InterArts Book and Paper Faculty members Miriam Schaer, Melissa Potter, and Clif Meador are heading to the Republic of Georgia this winter to lead an experimental felt making and artists’ book exchange project. As part of the planning for the trip, they held a one-day felt-making and bookbinding workshop in the CBPA studios, to test out their scripts and written instruction documentation. The test pilot included all of the materials and tools that will accompany the final project in Georgia, and also incorporated the use of simultaneous translation.

In addition to the practical hands-on workshop section, lectures on conceptual theory, the history of social and feminist movements, and activist strategies will also be an integral part of the overall exchange project. Since both the felt and book work are time intensive, it was important to assess the teaching methodology being used, and run through the lecture and demonstration portions in real time.

Students who participated in the test pilot completed between 3 and 5 flat felt pieces, and took some of them to the next step by incorporating embellishments, embroidery, and bookbinding techniques to the new materials they made.

Participants in the workshop included MFA students Hannah King, Alex Borgen, Jillian Bruschera, Krista Franklin, visiting instructor for the first year core program Maggie Puckett, and ArtsLink fellow Margarita Dorovska.

The exchange project is scheduled to take place in the Republic of Georgia during the
2013 J-Session. Upon their return the faculty will present a panel discussion on the exchange, and possible future collaborations with various artists groups from the region and Columbia students.