Book Studio Information

This list of equipment is intended to give you an idea of what the studio is like. It is a general description of equipment, and may change before your session. The equipment used by your class will be determined by your instructor, and will be appropriate to the techniques covered in your class. Students are welcome to bring favorite personal hand tools for use in the studio.

Supplies and Materials
Shared supplies such as adhesives, sewing thread, and papermaking chemicals and pigments are available in the studio and are normally included in your summer tuition. An additional studio fee will be assessed in classes that use a large volume of these supplies or require special materials, such as papermaking fibers. You will be notified in advance, on the student materials list, if a studio fee greater than $50 is expected. During concentration, shared supplies are not included in tuition, therefore each class will be assessed a studio fee based on all shared materials usage. You are responsible for bringing other supplies needed for individual work.

Our school store sells a large selection of bookbinding supplies such as paper, brushes, paints, bone folders, book cloth, needles, etc. Please refer to your instructor's material list for specifics about materials needed for the class. In order to reduce waste, paper towels are NOT provided, so please plan to bring 3-4 cotton towels for your personal use. If you feel the need to use paper towels, please bring enough rolls for the duration of your session.

Toolkits (if applicable)
Toolkits are NOT provided in book arts. Please refer to your instructor's material list for specifics about personal tools needed for the class.

Classroom
The book/paper studio is located in the ground floor of the Northlight Building. The main classroom is equipped with two sinks, a refrigerator for papermaking chemicals, a board sheer, guillotine, gas burners, nipping presses, and student worktables. Two locked cabinets contain small equipment and supplies. Larger papermaking equipment (hydraulic press, Hollander beater, vats, etc.) is stored in an attached screened-in porch. Both the main room and the porch have cement floors and floor drains. The average class size is 11 students.

Student Workspace
Students work at individual worktables either 30 x 60 in. or 25 x 71 in. on padded stools with backs. The lighting in the studio is incandescent. Each worktable is equipped with clamp-on lamps. Fluorescent lighting on the porch permits papermaking into the night.

Storage
Flat files and lockable storage cabinets are available for students use. Each student will be assigned a key at no cost for a cabinet at the beginning of each session if he/she agrees to pay the $25 replacement fee if the key is lost.

Safety Information
A first-aid kit and two fire extinguishers are located in the studio. An eyewash station and a safety shower is available adjacent to the book/paper studio. There is a mandatory safety walk through at the beginning of every class. The walk through is to introduce you to the studio space and to show you the safety equipment. North Carolina Health regulations do not permit Penland to provide safety equipment for shared use, therefore items such as dust masks, respirators, gloves, and aprons are sold in the supply store. You may prefer to bring your own from home. Please refer to your instructor's material list for specifics about safety equipment needed for the class. Flameproof cans are provided to collect hazardous waste, such as rags used with mineral spirits or other solvents. Alcohol is not permitted in the studios. Working in the studios under the influence of alcohol is not permitted. The use of illegal drugs at Penland is prohibited.

The school maintains a comprehensive hazardous waste program and asks that you limit the materials you bring to campus to those classified as non-toxic. The material must be in its original packaging. An environmental fee will be assessed for classes generating hazardous waste. In order to limit the hazardous waste generated in the studios, we cannot allow students to bring toxic materials outside of the class supply list into studios.

Shared Studio Equipment
Shared air space/ music: Each class should discuss the playing of music and reach a consensus on the time of day, the volume, and the type of music to be played. Tolerance and consideration are expected from everyone.

If you wish to use equipment in other studios on campus during your session, you must work with the instructor, studio assistant or coordinator of that studio to arrange access. They will determine if the desired usage is compatible with their class's activities, and if you are able to work safely and independently with the equipment.

Session Schedule
Each session starts with an all school meeting Sunday evening at 5 p.m. followed by dinner in the Pines. Classes start Sunday at 8:30 p.m. Classes end and studio clean-up takes place the day before your session ends. The last day of each session is reserved for farewells and an all school exhibition of work created during your time at Penland.

Everyone must participate in studio cleanup; if you must leave early, please ask the studio assistant to assign you clean-up tasks you can accomplish before your departure.

If you have questions contact:
Studio Coordinator: Lisa Blackburn
Voicemail: 828-765-2359 x51
E-mail Address: northlight@penland.org

revised 4.08

Penland Books & Paper Studio Information