Join the Oxy community in a hands-on bookmaking workshop led by faculty members James Ford (English, Black Studies) and Jocelyn Pedersen (Art/Art History, Library) on Thursday, October 22, from 9:30 - 11 a.m. Using this year’s Community Book selection Red at the Bone: A Novel as a guide, participants will work during the virtual workshop to create a handcrafted book. Prior to the event, participants will receive a packet of preprinted pages, a letterpress printed book cover and supplies to bind the book, as well as art materials for adding imagery and text to personalize their copy during the workshop.

This workshop is a joint presentation of Homecoming’s annual Student for a Day event and Occidental’s new Community Book Program. The theme for this year is “Oxy Reads Together: One College, One Book.” Red at the Bone: A Novel by Jacqueline Woodson is President Elam’s personal choice as the first community book. Woodson’s novel follows two black families of different classes whose lives become intertwined when their only children conceive a child together in their teens.

The workshop component of the event is limited to the first 100 registrants, and the registration deadline for these participants is Friday, October 9.

Anyone who is interested in watching the workshop or creating their book using common household materials is welcome.

Zoom information will be emailed to all participants on the morning of October 19. Following the workshop, there is an opportunity to continue the project on social media, with participants sharing their finished book via Instagram.

Community Book Program | Bookmaking Workshop