“
You could have pages, but they didn’t have to be flat…
and they didn’t have to behave like normal books.
”
—Julie Chen
Craft in the Classroom
Investigate
With the class, view Julie Chen’s books
at flyingfishpress.com and discuss the
quote above. What makes a book meaningful or special, rather than simply
a vehicle for text, such as a magazine
or newspaper? How important is the
inclusion of text? What constitutes a
book? Hear the artist talk about her
work at www.kqed.org/arts/programs/
spark/profile.jsp?essid=4520.
Find other examples of the artists’
books and discuss how they push the
boundaries of a book, yet still maintain
its essence.
Tom Killion’s work is influenced
by traditional Japanese printmaking in
the style of Hokusai and Hiroshige and
can be viewed at www.tomkillion.com.
Have students learn more about Japanese prints and compare and contrast
Killion’s work with those of Hokusai
and Hiroshige. Consider Hokusai’s
print series Thirty-six Views of Mount
Fuji and Killion’s Twenty-Eight Views
of Mt. Tamalpais and discuss the idea
of a series of prints all on a similar
theme.
Make
After brainstorming possibilities for
an artist book, have students create
their own art books that have personal meaning and go beyond the confines of a traditional book. Remind
students that their work should retain
the characteristics of a book, like
the inclusion of text and a cohesive
theme. Emphasize the importance of
craftsmanship.
For another bookmaking activity,
have students create a series of prints
using simple materials like Styrofoam
and a stylus, that explores the idea
of journey, similar to the theme in
Tom Killion’s book Walls. They may
wish to document an actual journey,
or something more figurative such
as a transition to a new school or
highlights from the past year of their
lives. Bind these together in a traditional book form, like a Coptic stitch
or Japanese Stab binding. Alternative techniques can be found at the
National Museum of Women in the
Arts at www.artbookscreativity.org/
curriculum/ book-instructions.html.
Craft in America is a monthly feature in SchoolArts magazine by Marilyn Stewart,
professor of art education, Kutztown University, Kutztown, PA; and Kathleen Walck,
art educator, Kutztown, PA, for Craft in America, Inc.
Tom Killion printing on an Asbern Proof
Press, 2002. Julie Chen in her studio, 2002.
Photograph by Siblia Savage.
Craft in America: The Series
Craft in America’s nationally broadcast
PBS documentary series seeks to
celebrate craft by honoring the artists
who create it. In three episodes entitled
“Memory,” “Landscape,” and “
Community,” Craft in America television
viewers travel throughout the United
States visiting America’s premier craft
artists in their studios to witness the
creation of handmade objects, and into
the homes, businesses, and public
spaces where functional art is employed
and celebrated. The primary objective
of the series is to convey to a national
audience the breadth and beauty of
handmade objects in our culture.
Tom Killion, Pt. Reyes from Double Point. Spring Sunset, Big Sur, 1990. Santa Cruz from
the Pogonip, 2001.
Ordering the DVD and Companion Book
To order the Craft in America DVD for long-term viewing
and classroom use, or to order the companion book
Craft in America: Celebrating Two Centuries of Artists
and Objects contact PBS Video at 1-800-752-9727, or
www.shoppbs.com/teachers.
Educator Guides
Three Educator Guides accompany
Craft in America. Each guide—Memory,
Landscape, and Community—relates to
and reflects the core ideas, artists, and
art forms presented in the corresponding series episode. Educator Guides are
available at www.pbs.org/teachers.
