Bookbinding and Beyond

Still in its original 1806 building, the Portico Library celebrates both the historic and the contemporary culture of Manchester, welcoming the public, researchers and members to its unique 19th-century book collection and 21st-century events and exhibitions.

The Portico Library

The art of bookbinding and how it becomes an art of belonging through natural materials, the environment and symbols.

With Louisa Boyd, a Cheshire-based multidisciplinary artist who works with paint, print and sculptureLouisa trained in Embroidery (BA (Hons) from MMU), making sculptures using sewn bookbinding structures as her final outcomes. Her artistic career since has seen her working with painting, print and sculpture, but her continued interest in the tradition of bookbinding has been integral to developing her portfolio. Between 2010 and 2014 Louisa undertook training from members of the Society of Bookbinders to develop a series of artists books with her prints. The influence of this period of study can still be seen in Louisa’s artwork now which uses many bookbinding materials, processes and tools within it: sewn structures, the use of on-lays, the delights of the Japanese screw punch, different ways to cover a book etc. She will talk about the different ideas behind her work, sharing some of her early artist books as well as more recent artwork and gallery pieces that utilise bookbinding techniques: paintings that use foils and finishing tools, sculptures honed with bone folders, and sculptural and 2d pieces that contain marbling. Her work centres around the persistent human desire to belong with the natural world. She considers environment and how we navigate place in her pieces. Her work features celestial symbols, sacred geometry, natural landmarks and map-like imagery to describe a sense of belonging.This is the fourth talk in a series of four celebrating the founding of the Society of Bookbinders in Manchester in 1974.(In partnership with the Society of Bookbinders, North West and North Wales Region: founded in Manchester in 1974 and celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2024)

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