Book arts Round Table

The Book Arts Roundtable was founded in 2000 by artist Karen McDermott as a place where artists interested in making books, beginning bookbinders, and anyone who loved books and paper could gather and share their work. Over the past several decades, BAR has exhibited annually with BOOKED – first at The Pierro Gallery at The Baird in South Orange, where BAR also held its meetings and workshops, in 2019, “BAR: Past and Present” at The George Segal Gallery (Montclair State University), and in 2020, BOOKED 16 at The Gaelen Gallery (JCC MetroWest).

In 2019, The Baird began a huge renovation, and BAR lost both its “home” and the use of the Pierro Gallery. Currently, BAR has a new home and partnership with Madison’s Museum of Early Trades & Crafts, and we hope to entice a whole new group of artists and book lovers to the Book Arts Roundtable. The Museum of Early Trades & Crafts has been wonderfully welcoming and offers BAR a new place to flourish.

Membership is open to anyone who can’t resist the feel of paper, the wonder of books and excitement of creativity, runs from September to September. The annual fee is $30. Members are entitled to participate in all exhibitions, projects, workshops, collaboratives, book swaps, and meetings, and will find a generous sharing of ideas, materials, and techniques. The BAR’s Coordinator is Chris Schorr, a longtime Madison resident and lover of the METC. Further information about the Book Arts Roundtable and membership is available at https://www.bookartsroundtable.com.

All of us are looking forward to working closely with the Museum of Early Trades & Crafts, to integrating our skills and interests with the museum’s, and to offering BAR workshops and demonstrations to a wider community.