Paper marbling.

On July 28, WNYBAC presents a full day of bookmaking presentations, seminars, workshops, and exhibits

To make perfectly clear the printing process’s basic methodology, the Western New York Book Arts Center folks will demonstrate the basic idea next Saturday, Jlu 28, using a one-and-a-half-ton steamroller.

The demonstartion is part of the day-long Buffalo Book Fest, from 10am to 5pm, at the WNYBAC facility (and on the street outside) at 468 Washington Street, around the block from Lafayette Square.

The event is free and open to the public, and will feature, in addition to the steamroller printing demo, hands-on demonstrations on bookbinding by veteran bookmaker (and author of the book on bookmaking, entitled How to Make Books) Esther K. Smith; on letterpress printing by Chris Fritton and Caitlin Caldwell; on papermaking by Peter Sowiski; on marbled papermaking by Rich Kegler; and on calligraphy by Roycroft artist Linda Meyer. There will also be a special session by noted Toronto book artist Brian Maloney, and one by Kate Parzych, on “sculptural” bookmaking. And a block away at the Buffalo and Erie County Public Library there will be two kids workshops on simple bookmaking techniques given by Meagan Carr, one from 10am to noon, another from 3pm to 5pm.

The hands-on demos at the WNYBAC will be “a little less than a workshop, but more than just a demonstration,” according to program director Khrista Richardson. She said in most cases participants will be taking away something they’ve produced. All supplies will be furnished by the Book Arts Center. And no prior experience in any of the bookmaking functions or techniques necessary.

And you can buy stuff at the event. A dozen or so vendors will be peddling their wares, including local graphic artists group Hero Design; ’zine artist Dan Varenka, offering his entertaining and informative EAT Zine, which is all about food; Gooseflesh Designs, by Courtney Brent, who makes purses out of old book covers, among other novel apparel ideas; and many other craft and handiwork vendors. (Not to mention lots of beautiful, usually handmade, hand-printed, items the Book Arts Center has on sale all the time.)

The steamroller printing will be done from woodcuts made by four local woodcut artists, Michael Beitz, Adele Henderson, Barbara Rowe, and Hye Young Shin. The steamroller prints will be on cloth. Maybe you’ll get to take one home.