In addition to teaching bookbinding and printmaking at Mills College, Julie Chen provides instruction at various institutions around the country. These sessions are open to all (unless a prerequisite is noted). Julie will be teaching workshops and/or giving slides lectures at the following places in 2008. Please check this space again for additions and/or changes to the schedule.

The Box as Container and Content
June 22-July 4, 2008
Penland School of Crafts
www.penland.org
The potential of the box form as an expressive medium goes far beyond that of simple container. The box, through its design and function, can create an experience of discovery and wonder for the viewer, and can itself become a vital element of content. This class will take the art and craft of boxmaking to a new level of complexity, both technically and conceptually. We will explore the potential of the box form both as housing and as an integral conceptual element in artists’ book projects. Students will learn how to create complex hybrid box structures with drawers, multiple levels, and compartments. We will also look at strategies for incorporating text, image, and object into the box. Because this is a two-week session, students will have the opportunity to work deeply on the development of complex box projects.

Artists’ Books: Ideas, Actions and Transformations
July 7-11, 2008
Garage Annex School for Book Arts
www.garageannexschool.com
The latest installment in Julie Chen’s popular “bookbrain” series focusing on content studies for artists’ books, this workshop will feature innovative ways to jumpstart the creative process. Projects have been designed to help students break out of their normal thought processes and working routines and develop new ways for responding to ongoing personal themes, in-the-moment flashes of inspiration and approaches to tried and true bookmaking media. Students will also have the opportunity to have in-depth discussion about both philosophical and practical issues concerning the design and production of artists’ books.

Emphasis will be placed on the development of a meaningful daily art practice that can be adapted for use outside of the workshop setting. Using innovative contemporary book structures, and various image and text making techniques, students will produce a combination of individual and collaborative works. While at least one project will be finished during the course of the workshop, students will take away a wealth of ideas for future book projects, and a fresh perspective on ways of approaching their studio work.

The Box as Container and Content
August 4-8, 2008
Oregon College of Art and Craft
www.ocac.edu
The potential of the box form as an expressive medium goes far beyond that of simple container. The box, through its design and function, can create an experience of discovery and wonder for the viewer, and can itself become a vital element of content. This 5-day intensive workshop will take the art and craft of boxmaking to a new level of complexity, both technically and conceptually. We will explore the potential of the box form both as housing and as an integral conceptual element in artists’ book projects. Students will learn how to create complex hybrid box structures with drawers, multiple levels, and compartments. We will also look at strategies for incorporating text, image, and object into the box.