cbl-Newsletter 2/2023

South of Gotthard

Many of you know and are familiar with our location and course rooms on Via Collegio 17 in Ascona. The alcove, all the nooks and crannies, the comfortable work spaces which allow indiviual work but also work in group with kindred spirits. There is a atmosphere of tranquility which allows focus and concentration on the course work but also a lively exchange with fellow course participants. As soon as you leave the building and step into the alley outside, you dive straight into the southern atmosphere of historic Ascona. It’s only a couple of steps down to the lake and this scenic location creates the feeling of being in a holiday spot.

North of Gotthard

We would also like to draw your attention to the newly equiped course rooms at the Zurich School of Art; https://sfgz.ch/. Under the lead of Moena Zeller and Jorge Ruiz the new room was designed and furnished. They are easily accessible and centrally located at Ausstellungsstrasse 104 in Zurich.

Embedded in a vibrant school atmosphere that offers pre- and basic courses, the centro del bel libro propose ideas for making specialised expertise and knowledge available. Here most courses are laid out as evening or weekend courses. If an evening or weekend course is more suitable to your needs and you have the opportunity to make use of a creative „time out” in the evening hours or at the weekend, then our Zurich location is the perfect place for you.

Let yourself be inspired and tempted by looking through our course program: https://www.cbl-ascona.ch/en/programm

We would like to draw your attention to one course by Moena Zeller and two particular courses by Sol Rebora, which will take place in Ascona in April and May:

From a conservation point of view, an optimal book repair or restoration technique is sought and applied step by step for each individual object. The approach is an important process and often requires different perspectives. We will work on techniques such as rebacking with new material on brittle or loose book spines, board reattaching, reinforcement and restoration of worn or missing corners and board edges, using alternative materials to leather and getting to know the "facing"- technique. This course will also address the dyeing of paper, cloth and leather, the use of adhesives and the handling and care of books.
The emphasis is on the practical conservation procedures, testing and interchange about various techniques amongst ourselves. Damaged cloth, paper or leather books of any kind can be brought along. Book orders that are still to be realized or are stagnating and require inputs are also welcome in the course.

This is a flexible and reversible technique with a non adhesive exposed sewing, supported by a “spine” made of fabric and Japanese paper. In a second stage the structure can be transformed by a secondary cover using a hollow divided into parts as a link element for the cover and the bookblock. This technique was designed in 2017 for the Tomorrow’s Past group exhibition: CODEX 2019. It is applicable to antiquarian, contemporary or artist books.
The Can-Can Technique will be made by using cloth for the spine, decorated Japanese paper for the covers. The aim is to discover different possibilities to decorate, transform, texture and giving a personal character to the materials. Among other things, this will be used to detect how conservation and design concepts connect and work together. A printed text block will be used for this technique which is included in the course fee.

Text block: «El Centauro», Maurice de Guérin:
Concept and Design: Sandra Abousleiman, Humberto Aste, Maria Antoniet Martinez Pastur
Illustrations: Lorena Pradal
Paper: Natural Evolution Ivory 120g/m2
Print: Indigo Printing Technology
Fonts: Filosofía OT by Zuzanna Licko and Bodoni Ornaments

Reversible stubs + Hollow + Texture over leather
This technique proposes the construction of a semi- flexible binding with a leather “clip” to create an articulation between pieces that conform design and function on the cover.
For the construction of the textbook, we are going to apply reversible stubs. This technique is going to have a combination of steps that belongs to the laced in boards structure with a link stitch sewing and a hollow back as the technical connection. The Clip technique results in a fine and aesthetic binding with a contemporary style.
A printed text block will be used for this technique, which is included in the course fee.

Text block: «El Centauro», Maurice de Guérin
Concept and Design: Sandra Abousleiman, Humberto Aste, Maria Antonieta Martinez Pastur
Illustrations: Lorena Pradal
Paper: Natural Evolution Ivory 120g/m2
Print: Indigo Printing Technology
Fonts: Filosofía OT by Zuzanna Licko and Bodoni Ornaments

Administration:
centro del bel libro ascona
Viale St. Franscini 30
CH-6500 Bellinzona – Switzerland

School:
centro del bel libro ascona
Via Collegio 17
CH-6612 Ascona – Switzerland

www.cbl-ascona.ch
+41 (0) 91 825 11 62
info@cbl-ascona.ch