The simple codex that you will make consists of six page panels, each with a wire built into the spine edge.
The wire in each page panel is trapped against a core board by paper wrapped around the spine edge. The wire is exposed at various points along the spine where thread attaches to it, and binds one panel to the next.
The wire edge structure allows the stiff page panels of this book to open perfectly flat — great for use and display.
Detail showing the integration of core board, wrapping paper, wire, and thread.
The accordion that you will do in the workshop is comprised of four panels, each an equilateral triangle. You will learn how to make page panels with multiple hinge edges.
The accordion is here shown folded into a tetrahedron — the simplest free standing sculptural form.
Synesthesia, Terrance McKenna, published by Granary Books, NYC. Daniel collaborated with Tim Ely and Phil Gallo for this edition. Daniel bound the book in his wire edge style. Here you see spine and front cover details. The sections are sewn to one another by making square knots.
Religio Mathematica, model for an edition by Daniel Kelm. The red book cube is constructed in Daniel's wire edge binding style, and contained in a yew wood enclosure.
Religio Mathematica, model for an edition by Daniel Kelm. The book tells a creation story through the use of color and form. The book can be manipulated into many shapes.
Venus, model on left and finished copper book on right, by Daniel Kelm.
Templum Elementorum, detail, Daniel Kelm. Wire edge binding is used to engineer the pop-up. Wire edge binding is also used to attach the pages at the fore edges.
Daniel collaborated with Tim Ely to create Platonic Versus. In front of and surrounding the box, you can see wire edge accordion pages lying flat and configured as tetrahedrons and an octahedron.
he range of books being produced today by artists is truly remarkable. Some diverge wildly from what we recognize as traditional book form, others play with slight variations. Often this break with tradition requires a reevaluation and restructuring of the traditional structures.
If you’re interested in creating a nontraditional book (e.g., a book with thick pages, or a book that is sculptural), the achievement of your goal may require the use of a material or movement not possible with conventional structures. Wire edge hinging grew out of just such a challenge. This binding configuration utilizes a thin metal wire along the hinging edge of each page. The metal wire is exposed at regular intervals creating knotting stations where thread attaches one page to the next. The result is a binding that opens exceptionally well, and gives you the option of producing unusual shapes.
During the two days we will look at various wire-edge structures useful for books, enclosures, and articulated sculpture. You will produce both a simple codex, and an accordion model that forms a tetrahedron. (The tetrahedron model pictured above was made by a student. You can bring your own decorative paper to the workshop, as she did, to customize your tetrahedron.)
All levels of experience are welcome.
About one month before the workshop, registrants will receive a tool list, directions to the studio, and any other pertinent logistical information via email. Workshop hours are usually from 9:30 until about 5:00. Please do not buy an airplane ticket or make any other non-refundable payment before checking with us to be sure the workshop for which you have registered has sufficient enrollment.
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