introduction

Over the last two decades, there have been a number of essays and, ironically, books—that predict the demise of traditional books in the wake of digital media. Defining the term “book” loosely, as a vehicle for visual or verbal content that is organized into “sections,” this intensive ten‐day workshop will challenge overly simplistic, even fatalistic, ideas about the demise of physical books by stressing instead the ways novel renditions of physical and digital and hybrid “books” carry meaning. The objective is to encourage participants to explore unconventional forms that books may take and to create an artwork/designed object that challenges ideas of what books can be.

The 10-day intensive workshop will be organized by Leslie Atzmon and Ryan Molloy, and led by Edwin Jager and Danielle Aubert. While the instructors will guide the direction of and lead discussions at the workshop, participants will be asked to contribute their particular knowledge and skill sets and contribute to the topic through presentations of their ideas and their creative work or research. The workshop is open to students, educators, and professionals from all disciplines.

The Open Book workshop runs from July 27 through August 05, 2012.

The cost of the workshop is now $425.00 (students who want credit pay tuition + $260.00).

The application deadline for the workshop has been extended to May 25th, 2012. Participants can download the application here

This workshop is an offshoot of the “Open Book” experimental book exhibition that was held in Eastern Michigan University’s University Gallery from April 3 to June 15, 2010. http://openbookexhibit.com.

Support for this workshop has been provided by the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) Art Works grant, Eastern Michigan University, and Eastern Michigan University's Women in Philanthropy. This workshop is also in partnership with AIGA Detroit and AIGA Toledo.