Using the history and health of our own bodies, we will create three artists' books each from a different prompt. Through these three projects students will learn to develop autobiographical material into different book structures - the dos à dos, the accordion, and the compound binding.

During the day you will gain an understanding of how the form informs or supports the content. We will manage the pace of the pages and narrative and consider the relationship of the book to the reader- how does the body of the reader interact with the book as it is being read? When we give someone else our story - how does it change in their hands?

In this workshop we will be inspired by the work of Martha Hall. Before coming to the workshop it will be important for you to see I Make Books a documentary about Martha and her work. If you attend the symposium: Tell me What Hurts: Storytelling and the Healing Arts it will be shown there, or you may watch it online.

We will also look at other books from the Maine Women Writers Collection so that we might consider how each artist handles the structure and the materials for the reader’s benefit.

By the end of the day you will be well on your way to making more books on your own.