click to enlarge

Thomas Allen. Fancy, 2006. 20 x 24 inches, chromogenic print. Courtesy Foley Gallery.

Who says pop-up books are for kids? Just check out artist Thomas Allen's sly constructions, crafted from pulp fiction book covers and beautifully photographed to produce images that resonate with adult concerns: eroticism, repression and the enticements of nostalgia's mirage.

Learn how to make your own paper pop-up books Mar. 21 & 22 at a Florida Craftsmen workshop led by book artist Carol Barton. (Registration deadline: Mar. 19.) While pop-up books may be poised to become the next hipster craft du jour, it could be that you just want to make something cool for Little Johnny's next birthday. And that's okay, too.

Workshop info and registration form after the jump.

Don't Miss Out on This Amazing Workshop!

Florida Craftsmen, Inc.

Presents:

Pop-Up Paper Structures by Carol Barton

Space is limited to 20 participants.

Reserve your space soon!

Contact Elizabeth Kozlowski, Galleries Manager, with questions and registration information.

Popular Kinetics By Carol Barton

125.00 for Members, $150.00 for Non-Members

Introduction:

Florida Craftsmen presents

A special kind of creative magic awaits you in this workshop. You will learn the basics of on-the-fold pop-up structures, then progress through a series of more complicated three-dimensional glued constructions. Props, platforms, spirals, V-folds and straddle pop-ups will be covered. Emphasis will be on developing an understanding of the simple mechanics involved in this art of "paper engineering."

A slide show on the history of pop-up and moveable books will be included. This is an ideal class for artists, teachers, graphic designers, and anyone who loves to play with paper. No prerequisite.

Carol Barton is a book artist, curator, and teacher who has published several editions and has organized both local and national shows of artist's books. Her work is exhibited internationally and is in numerous collections including the Library of Congress, the Museum of Modern Art, and the Victoria and Albert Museum in London.

Her published works include:

Beyond the Page

Five Luminous Towers

The Pocket Paper Engineer

and several artists' book editions.

She has taught at elementary, high school, and university levels, as well as conducted adult workshops at art centers across the United States. She is on the faculty at the University of the Arts in Philadelphia, where she teaches courses in bookbinding and book structures.

Her pop-ups were featured in National Geographic Magazine's July, 2005 article, Zip Code 20812: It's Only a Paper Moon. Her most recent book, The Pocket Paper Engineer, is an artist's how-to on paper engineering

Supply List for Basic Pop-Up Class

Supplied by students:

Bone folder tool www.custompaper.com

X-acto knife and blades

Self-healing cutting mat or other cutting surface

Scissors

Metal ruler

Pencil

Right angle triangle

Scotch tape

A few art materials such as markers, colored pencils, collage materials, rubber stamps, etc.

One or two of your favorite pop-up books to show, if you have them

Supplied by Florida Craftsmen:

Patterns

Paper

Supplied by instructor:

Photocopied originals

Slide show

Sample books and other examples

Workshop Registration Form

Name:

Mailing Address:

City: State: Zip:

Phone:

email:

Registration Fee: $125Mem $150 Non-Mem

Payment Visa MasterCard Amex Discover Check Enclosed

Credit Card # Exp:

Signature: Vcode:

Print and Mail Registration Form and Fees to:

Elizabeth Kozlowski, Galleries Manager

Florida Craftsmen, Inc.

501 Central Ave

St. Petersburg, FL 33701

Registration Deadline: Friday March 19, 2009

For More Information Please call 727.821.7391

Megan Voeller is Creative Loafing’s visual art critic. She teaches at the University of Tampa and The Art Institute of Tampa and blogs at Artsqueeze.com.