Fine Press Book Association

This will definitely be the best-looking issue ever produced by the North American branch of the FPBA. And it will be the largest. After months of working with words, words, words, it’s great to finally see these 28 articles come to life in spreads with their vivid illustrations and handsome titles. A big thanks to our amazing designer, Andrew Steeves of Gaspereau Press, for all his elegant design solutions. More news and a sneak peek to come. . . .

— Paul Razzell

What to Humphrey Bogart, The Titanic, Christopher Isherwood, Robert Oppenheimer, the Marx Brothers, and printer Ward Ritchie have in common? The answer: they all played a role in the life of Hollywood star turned book artist Gloria Stuart, who will be celebrating her 100th birthday this July 4th. Two celebrations are planned:

On July 22nd, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences—the very Academy who nominated Gloria for best supporting actress for her role in James Cameron’s The Titanic—is throwing a party for Gloria. For more information, please contact the Academy at 310 247 3000 or via their online form.

The other celebration will take place at ACE Gallery in Beverly Hills on July 4th at 3:30 p.m. There, Gloria will greet the public and display her books, paintings, art furniture, and bonsai, the last of which is part of the permanent collection at the LA County Arboretum. All are welcome but you must RSVP to imprenta.glorias@gmail.com.

For those who can’t make either party, don’t worry: the fall 2010 issue of Parenthesis (#19) will feature an illustrated profile of Gloria and her Imprenta Glorias press. Since all of Gloria’s books are published in extremely limited editions, this profile will offer a rare glimpse into the vivid artist’s books Gloria has produced over the past 28 years. Join the FPBA now to receive your subscription to Parenthesis: The Journal of the Fine Press Book Association.

— Paul Razzell

John Randle just announced that the Whittington Press has a new website that includes lots of information on upcoming titles as well as a brief history of the press. What else is new at Whittington? Lost and Found: Rachel Reckitt’s wood-engravings for The Mill on the Floss, A Vision of Order: 35 linocuts by Andrew Anderson (for more on printing A Vision of Order, there’s a blog put together by the printer, Tom Mayo – it’s low on content now, so maybe bookmark it and check back later), and of course another issue of Matrix on the way.

Although it’s not new, I have to mention a book that I noticed while looking around the new site. Portmeiron was published in January 2009, but I hadn’t heard anything about it. If the one image from it (reproduced here) is any indication, Portmeiron is a pretty stunning book!

– John Russell

The FPBA announces that its annual meeting will be held Sunday morning, October 3, during Oak Knoll Fest in New Castle, Delaware. In addition to a brief business meeting, the featured speaker will be Russell Maret, talking on “Visionaries & Fanatics: Thoughts on Type Design and the Private Press.” He will discuss his recent investigations (in Rome) into letter design and historical recurrence and how they relate to private press publishing in the early 20th and 21st centuries.

This scene is from his Open Studio at the end of his sojourn in Rome.
–Bob McCamant

The San Francisco Public Library is hosting an exhibition of the Hand Bookbinders of California, with the opening reception scheduled for Tuesday, June 8th at 6:00pm. Here are the details courtesy of the press release (courtesy of Asa Peavy):

The Hand Bookbinders of California celebrate their 38th Annual Members’ Exhibition at the San Francisco Public Library with an opening reception on Tuesday, June 8 at 6:00 p.m., in the Skylight Gallery, Sixth Floor, Main Library. The exhibition continues through August 15.

The show features the work of professional bookbinders, amateurs, and students of the art and craft of hand bookbinding. Examples range from finely gold-tooled leather bindings to avant-garde artists’ books, with innovative designs from the traditional to the very contemporary.

Special tours of the show will be given by members of the Hand Bookbinders of California at 11:00 a.m. on four Thursdays: June 24, July 8, July 22, and August 12. The public is invited to meet in the Skylight Gallery on the Sixth Floor for a lively description of the binder’s work.

–John Russell