Shawn Sheehy – Movable Magic: The Animating Binding

Workshop Description:

In the 1960’s, Bronx-based Child Guidance Books published a series that exploits a unique mechanical approach to animation: a self-pulling mechanism— integrated into the binding—that causes figures to dance on the page without apparent means. Wouldn’t you like to add this animation strategy to your book artist toolbox? Join paper engineer Shawn Sheehy in building this five-spread workshop model, featuring various applications of this dynamic and versatile mechanism. Lift volumes, create lateral and rotational movement, and more! All you’ll need is a simple set of hand tools and an interest in engaging with paper mechanics. All skill levels welcome. (You’ll be especially well-prepared if you take the “Satisfaction of Movables” first.) See the structure in motion: https://youtu.be/SJUc8Nmpd0A

Materials/equipment to be provided by students:

• X-Acto knife with extra blades
• Bone folder
• Awl
• Binding needle
• Microspatula
• Tweezers
• Scissors
• Ruler
• Cutting mat
• Pencil
• Japanese screw punch (optional)

See Materials Glossary for definitions and images

Materials/equipment to be provided by instructor:

Per student:

• 10 Sheets white cardstock
• 20 Sheets color cardstock
• 6 X 5.625 inch thin Davey board (recycling)
• 12 inch linen thread (25?)
• 6 X 16 inch medium Davey board (1/16 inch)
• 6 X 16 inch 140 lb cover
• 6 X 1.5 inch Tyvek spine liner
• Glue cup w/ lid
• 16 page printed patterns

Per group:

• 8oz PVA
• One roll low-tack painter’s tape
• Three rolls 1/4 inch 415 tape

Instructor Biography:

Shawn Sheehy has been teaching in the book arts since 2001. His broadsides and artist book editions have been collected by such prestigious institutions as Stanford, Carnegie Mellon, University of Chicago, Library of Congress, UCLA, and Harvard. Sheehy’s trade pop-up book Welcome to the Neighborwood (a mass-market version of his artist book) was released in 2015, winning numerous awards. The mass-market version of his artist book Beyond the Sixth Extinction was released through Candlewick in October 2018. He holds an MFA in the Book Arts from Columbia College Chicago.

Website: www.shawnsheehy.com