Art Intensive: Zhen Xian Bao Bookmaking

Class Description

Explore the folds and intriguing mechanisms of Zhen Xian Bao (Chinese Thread Book) making! Riverworks Art Intensives are in-depth workshops held on the first Sunday of the month led by a teaching artist for an advanced creative experience. In this Riverworks Art Intensive, we’ll be exploring the folds and mechanisms of a Zhen Xian Bao, (or Chinese Thread Book) in this bookmaking workshop. Initial origami folds open to create pockets, and are in turn the cover for more pockets, which once again are the cover for more pockets. It’s a wonderful approach where small secrets lead to bigger secrets, and even bigger secrets! We’ll explore a traditional Chrysanthemum and the Moroccan Purse Top fold, as well as a couple of variations that have popped up in the here and now. Using a technique where the top layers are folded into the lower ones, this book can be built entirely without glue. This gives us the opportunity to explore papers and colors while building. Finally, we’ll cover our book, and you can hand paint to embellish inside and out, making each one of these treasures truly unique. This beautiful book mechanism has a wonderful history of storing thread, keepsakes and necessities for its owner. Come explore this functional art form where art meets engineering and tradition bleeds into present exploration.