Carp-e Diem: Fish Skin Processing and Use in Bookbinding

Fish skin is a strong, versatile, and inexpensive material that can be used in many ways for artistic creation, particularly in bookbinding. In this workshop, participants will learn the basics of preparing and processing fish skin into beautiful leather or parchment, different tanning techniques, and how these processes can translate to bookbinding, textiles, or other fine art applications. Participants will come away from this workshop with at least three in-process skins (two in solution, one pre-tanned staked on foam core) and a case bound book with a fish skin spine. Participants are welcome to bring in their own catch or book they want to work with!

Full Description:

Fish skin is a strong, versatile, and inexpensive material that can be used in many ways for artistic creation, particularly in bookbinding. In this workshop participants will learn:

-the basics of preparing and processing fish skin into beautiful leather or parchment

-different tanning techniques to achieve different results

-its potential to be utilized as a material in bookbinding, textiles, or other sofishticated fine art applications.

You will come away from this workshop with at least three in-process skins (two in solution, one pre-tanned that you will stake out on foam core) and a case bound book with a fish skin spine. Participants are also welcomed to bring in their own catch or book you want to work with!

Instructor Bio:

Andrew R. Mancuso (°1987, Rochester, NY United States) is an artist who mainly works in book arts and photography. Andrew loves exploring new materials and how to use them in bookbinding, he currently lives in Cleveland, OH and works as the Preservation Officer for the Kelvin Smith Library at Case Western Reserve University.

Student Supply List:

Large cutting board

2-3+ different scraping utensils of differing sizes and sharpness (dull knife, sharp-ish knife, metal/teflon/wood spoon or other)