Presentation Album

 Registration is closed for this event

July 27th, 2019 9:30 AM

  • Instructor: John Demerritt
  • Workshop Type: Binding
  • Workshop Status: Closed
  • Workshop Start: July 27th, 2019 9:30 AM
  • Workshop End: July 27th, 2019 5:30 PM
  • Sessions: 1

The Presentation Album was developed as an answer to a question: how to create a simple album which can house photographs in an elegant embossed page without swelling the book. It’s a great class for artists and photographers who want to display their work in a beautiful, hand-made book.

The album is very handsome, with pages made from quality cardstock. Each page has an impressed panel to house the photographs, made using an ingenious technique which is far simpler than you could imagine. The finished panels resemble the impression of an etching plate. The pages are hinged together on the inside with thick paper strips, and a small amount of adhesive is all that’s needed to hold it all together—no need for sewing at all! The album has cloth joints for strength and an attractive cloth cover, and like the Ideal Sketchbook, opens beautifully flat.

This is Dominic and Michael’s favorite album, and as an added bonus, students will learn how they can eliminate one of the steps and create a concertina instead, ideal for constructing an album suitable for display.


Materials to Bring: Scalpel — #4 handle, #25 blades (available from Havels: https://www.havels.com/surgical-blades).

Optional and available at SFCB for student use during workshop: Bone folder, metal ruler, dividers.

Workshop Fee (includes $50 materials fee): $215.00

Date & Time: Saturday, July 27, 2019 :: 9:30am-5:30pm

Location: 375 Rhode Island St, San Francisco, CA 94103

Note: Please read over the SFCB Registration Policies before signing up for a class

REGISTRATION WILL CLOSE 3 DAYS PRIOR TO THE START DATE OF THIS WORKSHOP.


About the Instructor | John DeMerritt

John DeMerritt has been binding professionally since 1986, beginning his career at the bindery of Klaus Roetzscher in San Francisco, and several years later, moving on to Taurus Bookbindery in Berkeley.  A lot of research, workshops, conference attending and advice from colleagues has filled in some of the cracks of John's vocational education. 

In 1995, DeMerritt started his own bookbinding enterprise operated out of a small workshop in Emeryville, California, across the Bay Bridge from San Francisco. 

Generally, the editions he works on are small and on the custom end of the spectrum. John doesn't usually work on editions larger than 100. He also produces a number of custom one-off projects and has recently started fabricating objects that have nothing to do with books or boxes at all, except for the materials and techniques employed. John's shop and studio process provide a flexible approach to custom projects and the ability to complete complex jobs efficiently.

When not cranking out products, John sometimes endeavors to produce his own projects. He makes books, architectural models and likes to work with his wife, Nora, on books together. 


Past Student Reviews:

“So friendly and easy-going while also really taking care that we all learned everything well. I wish he taught there more.”

“John is so knowledgeable about the history and current practice of bookbinding, such a good teacher, and extremely fun to spend the day with. He brought an array of examples of the binding we learned; it was useful to see it used a myriad of paper weights and book dimensions.”

“John is a fabulous teacher, very clear, full of side tips and techniques. So knowledgeable and willing to share everything.”

“In addition to teaching us the structure, John passed on much useful information on binding in general, tools and materials.”

“John is a wonderful teacher. Along with instruction on the form of this particular book, I also learned a great deal about materials and techniques, which John took time to explain and expound upon. John's body knowledge is a terrific thing to witness; his handling of materials, both the ease and skill, was inspiring. I hope the Center will offer an edition class with John in the future.”

375 Rhode Island St
San Francisco, CA 94103-5133
United States