Meghan Clark will use her week-long residency with the Fredericton Arts Alliance to produce book covers using unconventional materials.
Fredericton Arts Alliance
After rediscovering her love of bookbinding, Meghan Clark will use her week-long residency with the Fredericton Arts Alliance to produce book covers using unconventional materials.
Clark’s residency, Aug. 29 to Sept. 4, will provide her the opportunity to take a break from her full-time job and concentrate on her art and creative abilities. She often dedicates her time to marketing and graphic design.
Clark enjoys creating art in her own time and selling her hand-bound books at nearby art galleries including the Andrew and Laura McCain Gallery.
Book binding is an obsession that arose in her one free elective class at the Nova Scotia College of Art and Design (NSCAD). Although she had earlier experience with bookbinding, Clark said that she “learned the rules and the tools at NSCAD.”
“I remember making handmade journals and fake books for school projects,” she said.
For more than five years, Clark has been making book covers. She says at one point in her life she lost the passion for it. Her life’s circumstances have led her to return to the art. She purchased a punch needle and felt inspired to use it to create a book cover. She remembered the joy that creating covers brought her.
Clark is very interested in exploring different media and trying new techniques for her residency project. She intends to make books this week using multiple materials, media, and recycled items.
“I want to create books that push the boundaries of conventional binding by using the skills I’ve learnt,” she said.
For her pop-up event, Sept. 3, Clark hopes to display the books she has made so far, along with the three new books she plans to do. This event will be held at the Fredericton Public Library from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. She will take the opportunity to work on some nature inspired projects.
“I hope people will come see me, whether they are curious about me or have a project that they want advice on.”
The Fredericton Arts Alliance is grateful for the support of the City of Fredericton and Downtown Fredericton in making these residencies possible.
