I was thrilled to lead a “Box of Fireworks” bookmaking workshop at the Northridge Branch Library on May 17th, 2025 in honor of Springtime, Community, and the magic of folded and glued repeated forms! I learned this bookmaking structure from the British artist Paul Johnson, at the Long Beach Museum of Art, and was excited to pass it on to our participants at the program!
Paul Johnson is a book artist and teacher in the United Kingdom. He is best known as a pop-up and movable book artist and for his work as a teacher of book art and children’s literacy. Johnson, the founder of the Book Art Project, an initiative that teaches writing to children through book making, has made books with over 200,000 children and over 25,000 teachers worldwide.
Attended by participants of all ages including families, I was thrilled to see the explosively colorful and exciting projects our participants created, and their joy in working in community.
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I am an artist-in-residence at the Northridge Branch Library, conducting bookmaking workshops and events for the local community and library patronage from February through May 31, 2025, on selected Wednesday afternoons, 3:30-5:00PM, and Saturdays 11:00am – 12:30PM.
This Neighborhood Engagment Artist Residency is supported by the wonderful City of Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs!