will explore a variety of materials to decorate, alter, and adorn your book, turning it into a one-of-a-kind work of art,” Reed says.
Both workshops are completely free, but space is limited and you must register. The registration deadline for the December 27th workshop is Monday, December 22, at noon. The deadline for the January 3rd workshop is Monday, December 29, at noon. Register by calling 812-944-7336 or emailing dthomas@carnegiecenter.org.
Photos: The Carnegie Center and Ehren Reed
