Saturday, June 28; 10am–4pm CT
The stiff-leaf binding is a non-sewn binding technique ideal for assembling printed sheets into a rigid, durable book.
Learn how to assemble and bind prints into a structured book format, resulting in a unique artist's book that blends Arabic typography with traditional craftsmanship.
Explore the stiff-leaf binding structure and its variations, an ideal structure for artists' books, in this in-person workshop. Learn the fundamentals of stiff-leaf binding, including hinge construction, page attachment, and material considerations with a balance of demonstration, hands-on practice, and discussion. Variations such as frames, windows, and layered pages will also be introduced. Participants will create their bindings with time for troubleshooting and group discussion. By the end, participants will complete a sample book and gain the skills to adapt the structure for their projects.
Islam Aly (he/him, Cairo Egypt) is a book artist and a lecturer in Design at Helwan University's College of Art Education. He holds a Bachelor's and a Master's degree in Art Education from Helwan University and earned a Ph.D. in Teaching and Learning with a concentration in Art Education from the University of Iowa.
Furthering his passion for book arts, Islam pursued an MFA in Book Arts at the University of Iowa, where he started his approach to integrating historical bookbinding techniques with contemporary digital technologies. His work operates at the intersection of culture, technology, and aesthetics, exploring how traditional bookbinding methods can be reimagined within modern book art practices. Through his artistic practice, he pushes the boundaries of the medium, blending historical craftsmanship with digital innovation to create thought-provoking artist books.
Level: Beginner. No prior bookbinding experience is required, but basic hand skills are helpful. Some tasks involve precise cutting and folding.
Certificate: 6 hours, Category A, B, or C
Pricing
$180/participant (10% discount for MCBA members) + $35 materials fee
$90 for BIPOC/Financial scholarship participants (10% discount for MCBA members) + $35 materials fee
MCBA offers two scholarship types for workshops—Financial Hardship Scholarships and BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color) Scholarships—to honor equity and increase access and artistic opportunities for those who have historically been underrepresented in the book arts. For individuals to whom these scholarships do not apply, register at the Adult rate and, if you are able, consider making a donation when registering to support MCBA’s efforts to make scholarships available.
