Ethiopian Wood Book
Italian Style
Dates: June 3 - 9, 2012
Instructor/Leader: Daniel Essig
Cost - $2975
Trip Description
What better way to experience Italy than by creating a wooden book using a local legendary tree. Olive wood is striking, figured with alternating cream and brown markings. The wood is heavy and close-grained, but is surprisingly satisfying and enjoyable to use. And yes, you will include Italian papers in your books.
Wooden Books: Italian style will embrace two cherished materials found within the Orvieto community: marbled paper and olive wood. You will learn the Ethiopian binding style, a 4th century technique and the earliest example of a codex binding. This Ethiopian binding style has withstood the test of time. The elegant sewing structure, combined with wooden covers, opens a wide range of possibilities for both the beginner and the advanced bookbinder.
Think of this: What an an opportunity and privilege to take a workshop in a city founded centuries before the ancient Ethiopian binding style!
Daniel enjoys using wood and teaching with it in books because of its place in book history, and because it is the perfect material for this structure. A local Orvieto woodworker will provide the Olive wood for your book covers. Using simple hand tools, you will drill, shape, cut, sand, and smooth your olive covers. Then, seal the covers with a coating of wax. As time allows, Daniel will share various features he includes in his own bindings which you will find in The Penland Book of Handmade Books.
Part of our workshop adventure will be to explore Orvieto, with carefully chosen destinations and by simply wandering the alleyways and markets. Daniel will teach you the technique of cutting an opening in your wooden cover that can house a treasure you find while exploring the city. You will protect your find with panes of mica nailed and sewn to the Olive wood. You will also visit a shop to buy locally made marbleized paper to be used use in the first book you make on Monday afternoon.
This workshop is open to all levels as long as you have a sense for adventure. After completing the workshop you will have learned several binding techniques to take home and apply to your own work. While this workshop uses wood, all the techniques may be applied to more contemporary materials.
When we talked with Daniel about joining us in Orvieto he said, “I have had the pleasure to teach Wooden Book Workshops throughout the US for nearly twenty years, but this is my first time teaching it abroad. What a perfect place to begin, where I can lead a workshop creating a pair of hand bound books as part of a long and rich craft making history in Orvieto Italy. The Wooden Olive Book we create will become an everlasting heirloom.”
Itinerary
June 3: Arrive Orvieto, welcome dinner
June 4: Introduction to Orvieto Day
Begin the day at a favorite cafe for coffee, a tour of the stunning Cathedral in the heart of town, a look at paper shops, orientation to main streets and piazzas of Orvieto, an olive oil and wine tasting and historical look at Orvieto from her Etruscan beginnings.
In the studio bind a small soft back, marbleized paper covered Coptic book using marbleized paper purchased earlier.
June 5: Learn closures for your book, intro to Olive wood covers, learn to cut a niche/window for found objects. After your studio time enjoy a cooking class learning the art of making pasta, with dinner and wine.
June 6: Introduction to text block (pages), end sheets and
piercing page, closures for wooden book, finish wooden cover and text block prep for sewing.
Tour Etruscan caves and ancient wells.
June 7: Market Day. Visit the food & flower market then sew
your Ethiopian Binding on Olive wood book
See wine making process and enjoy an exquisite wine tasting
off “the rock”
June 8: Sew end band on your book, cover window/niche
with mica and attach leather closure. Show and share with handmade books. Final dinner.
June 9: Depart Orvieto for further adventures!
Details
Cost - $2975. Fee includes six nights double occupancy lodging and basic course materials. Single occupancy available for an additional cost. Six light Continental breakfasts, two wine tastings, vineyard tour, one lunch, cooking class and one dinner included. Travel costs are not included.
Click here for registrations and terms, or contact us by e-mail, phone or writing at the contact information below.
Italian Style
Dates: June 3 - 9, 2012
Instructor/Leader: Daniel Essig
Cost - $2975
Trip Description
What better way to experience Italy than by creating a wooden book using a local legendary tree. Olive wood is striking, figured with alternating cream and brown markings. The wood is heavy and close-grained, but is surprisingly satisfying and enjoyable to use. And yes, you will include Italian papers in your books.
Wooden Books: Italian style will embrace two cherished materials found within the Orvieto community: marbled paper and olive wood. You will learn the Ethiopian binding style, a 4th century technique and the earliest example of a codex binding. This Ethiopian binding style has withstood the test of time. The elegant sewing structure, combined with wooden covers, opens a wide range of possibilities for both the beginner and the advanced bookbinder.
Think of this: What an an opportunity and privilege to take a workshop in a city founded centuries before the ancient Ethiopian binding style!
Daniel enjoys using wood and teaching with it in books because of its place in book history, and because it is the perfect material for this structure. A local Orvieto woodworker will provide the Olive wood for your book covers. Using simple hand tools, you will drill, shape, cut, sand, and smooth your olive covers. Then, seal the covers with a coating of wax. As time allows, Daniel will share various features he includes in his own bindings which you will find in The Penland Book of Handmade Books.
Part of our workshop adventure will be to explore Orvieto, with carefully chosen destinations and by simply wandering the alleyways and markets. Daniel will teach you the technique of cutting an opening in your wooden cover that can house a treasure you find while exploring the city. You will protect your find with panes of mica nailed and sewn to the Olive wood. You will also visit a shop to buy locally made marbleized paper to be used use in the first book you make on Monday afternoon.
This workshop is open to all levels as long as you have a sense for adventure. After completing the workshop you will have learned several binding techniques to take home and apply to your own work. While this workshop uses wood, all the techniques may be applied to more contemporary materials.
When we talked with Daniel about joining us in Orvieto he said, “I have had the pleasure to teach Wooden Book Workshops throughout the US for nearly twenty years, but this is my first time teaching it abroad. What a perfect place to begin, where I can lead a workshop creating a pair of hand bound books as part of a long and rich craft making history in Orvieto Italy. The Wooden Olive Book we create will become an everlasting heirloom.”
Itinerary
June 3: Arrive Orvieto, welcome dinner
June 4: Introduction to Orvieto Day
Begin the day at a favorite cafe for coffee, a tour of the stunning Cathedral in the heart of town, a look at paper shops, orientation to main streets and piazzas of Orvieto, an olive oil and wine tasting and historical look at Orvieto from her Etruscan beginnings.
In the studio bind a small soft back, marbleized paper covered Coptic book using marbleized paper purchased earlier.
June 5: Learn closures for your book, intro to Olive wood covers, learn to cut a niche/window for found objects. After your studio time enjoy a cooking class learning the art of making pasta, with dinner and wine.
June 6: Introduction to text block (pages), end sheets and
piercing page, closures for wooden book, finish wooden cover and text block prep for sewing.
Tour Etruscan caves and ancient wells.
June 7: Market Day. Visit the food & flower market then sew
your Ethiopian Binding on Olive wood book
See wine making process and enjoy an exquisite wine tasting
off “the rock”
June 8: Sew end band on your book, cover window/niche
with mica and attach leather closure. Show and share with handmade books. Final dinner.
June 9: Depart Orvieto for further adventures!
Details
Cost - $2975. Fee includes six nights double occupancy lodging and basic course materials. Single occupancy available for an additional cost. Six light Continental breakfasts, two wine tastings, vineyard tour, one lunch, cooking class and one dinner included. Travel costs are not included.
Click here for registrations and terms, or contact us by e-mail, phone or writing at the contact information below.
Adventures in Italy, 221 Forest Hill St., Morganton, NC 28655, 828.221.2322, info@AdventuresInItaly.net
Copyright © Steiner Studio LLC. All rights reserved.
Copyright © Steiner Studio LLC. All rights reserved.
Meet Daniel
Daniel Essig was born in St Louis Missouri, studied at Southern Illinois University, Penland School and the University of Iowa.
Dan has created wooden and sculptures books for over 20 years. Twelve years ago he moved to Asheville, North Carolina where he has maintained a full time studio at Grovewood Gallery. Daniel lectures and offers workshops at book centers, craft schools, colleges, artist retreats, and teaches privately.
He is a recipient of the North Carolina Artist Fellowship Grant. Daniel exhibits his work nationally and is in numerous private and public collections. Recently his work has been collected by the
~ Smithsonian Renwick Museum,
~ The University of California, San Diego, ~ Mandeville Special Collections Library, ~ The Topeka library. The Penland Book of Handmade Books features many of Dan's sculptural pieces. Visit Dan's web site.
Daniel Essig was born in St Louis Missouri, studied at Southern Illinois University, Penland School and the University of Iowa.
Dan has created wooden and sculptures books for over 20 years. Twelve years ago he moved to Asheville, North Carolina where he has maintained a full time studio at Grovewood Gallery. Daniel lectures and offers workshops at book centers, craft schools, colleges, artist retreats, and teaches privately.
He is a recipient of the North Carolina Artist Fellowship Grant. Daniel exhibits his work nationally and is in numerous private and public collections. Recently his work has been collected by the
~ Smithsonian Renwick Museum,
~ The University of California, San Diego, ~ Mandeville Special Collections Library, ~ The Topeka library. The Penland Book of Handmade Books features many of Dan's sculptural pieces. Visit Dan's web site.
Have a friend or spouse who would like to join you but not this workshop? Check out Discover Orvieto. To explore other trips go to Trips. To learn more visit About Us. View Photos of Orvieto.
Dan with sculptural books
Olive wood book by Dan not yet finished
Binding detail
Our 10th Year!