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The Art of the Fold: How to Make Innovative Books and Paper Structures
"The influential artist Hedi Kyle and renowned architecture graduate Ulla Warchol shows you how to create their unique designs using folding techniques. From creating flag books and fishbones, to blizzards and nesting boxes, you'll gain an invaluable insight into the work of two skilled artists with this fun read! With the help of their thorough instructions and simple illustrations, you'll be on your way to becoming a pro paper crafter in no time at all" – Sew magazine
"A wonderful insight into the work of a truly skilled artist" – PaperCrafter
The renowned and influential book artist Hedi Kyle shows you step–by–step how to create her unique designs using folding techniques in The Art of the Fold . Bookbinding and paper craft projects include flag books, blizzard books, the fishbone fold, and nesting boxes.
Written by the doyenne of artists' books, Hedi Kyle, The Art of the Fold is a wonderful insight into the work of a truly skilled artist. Hedi will show you how to bind a book and fold paper to create over 35 of her cut–fold book designs. The book is beautifully illustrated with Hedi's finished works of art.
An excerpt from the
'I can still remember the thrill I experienced when my first folded book structure emerged from my fingers – how eager I was to explore its possibilities and to share it with whoever was interested. The Flag Book, as I now call it, is a simple accordion and has interlocking pages oriented in opposite directions. Little did I know that this simple structure would have legs and be the catalyst for the next forty–plus years of thinking about and making books.
The common perception of the book today is fairly a series of pages organized around a spine and protected on either side by two covers. This format allows for easy access, storage and retrieval of information. Yet what happens when the book is stripped away of centuries of preconceptions and is allowed to reveal something playfulness, utility, invention? Expanding the notion of the book is what the structures in the following chapters of The Art of the Fold attempt to do. Exploring its tactile, sculptural form, primarily through folding methods, the book as a structural object is celebrated while content is considered in a new and unconventional way.
My range in this medium has always been broad. In part this is due to my introduction to the world of bookbinding and some chance encounters. In the 1970s in New York City, the art and craft of hand bookbinding and papermaking were experiencing an unprecedented revival. I was fortunate to arrive in the city at just this moment. With an art–school background and an impulse to make things, I was naturally drawn to pursue this new opportunity. The Center for Book Arts, the famous forerunner of so many centers yet to come, was located in a small storefront just down the street from where I lived on the Lower East Side of Manhattan. Under the direction of founder Richard Minsky, it had a radical to push concept, materials, printing and making of artist books in a new direction. When Richard dared me to teach at the Center one evening a week, I was hooked.
My career as a book conservator and a book artist has now spanned over 45 years. As head conservator at the American Philosophical Society in Philadelphia, I've had the opportunity to handle some of the rarest volumes and manuscripts in the world. I have also dealt with decrepit books, torn maps and countless curiosities discovered in stacks and archives. All were endless sources for ideas and provided a springboard for a departure from tradition. Leading book–arts workshops around the world and a 25 year tenure teaching in the graduate program for Book Arts and Printmaking at the University of the Arts in Philadelphia have shown me, in retrospect, that the more I taught, the more it propelled me to experiment and develop my ideas. The many students I have had over the years were always my biggest inspiration, and they continue to be so.' – Hedi Kyle, Pine Hill, NY Sept 2017
"A wonderful insight into the work of a truly skilled artist" – PaperCrafter
The renowned and influential book artist Hedi Kyle shows you step–by–step how to create her unique designs using folding techniques in The Art of the Fold . Bookbinding and paper craft projects include flag books, blizzard books, the fishbone fold, and nesting boxes.
Written by the doyenne of artists' books, Hedi Kyle, The Art of the Fold is a wonderful insight into the work of a truly skilled artist. Hedi will show you how to bind a book and fold paper to create over 35 of her cut–fold book designs. The book is beautifully illustrated with Hedi's finished works of art.
An excerpt from the
'I can still remember the thrill I experienced when my first folded book structure emerged from my fingers – how eager I was to explore its possibilities and to share it with whoever was interested. The Flag Book, as I now call it, is a simple accordion and has interlocking pages oriented in opposite directions. Little did I know that this simple structure would have legs and be the catalyst for the next forty–plus years of thinking about and making books.
The common perception of the book today is fairly a series of pages organized around a spine and protected on either side by two covers. This format allows for easy access, storage and retrieval of information. Yet what happens when the book is stripped away of centuries of preconceptions and is allowed to reveal something playfulness, utility, invention? Expanding the notion of the book is what the structures in the following chapters of The Art of the Fold attempt to do. Exploring its tactile, sculptural form, primarily through folding methods, the book as a structural object is celebrated while content is considered in a new and unconventional way.
My range in this medium has always been broad. In part this is due to my introduction to the world of bookbinding and some chance encounters. In the 1970s in New York City, the art and craft of hand bookbinding and papermaking were experiencing an unprecedented revival. I was fortunate to arrive in the city at just this moment. With an art–school background and an impulse to make things, I was naturally drawn to pursue this new opportunity. The Center for Book Arts, the famous forerunner of so many centers yet to come, was located in a small storefront just down the street from where I lived on the Lower East Side of Manhattan. Under the direction of founder Richard Minsky, it had a radical to push concept, materials, printing and making of artist books in a new direction. When Richard dared me to teach at the Center one evening a week, I was hooked.
My career as a book conservator and a book artist has now spanned over 45 years. As head conservator at the American Philosophical Society in Philadelphia, I've had the opportunity to handle some of the rarest volumes and manuscripts in the world. I have also dealt with decrepit books, torn maps and countless curiosities discovered in stacks and archives. All were endless sources for ideas and provided a springboard for a departure from tradition. Leading book–arts workshops around the world and a 25 year tenure teaching in the graduate program for Book Arts and Printmaking at the University of the Arts in Philadelphia have shown me, in retrospect, that the more I taught, the more it propelled me to experiment and develop my ideas. The many students I have had over the years were always my biggest inspiration, and they continue to be so.' – Hedi Kyle, Pine Hill, NY Sept 2017
192 pages, Hardcover
Published October 2, 2018
12 people are currently reading
241 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
February 7, 2021
如果我學生時代這本書就已出版，我的畢業製作展示時看起來就會聰明點（遠目）。
October 7, 2020
Casting about for a book that could help me make folded books, I first purchased Unique Handmade Books and Creating Handmade Books by Alisa Golden (don't bother). I was complaining on FB about how the instructions were hard to follow and the illustrations so small as to be worthless and one of my FB pals suggested this book. So I bought it and I'm glad I did.
The chapters are set up to build on one another so that you learn something in a simple form first and then how to make it more complex should you so desire. The illustrations are given plenty of room and well done, and there are also step by step instructions *directly under the pertinent illustration.* Measurements are given in inches and metrics. Finished pieces are given full page photos.
If you are looking for a way to make some interesting insert books for junk journals, or stand alones with interesting folds and pockets, I recommend starting with this book.
The chapters are set up to build on one another so that you learn something in a simple form first and then how to make it more complex should you so desire. The illustrations are given plenty of room and well done, and there are also step by step instructions *directly under the pertinent illustration.* Measurements are given in inches and metrics. Finished pieces are given full page photos.
If you are looking for a way to make some interesting insert books for junk journals, or stand alones with interesting folds and pockets, I recommend starting with this book.
February 11, 2019
Some of the folds could be used with shibori
January 26, 2024
I can see why this book is well regarded in the bookbinding world. Hedi Kyle starts with the basic fold and progresses to variations of the folded structures, one sheet books, . The steps and photos are descriptive. Most interestingly, she might incorporate 2 bookbinding concepts into one project, like in the piano hinge accordian book. Frankly, I could have figured it out myself but it saves so much time to have the steps. Requires large sheets of paper 7.7 x 32" of larger. Crown book, Blizzard Pocket, Fishbone fold projects seemed interesting. My only quibble is that book projects assumes you can get a 32" piece of paper - it would be good if there are suggestions of when you can paste together separate sheets of paper to get the long sheet of paper.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 26, 2020
Beautiful layout and photography, clear instructions, and all done to elegant perfection. This is what a how-to art book should look and read. Wow. I appreciate the authors' expertise and aesthetics, but they have years under their belts. I can only aspire, but I have definitely been inspired.
August 26, 2022
Very clear instructions, diagrams and illustrations for a variety of folded and artist books. Covering accordions, blizzards, albums and enclosures. Use of adhesives kept to the bare minimum. Suitable for different levels, beginners to experts. A must in this field.
March 26, 2019
A brilliant - and gorgeous - book, with wonderful handmade book and booklet projects. I will be buying my own copy soon!
July 6, 2019
One to buy. Glad the library has it but I want my own copy. Very beautiful projects.
Read
August 26, 2019Checked out from library after a pen pal sent me a letter in one of the little book folded styles, but I didn't find any designs that I wanted to make that didn't require paper on a roll.
Want to read
January 6, 2020736.98 K985A
May 17, 2020
Lovely book, loads of information easy to follow with lots of diagrams, and very nicely put together.
November 17, 2023
I did read this cover to cover but think of it as a recipe book for making books - I’ll be returning to this over and over again. I appreciate the info on paper weights at the beginning. The photos are beautiful and helpful.
After practicing accordion folds with a bunch of paper out of the recycle bin I’ve got a really beautiful book made with beautiful paper.
After practicing accordion folds with a bunch of paper out of the recycle bin I’ve got a really beautiful book made with beautiful paper.
Read
December 23, 2023The folding in this book is way too precise for my hands, but the objects are so lovely it is worth perusing.
April 20, 2023
What? This was the first day I added a shelf for Origami?
Borrowed this book from the Seattle Public Library system, and expect to borrow again.
Directions for Blizzards, Crown Book, a variety of accordion extensions, piano hinge accordion,
pocket accordion with integrated cover, and more.
Borrowed this book from the Seattle Public Library system, and expect to borrow again.
Directions for Blizzards, Crown Book, a variety of accordion extensions, piano hinge accordion,
pocket accordion with integrated cover, and more.
October 15, 2019
Have been perusing the pages of this
wonderful book for a few weeks and have tried out some simple folds, definitely plan on doing more.
This one is on my wish list for future purchase.
wonderful book for a few weeks and have tried out some simple folds, definitely plan on doing more.
This one is on my wish list for future purchase.
Read
February 1, 2019736.98 K994 2018
March 7, 2019
Amazing compilation of Hedi Kyle's work. Can't wait to get started making some new book art. Excellent instructions with starting dimensions for materials.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews