Interest area: art

Coptic Stitch Bookbinding

Experience Level: Beginners & people needing a refresher into the process

Sat 15 Jun, 2:30pm – 5pm

Duration: The course runs for one day (2:30pm – 5:00pm)

Learn how to create a handmade book from scratch and bind it using Coptic stitching.

Coptic stitch bookbinding (also called Coptic bookbinding) is a way of binding pages of a book together without the use of glue or staples. Like other types of hand binding, its origins are ancient. A Coptic stitch is a type of stitch used in hand bookbinding to attach the pages and covers together. It’s similar to a chain stitch used in embroidery, in that a chain of knots is formed. The stitch forms the outer spine of the book and many beautiful book designs can be made from Coptic stitching.

In this short and informative workshop, you’ll learn all about Coptic stitch bookbinding. You’ll be taught about bookbinding materials, terminology, and how to assemble the various parts of your book – including paper folding, signatures, hardcovers and bindings. You’ll end the session with at least one handmade, hand bound book to take home with you.

What’s Included?

All materials you will use are included in the cost of the course, but you are welcome to bring along your own if you choose. Their studios are environmentally friendly where possible and use greener methods of screen printing, such as water-based acrylic inks. Completing this course will act as an Induction to book into their Screen Printing Studio should you wish to.

Do I need to prepare anything beforehand?

Feel free to bring paper, drawings, printed photos or anything you’d like to include as pages in your books.

Tickets: £30

Japanese Stab Stitch Bookbinding

Create a set of beautiful hand bound books using 3 traditional Japanese stitching techniques.

Sat 15 Jun, 11am – 1:30pm

Course Location: Bluecoat Intaglio Print Studio

Experience Level: Beginners & people needing a refresher into the process

Duration: The course runs for one day (11:00am – 1:30pm)

‘Japanese bookbinding or ‘Stab Binding’ is an ancient form of bookbinding that is beautiful, easy for beginners and endlessly customisable. The basic Japanese version of stab binding is called Yotsume Toji, which roughly translates to “four holes”. This is because the binding pattern is made using only four holes. There are many other binding patterns that use more holes to create their intricate stitched designs.’

Japanese binding uses thin, loose leaf paper to create a book. It’s perfect for any paper or crafting offcuts and the finished books make beautiful gifts.

In this short and informative workshop, you will learn all about Japanese bookbinding. Japanese bookbinding utilises beautiful, external stitching and thin handmade paper and covers. You’ll learn all about the materials used in Japanese bookbinding. You’ll learn different ways of stitch binding your books, paper folding and tearing and creating concertina pages for your book. They will teach 3 beginner Japanese stab bindings – The 4 Hole, Noble and Tortoiseshell stitches. You’ll end the session with at least 3 handmade, hand bound books to take home with you.

What’s Included?

All materials you will use are included in the cost of the course, but you are welcome to bring along your own if you choose. Their studios are environmentally friendly where possible and use greener methods of screen printing, such as water-based acrylic inks. Completing this course will act as an Induction to book into their Screen Printing Studio should you wish to.

Do I need to prepare anything beforehand?

Feel free to bring paper, drawings, printed photos or anything you’d like to include as pages in your books.

Tickets: £30

Warrington Art Group: Belonging

‘Belonging’ is a new exhibition created by the members of Warrington Art Group, a community of artists, would-be artists and all those interested in art. The members of the group have created an eclectic selection of painting, drawings and photographs and the work includes local landmarks as well as scenes from further afield.

Visitors can also find out how to join the Warrington Art Group as well as other local groups and classes. Engaging with local art groups doesn’t just enrich your cultural experience—it nourishes your mind and spirit. Studies show that involvement in the arts can alleviate stress, enhance cognitive function, and foster a sense of belonging.

Exhibiting artists: Mike Allen, Barbara Alldred, Gill Bate, Pat Brown, Ian Brunt, Wendy Brunt, Tom Callow, Pik Chui Beatrix Choi, Ron Davies, Kathy Guest, Anna Head, Mauren Hill-Willis, Denis Holder, Lyn Morris, Aleks Partington, Norman Partington, David Percival, Roger Rumbold, Lester Scott, Chris Stacey, Stephanie Wong, Victoria Wood and Sui Ming Yeung

WAF Open Exhibition 2024

The Open exhibition returns for 2024 as part of the Warrington Arts Festival. This year’s exhibition will be curated by Warrington artist Sarah Harris.

Full details on how to enter and this year’s guest judges will be announced in the coming weeks.

The Worst Record Covers in the World

The Worst Record Covers in the World is a hilarious collection of over 650 dreadful record sleeves Steve Goldman has collected.

In Steve’s own words:

“To get into my collection the covers have to be unintentionally funny. I want a record where the designers have tried to do something that’s gone horribly wrong. It can’t just be a performer in bad clothes or with an ugly face – though there are a couple that have got in that were just irresistible. And it all has to be good clean family fun – I don’t collect any record covers that are disgusting, gory, violent, sexist, homophobic, transphobic or racist.”

You can hear what the records sound like – the weird, the funny, and occasionally, the good. They’ll hold a vote for your favourite Worst Record Covers. There are kids’ activities too – match the record to a part of its cover, and dress up as a sleeve. And there’s a book of the exhibition too.

Family workshop with Emmer Winder (art...

Head along and join local artist Emmer Winder to screen print your own t-shirt celebrating the Not Too Tame and Shakespeare North Playhouse co-production of Twelfth Night, landing at Shakespeare North in June.

This is a free 1-hour workshop, and you will take away your FREE t-shirt after the session.

The Andie Airfix Exhibition

A retrospective celebrating the work of legendary graphic designer Andie Airfix who grew up in Warrington.

In a career lasting over 40 years, Andie designed a host of iconic album covers for the likes of Def Leppard, The Thompson Twins, Paul McCartney, The Rolling Stones, Metallica, Dead or Alive and Led Zeppelin.

Tate Liverpool: Sun Tunnels

Sun Tunnels 1978 is artist Nancy Holt’s best known work and this 26-minute film documents the making of her large-scale sculptural installation in the Utah desert.

The film shows the construction of four huge concrete tunnels that are positioned to align with the sunrise and sunset of the summer and winter solstices. It features footage of these sculptures as they frame the sun and capture and cast the sunlight into different patterns. The work brings together themes of art, architecture and ecology.

Fred Monks Display

A display of ties designed by local artist Fred Monks (1912-1982).

Fred Monks started his artistic career as a designer at Crosfields soap factory in Warrington before becoming a cartoonist for the Guardian newspapers and then a watercolourist known for his spontaneous local paintings from nature. But unknown to all but a few, Monks also had a second prolific career as a graphic artist including his designs for novelty ties.

On show in the museum are a selection of the luminous ties Monks designed for sale during the early 1950s. These examples have been treated with zinc sulphide-based paints and would glow in the dark after having been held up to the light for a few seconds.

Also on show in the library are a further selection of ties Monks designed for sale during the early 1950s, including some commemorating Queen Elizabeth II’s coronation and cowboy hero Roy Rogers.

Convenience Gallery: The Town is the G...

Convenience Gallery are excited to announce the second launch of The Town is the Gallery Programme launching three new exhibitions across the town of Birkenhead at two different locations.

This is continuing on at the Old M&S, in the Convenience Pop Up, but also at historic Birkenhead Priory. With new exhibitions and installations from artists; Leo Fitzmaurice, Kate Bigley and Camille Smithwick.

At the launch event on Saturday 11th May, they will be doing a walk around of Camille Smithwicks work from 2pm till 4:30pm at Birkenhead priory, before walking over to the town center pop-up, where from 5pm till late will be previewing the new works from Leo Fitzmaurice and Kate Bigley. The Popup will be soundtracked by Queenway collective with a Convenience pop-up bar open across the night.

At Birkenhead Priory (Priory St, Birkenhead CH41 5JH), you will be able to see from 2pm – 4:30pm a preview of:

Camille Smithwick’s: ‘All paths lead to the river’

At the Convenience Pop Up in the old M&S (39 Borough Pavement CH41 2YE), from 5pm – 10pm you will next be able to see:

‘FIT IT’ by Leo Fitzmauirce

‘In a past line’ by Kate Bigley.

Either Join them at 2pm at Birkenhead Priory, or at 5pm at the Convenience Pop Up at the Old M&S for these new shows from brilliant artists. Or join them for both.

Afterwards all works will be available to view during venue operation hours.

For Birkenhead Priory these are:

Wednesday-Friday 1pm-5pm, Saturday & Sunday 10am-5pm

Convenience Gallery Pop Up: Old M&S:

Wednesday – Saturday, 10:30am – 4pm

Event

Further details about each exhibition can be found on their website and social media.