MUSEUM LAUNCHES NEW BOOK ARTS PATCH DAY FOR GIRLS
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According to the Girls Scout website, Cadette level girls are to, among other things, “Try out new experiences (and learn new skills) as she earns badges.” The Book Artist Badge is just one of many badges that the Cadette level girls can earn.
Our goal with the Book Arts Patch Day for Girls is to provide the new experiences and skills necessary for the girls to earn the badge. They also learn the art of making books from both a historical perspective and how modern artists are interpreting the book as a work of art and something very creative.
During the day’s activities, we focus on the five steps a Cadette has to explore in order to complete the projects needed to earn the badge. The five steps include:
1) Explore the art of bookbinding
2) Get familiar with the insides of a book
3) Try out book artist techniques
4) Focus on function
5) Focus on style
Within each of these steps there are three projects, of which the Cadette must complete one project for each step. Once the girls have finished their day at the Museum, they return home with the knowledge needed to complete these projects and earn their Book Arts Badge.
For example, in step two, GET FAMILIAR WITH THE INSIDES OF A BOOK, the girls need to become familiar with various parts of the book including the spine, gutter, signature, and more. And, in step four, FOCUS ON FUNCTION, they need to identify traditional bookbinding tools such as a bone folder, awl, adhesives, and others. What better way to learn these terms and identify this equipment than with a hands-on experience at the Museum. We are able to exploit the many presses and other equipment we have acquired over the years to educate the girls and open up their minds to the many and varied careers available to them in the printing and graphics industry.
The Book Arts Patch Day runs from 9 am to 3 pm, as teams of girls rotate between six stations covering every aspect of the book arts including: letterpress printing, paper making, bookbinding, and illustration design. Each participant makes their own sheets of paper, makes a variety of books using various binding methods, and screen-prints their own book covers and t-shirts, and much more. The day is filled with lots of hands-on activities and detailed presentations given by industry experts and educators.
The day is open for all girls 10 and older, whether they are a Girl Scout, American Heritage Girl, sister of a Girl Scout, a sister of a Boy Scout, mom, or just interested in a great experience. The Book Arts Patch Day for Girls is fast on its way to becoming a favorite activity destination for Girl Scouts and girls in Southern California as much as the Boy Scout Merit Badge Day.
