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Exploring the combination of the uncommon and unexpected

About

Bound by Cooksey is the Washington, USA based bookbinding studio of artist and craftsmen Gabby Cooksey.


 

This is the story of Gabby Cooksey.

Right out of high school in 2010 I went to college at Columbus College of Art and Design. I did very well there and it was a great school, but I knew college just wasn't right for me. I wanted to be doing what I wanted right then and there, not four years down the line. So I spent most of time at the Columbus Metropolitan Library and happened upon a book about books.


It had gilding, leather, beautiful designs, and I said, "This is exactly what I want to do." 


So in 2011, I went to American Academy of Bookbinding in Telluride, CO. My first bookbinding teacher was Don Glaister. Then I attended North Bennet Street School in Boston, MA from 2012-2014 and graduated from their bookbinding program.

 
 
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I am a trained traditional bookbinder with experience in book conservation.

 
 

I knew I wanted to work under someone once I finished NBSS because I still felt like there were important things to learn about running a bindery. I contacted Don Glaister and after initially thinking there wouldn't be enough work for an apprentice, he responded with his wife, Suzanne Moore, that they came across some work that they could use me for.


In February of 2014, I flew to Washington state, took a ferry to Vashon Island and the rest is really history.


 
 

I started in June of 2014, working on Don's Edgar Allen Poe edition and Suzanne's "Zero" edition book. Since then I have also began working at Springtide Press for Jessica Spring in Tacoma, WA.

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When asked, why I do what I do it is really because I love it. There is nothing quite like holding a physical book, especially when the person who made it has spent so much time lovingly putting it together. Craft is important to show where I have come from (past binders), and the design is important because that's where I'm headed (myself as an artist).


I design books in a peculiar and unexpected way that makes it enticing to hold/open. I think of my books as art that you can use.


I hope other people feel this too when they interact with my work. I want them to pick my books up and wonder, “What the heck??” in the nicest way possible. I add hidden items, bones, feathers, teeth, and odd leather to my bindings because I want people to get close up and hold it.

I want them to open the book up because of the cover I put on it.

 
 
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Experience

Here are some of my recent endeavors

 

Currently

Running my own studio, Bound by Cooksey

Studio Assistant to Jessica Spring at Springtide Press. Tacoma, WA. 2014 - present.

Studio Assistant to Don Glaister and Suzanne Moore. Vashon Island, WA. 2014 - 2020

Studio Assistant to Yoshiko Yamamoto at The Arts and Crafts Press. Tacoma, WA. 2017 - 2019


Presentations

Library of Congress, Modernism and the Book: Literature, Fine Binding and Books by Artist

  • January 2023, 15 Minute talk about how bookbinders put objects on their books.

Boston Athenaeum, Materialia Lumina. Collaborative Making as Creative Catalyst for Artists’ Books

The Guild of Book Workers, Standards of Excellence Seminar. Tattooing on Leather, a Journey into a New Decorative Technique.

  • September 2023, 3 hour demonstration on how to tattoo on leather. Video to come.


Competitions & Exhibitions

Designer Bookbinders International Competition. Touring in Oxford, London and Scotland. 2022-2023

  • Silver Prize award.

Dark Archives Exhibition. One time show at the Mutter Museum, Philadelphia. 2021

Reclamation: Artists’' Books on the Environment. San Francisco Center for the Book. San Francisco, CA. 2021

Content. The artery Gallery. Davis, CA. 2021

Open Set Competition. American Academy of Bookbinding. Touring across the U.S. 2020

8th International Artist’s book Triennial Vilnius. Toured across Europe and the U.S. 2017-2019

Formation Exhibition. Guild of Bookworkers. 2018-2019

Bound Together. North Bennet Street School. 2019

The Book as Art. Columbia City Gallery. Seattle, WA. 2019

Puget Sound Book Artist Annual Show. Tacoma, WA. 2019

Open Set Competition. American Academy of Bookbinding. 2017-2018


Professional Affiliations

Guild of Bookworkers 2012 - Present

Puget Sound Book Artists 2015 - Present


Training & Education

 

North Bennet Street School. Boston, MA. 2012 - 2014.  
Instructors: Jeff Altepeter and Martha Kearsley

Montefiascone Conservation Project. Montefiascone, Italy. 

  • Recreating the Medieval Pigment with Cheryl Porter. 1 week

  • The Syriac Book with Caroline Checkley-Scott and John Mumford. 1 week

  • Mamluk Binding with Kristine Rose and Alison Ohta. 1 week

  • Gothic Binding with Jim Bloxam and Shaun Thompson. 1 week


American Academy of Bookbinding. Telluride, CO. 2011- 2012

  • The Book as Art: Images+ Handwriting+ Exposed Sewing with Laura Wait. 1 week. 2011

  • Fundamentals of Fine Binding with Don Glaister. 4 weeks. 2011 and 2012

  • Paste Paper with Suzanne Moore. 3 days. 2011

  • Content to Concept to Object with Don Glaister and Suzanne Moore. 1 week. 2011

  • Intermediate/Advanced Fine Binding with Monique Lallier. 4 weeks. 2011 and 2012

  • Forwarding and Covering with Don Etherington. 2 weeks . 2011

  • Basics in Paper Conservation with Renate Mesmer. 1 week. 2012

  • Sewing Structures with Renate Mesmer. 1 week. 2012

  • Designing the Design in Design Binding with Don Glaister. 1 week. 2012

  • Finishing with Don Etherington. 2 weeks. 2012