This is an in-person workshop. All students and the instructor must show proof of vaccination against Covid-19 and agree to wear a mask for the duration of the class unless otherwise announced by SFCB. If you choose to complete the registration process you are agreeing to these terms.

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. 

The album is very handsome, with pages made from a good quality card. 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 PVA is all that’s needed to hold it all together — no need for sewing. The album has cloth joints for strength and an attractive cloth cover, and like the Sketchbook, opens beautifully flat.

Time will be allowed for tooling your finished binding with creative lines and circles, using traditional finishing tools and both carbon and colourful metallic foils.

This is Dominic and Michael’s favorite album, and as an added bonus, you can eliminate one of the steps and create a concertina instead, ideal for creating an album suitable for display.

Beginning bookbinders are welcome.

Materials to Bring: 

Scalpel — #4 handle, #25 blades (available from Talas).

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

Workshop Fee (includes materials fee): $350
Scholarships available; click here to apply

Date & Time: Saturday & Sunday, July 23 & 24, 2022 :: 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 | Michael Burke

Michael Burke studied bookbinding with Dominic Riley and paper conservation with Karen Zukor. Michael lives in England, where he teaches bookbinding as well at events across the UK. He is a past chair of the North West and North Wales region of SoB. He has taught for diverse book arts groups in the USA, including Los Angeles, Seattle and Salt Lake City. In recent years he has taught at the Paper and Book Intensive, travelled to São Paulo to teach for the Brazilian group ABER, and in 2011 presented Byzantine binding at the Seminar of the Guild of Bookworkers. Michael researches the structures of ancient and medieval bindings. He is currently studying for a Masters degree in the History of the Book at the University of London.

Past Student Reviews:

“Michael is a good and thoughtful instructor. The instructions are thorough."

“Michael was a very good teacher and my completed project that I was totally happy with was the proof.”

“I would definitely take another class from Michael in the future.”