Speakeasy: Artists in Conversation

DOORS & BAR OPEN: 1:30PM

EVENT STARTS: 2:00PM

EVENT FINISHES: 5:00PM

Join us for an informal series of talks and workshops at The Straw Yard.

Speakeasy is programmed by Berwick creatives Samantha Cary and Chris Adriaanse, who are inviting artists with practices that resonate with them to share insights about their career, art and creative practice.

We are delighted to be hosting Ruth McCann at the Straw Yard for our second workshop.

Ruth will be doing a bookbinding workshop on Japanese stab binding. Japanese stab binding is a traditional bookbinding method that uses an exposed, decorative stitch along one edge to hold loose sheets of paper together without any glue. It is a highly adaptable way to combine single sheets of paper, including combining mixed-media paper, cotton rag, or loose offcuts, to create an individualised book.

During the workshop, we will discuss tools, materials and suppliers. We will first select paper and card to tear down to size. Starting with the simple four-hole design and then progressing on to the Noble binding, tortoise shell and hemp leaf. 

Once you know how to sew one you should be able to use the same process to sew any design!

All welcome.

About Ruth McCann

Ruth McCann has been a bookbinder for over 25 years and during that time she has always taught bookbinding in some capacity. 

Ruth worked in Hubert’s of Cork hand bindery and then Book Works of London before setting up her own studio. She currently teaches hand bookbinding at Northern Print, Newcastle Art Centre and ArtisOn. 

She has a degree in Fine Art Printmaking from Northumbria and a Masters in Fine Art: Book Art from The University of the Arts London. Ruth’s book art is in the permanent collection at the Tate and her fine binding has won a Judge’s Award in Designer Bookbinders competition.

She loves working with children and works full time in a SEND school in the art department.

Find out more about her work by following @ruthmccannbookbinder

About Speakeasy

Speakeasy is supported by Create Berwick through funding from Northumberland County Council and North East Mayoral Strategic Authority.

Our publicity materials are created through a series of micro-commissions. This event poster was created by Lewanna Stewart (@lewannamountain).