There were a surprising number of submissions for the 40th Anniversary Exhibition to be hosted by the New England Chapter of the GBW. These covered the spectrum from relatively simple structures, to complex mechanical contrivances, to the more traditional binding styles which dominated in past centuries. However, what they all had in common was a fresh take on established techniques and materials. As a group the submissions stretched my definition of our craft in ways that I had not thought of….and I liked that!

The judging led to spirited discussions and thoughtful inclusions. The quality is high, the passion sincere. The group of items selected gives a firm insight into the breadth of the work being done in our region: creative, singular, clever, to a high technical standard. If much has changed in the past four decades of our Chapter’s existence, it is in our members’ willingness to experiment with new designs, novel techniques, and interesting choices of materials. This exhibit shows that boundaries are meant to be stretched if they are to be rejuvenated by a new generation. It was a pleasure for me to participate in seeing so many items which, without exhibits such as this, would be hidden from a wider audience.

Nancy Leavitt

In the introduction of the 1986 New England Chapter Fall Exhibition catalog, Richard Baker discussed that the traditional worlds of “art and craft are not synonymous; that there is a border between them.” He continues, “the excitement lies at the frontier where art and craft meet.” In our 40th year the New England Chapter of the Guild of Book Workers is made up of both professionals and amateurs. The work you see here is a continuation of the traditional crafts of bookbinding, printing, calligraphy, paper making and decorated papers. What is different is that more practitioners are expressing themselves as individual artists in choosing their book content and reflecting that in the structure and makeup of the book. Herein lie the joys and challenges of working with the book form - to equally match the artistic idea with accomplished craftwork. The root word of tradition is trado, which does not mean looking back, but to carry, carry forward. I enjoyed looking at this work with the other jurors and hope you enjoy it as well.

Jackie Scott

I was honored to serve as a juror for this 40th anniversary exhibition. The Guild, and especially the New England Chapter, has been a hugely important figure in both my professional and personal life, and so I’m happy to be able to give back whenever possible. In the past couple of years, the unique nature of this organization has been brought to light for me as I begin a new career within the world of textile design. The sense of community, respect for craft, and dedication to generously sharing knowledge is something I haven’t experienced anywhere else in the arts world. These qualities are exemplified within this exhibition. I was so impressed by the level of craftsmanship in these pieces, the way many of the bindings push the boundaries of what a book can be, and the creativity demonstrated in the face of the unimaginable challenges we’ve faced in the past year. It is a testament to the community of the NEGBW chapter that members continue to innovate and the artistry continues to rise. I am excited to see what the next 40 years bring for this wonderful organization.