Movable Magic: The Animating Binding online workshop

Workshop Fee (includes materials fee): $375
Click here to apply for a Windgate scholarship.
 

This is a two session online workshop.

In the 1960’s, Bronx-based Child Guidance Books published a series that exploits a unique mechanical approach to animation: a self-pulling mechanism— integrated into the binding—that causes figures to dance on the page without apparent means. Wouldn’t you like to add this animation strategy to your book artist toolbox?

Join paper engineer Shawn Sheehy in building this six-spread workshop model, featuring various applications of this dynamic and versatile mechanism. Lift volumes, create lateral and rotational movement, and more! All you’ll need is a simple set of hand tools and an interest in engaging with paper mechanics. All skill levels welcome.

See the structure in motion: https://youtu.be/SJUc8Nmpd0A

Apologies, this class is limited to US students only due to kit shipping costs.

Materials to Bring: 

• Kit mailed by instructor

AND

• One cereal/cracker box of 1/32" thick chipboard (a Triscuit box is a good standard)
• Ruler
• Self-healing mat
• X-acto knife
• Awl
• Pencil
• Scissors
• Bone folder (can substitute a butter knife, using the smooth edge)
• PVA (or other strong, white craft glue)
• 1/4" double-stick tape (3M 415 recommended)
• Low-tack masking tape
• Micro spatula
• Tweezers
• (optional) Small brush for glue

Date & Time: Saturday & Sunday, September 7 & 8, 2024 :: 10am-2:30pm Pacific time

Location: Online over Zoom.

SFCB online workshops are recorded; all registered students will have access to the videos for a month after the final class session.

Please read over the SFCB Registration Policies before signing up for a class.

Registration will close at least two weeks prior to the start date of this workshop to allow time for kits to ship.
 

About the Instructor | Shawn Sheehy (he/him)

Shawn Sheehy has been teaching book arts courses and workshops on the national level since 2001. His broadsides and artist book editions have been collected by such prestigious institutions as Stanford, Carnegie Mellon, University of Chicago, Library of Congress, UCLA, and Harvard. His pop-ups have been featured twice in both Hand Papermaking magazine and Vintage magazine. Sheehy's trade pop-up book Welcome to the Neighborwood (a mass-market version of his artist book) was released in 2015, winning numerous awards. The mass-market version of his artist book Beyond the Sixth Extinction was released through Candlewick in October 2018. He holds an MFA in the Book Arts from Columbia College Chicago.

Past Student Reviews:

"Shawn is a phenomenal instructor. Even with such technical material, he was very efficient and effective in teaching via Zoom. His mastery, passion, and teaching style were very inspirational!"

“Had fun being led through pop-up making instead of trying to figure a pop-up out through reading a book; instruction in a workshop includes warnings of accidental diversions and allows for in-the-moment questions and answers.”

“The whole setup was great. The content of the workshop was a good level too - I am a pop-up novice but felt I could manage to follow along quite easily.”

"This was a fantastic experience. Shawn is the best. He is knowledgable and so patient."

“The best best workshop I have taken on Zoom.”