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Wow wowie wowza wows wowie wow!

in short, 2019 has been A YEAR.

We can’t say it enough, thank you for following along on this crazy ride with us. Through rigorous building renovations, an entirely new visual identity, new team members, a sold out fundraiser, (& more!) 2019 has definitely been a wild one. Among these many changes, Book Arts also served over 3,000 students and countless workshop attendees, held over 250 workshops and field trips, and provided development opportunities for over 70 teaching artists. Learn more here!

All of these changes, growth & accomplishments could not be possible without the support of our members, volunteers, & donors. We can’t thank you enough. 

Take a look to see some of the highlights of what we’ve been up to this year! 

JANUARY: NEW YEAR, NEW US.

FEBRUARY: SHORT, BUT MIGHTY

  • Nicole, Rosemary & Mel begin StoryGrowing WNY, a six month communications capacity building program presented by the Health Foundation for Western & Central New York and The John R. Oishei Foundation.

StoryGrowing WNY is designed to help non-profits harness the power of storytelling and nurture our organization’s growth through effective communications training. Working directly with a variety of local marketing communications professionals, we were able to learn to cultivate stories and effectively employ storytelling strategies to further the mission of Book Arts, and to guide us through the many changes ahead!

MARCH: BOOKS ARE FRIENDS, BUT ALSO FOOD.

  • Book Arts hosts Printing Industries Alliance Vendor Fair & Industry Mixer
  • Eat your words! Book Arts hosts the 11th annual Edible Book Festival, a family-friendly event that takes place on or around April Fool’s Day (April 1st) throughout the world. This event invites participants to create edible books that are exhibited, documented, and then of course…consumed. Yum.

APRIL: RISE OF THE GADZOOKIANS.

  • A bittersweet farewell to our apprentices, Zach & Branwyn!
  • We host our first Gadzooks field trip at Abaca Press! Members learned from print experts Peter Sowiski & Barbara Rowe while taking a behind the scenes tour of their studio, even printing a tshirt!
  • Printing Partners round 2 begins at Journeys End Refugee Services

MAY THE MAKEOVER BEGIN.

  • Tons (literally) of equipment are moved to make room for…..OUR NEW FLOOR!
  • Kate MacNeil, Book Arts new Studio Manager & Curator, leads Journeys End Printing Partners “Neighborly” screen print workshop
  • The Book Arts Gallery hosts its first session of the “Visual Mindfulness Meditation” series

JUNE: THE BIG ONE.

  • Book Arts has a photoshoot, gifted by the ever so lovely Erica of City Lights Studio Read more!
  • WNYBAC becomes Book Arts, oh and we have a fresh new logo thanks to Telesco Creative Group. Read more of the story!
  • We welcome new & returning members at a membership drive at Community Beer Works
  • Nicole transitions as Executive Director
  • Nicole, Rosemary, & Mel graduate from the StoryGrowing WNY program!

JULY

  • We close down the street and host the 7th BookFest!
  • The 12th Members’ Show goes up in the gallery featuring the talents of over 35 Book Arts members PLUS and we celebrate former Executive Director Gail Nicholson’s Retirement!
  • Led by Teaching Artist Ruby, ArtWorks Begins! For 6 weeks, high school students apprentice with professional artists to gain arts and employment skills, as well as college readiness. Working in teams with a Master Teaching Artist, apprentices produce high-quality art and gain valuable experiences transferable to any future career.
  • Library Printing Partners begins, led by Teaching Artist Sweety Kabra!

AUGUST

  • The Reading Park of the Buffalo & Erie County Public Library opens! The site of many book arts workshops for summers to come!

  • Brand new walls go up in the Gallery!

SEPTEMBER: NEW LOOK, SAME URL.

  • Our brand new website is LIVE! Learn more about its inception here.
  • Book Arts Hosts “Writers for Migrant Justice” presented by Peach Mag
  • Our lower-level Studio Gallery opens with “Summer, Westside” an exhibition by Book Arts Teaching Artist Katy Sloan
  • We meet Andre Reed at Community Beer Works “Read with Reed” fundraiser #sports
  • The Gadzooks go on a second field trip to Quality Bindery
  • Printing Partners begins at Locust Street
  • Canal Connections begins

OCTOBER

  • The makeover continues! The mainfloor gets a revamp by moving library shelves front & center, and a fresh coat of paint to reflect our brand.

  • The screenprint studio glows up with a brand new commercial sink and washout station.

NOVEMBER

  • We host our largest fundraiser, the 5th Liquor & Letterpress. So large it was *sold out*

  • Art goers enjoy free letterpress & book arts demonstations at Albright Knox’s First Friday

DECEMBER: AND THAT’S A WRAP….UNTIL NEXT YEAR.

  • BRAND. NEW. WINDOWS…..let’s say it again, new windows.

  • 45+ Vendors and hundreds of shoppers attend & participate in workshops at the 11th Annual Last Minute Panic Marketplace

  • Among many other wonderful organizations, we receive ASI’s Give for Greatness Grant

All of these changes, growth and organizational milestones could not be possible without your support. Thank you for helping us to preserve the book arts and share it with our communities. We can’t wait to see where 2020 will take us!

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