The Book Arts League is excited to announce that we will now offer open studio hours! Our shop will be available monthly for you to print your work. Below are the open studio dates for the first quarter. BAL board members will be your hosts and will assist you with your printing projects. Please bring your own paper and get ready to print!

WEDNESDAY June 11th — 4:30-6:30PM 

WEDNESDAY July 9th — 4:30-6:30PM

WEDNESDAY Aug 13th — 4:30-6:30PM

Thank-you Cards with Wood Typetaught by Julia Seko and Greg Robl

It's that time of year to send your thoughts of gratitude in a beautiful hand printed card! Students will use the Book Arts League's collection of wood type in multiple faces and sizes to set the words"thank you!" Words will then be locked up and printed on the Vandercook letterpress. Color choices or perhaps variegated colors will be decided on by the collected class. Each student will leave with a set of 8 cards with matching envelopes.

Making a bottle opener in blacksmithing is a great way to practice your forging skills while creating a useful and functional item. It requires basic blacksmithing techniques, including shaping, punching a hole, and heat control. You will learn basic techniques for shaping hot steel, twisting, and punching & drifting holes.  

What to Wear in the Metals Studio?

We wish for all students to have a safe and enjoyable learning experience. Proper safety equipment and PPE will be provided for use within the studio.

Please dress safely and appropriately. Arrive for class inall-natural fiber clothing, long pants, and closed-toe, closed-heelshoes with socks that protect up to the ankle. Long hair should betied back. Nylon, polyester, spandex, or other synthetics are notrecommended around machines, equipment, or processes that can producehot fragments, sparks, or flames. Please avoid synthetic blends, as100% cotton is recommended. Layers are encouraged, as the studio canbegin cool then become very hot.

Welding students are recommended to wear long sleeve shirts to preventarc-flash burns (much like a sunburn). 

All students participating in activities involving sparks or hot metal are encouraged to wear leather boots or older shoes.

Please bring a re-fillable water bottle!

Class Policies & Information:

Open Lab: This class includes access to the studio during Open Lab hours. Open Lab is exclusively for students who are currently enrolled in the program. You are allowed to attend one Open Lab session per week, totaling 3 hours during the duration of your class. You may only attend the Open Lab session for the class in which you are registered. This time is intended for independent work on your class project. While studio staff will be present, they are there to ensure you are using the tools safely, not to provide instruction.

Class Make-Up: Our studios are full with adult and youth classes 7 days a week, 48 weeks a year. Typically, every class is full, which means there is simply no space for students to make up classes. If we cancel an entire class due to weather or other emergencies, we can not guarantee we will be able to schedule a make-up class. Individuals who miss a class will not be able to make it up. Please read the Frequently Asked Questions for more information about missed classes.

Studio Clean Up: Clean-up is critical! Please help our hardworking staff and volunteers by beginning clean-up 30 minutes before the end of class, helping out with common areas, and leaving class on time.

Ages: 16+ 

All supplies and materials will be provided. 

Will be available to register on Wednesday, May 28 at 8:00am. 

Welcome to Quick Print! These one-time classes offer students a crash course in one specific type of print without the commitment of a multi-week class. Perfect for beginners, experimenters, or anyone looking for a fun way to learn a new skill fast!

Learn the basics of relief printmaking using linoleum. This class provides an introduction to carving a linoleum block to create a small series of prints. Linoleum is great for beginners and seasoned printmakers alike as it doesn't have a grain like wood so carving it is nice and smooth.

Students will try introductory techniques, including carving a linoleum block, mixing and rolling ink, and making a print using the press. Once you start carving, you won't want to stop!

Ages: 16+ 

All supplies and materials will be provided. 

Will be available to register on Friday, May 30 at 8:00 am.

First, take a deep breath… Have you ever sat down at the wheel and for whatever reason, just couldn’t get your clay properly centered? Don’t worry, we’ve all been there.

Pottery is often referred to as a meditative process and we’re taking that concept one step further with this immersive experience in which students will alternate centering their clay with centering themselves. This workshop will provide students with a clay centering demo, after which we’ll alternate centering on the wheel with guided mediation and sound bath. See how feeling centered in your body can transform you and your work!

This class is only going to focus on centering technique and practice - no pieces will be completed. Mind, body, clay.

The meditative/sound bath portion of this class will be taught by Betsy Workman. Betsy is a certified Sound Healer, Master Gong Practitioner, Kundalini Yoga Teacher and Breathwork Facilitator. As a former local restaurant owner, she used to love creating cozy spaces for the community to dine in and enjoy music. Since then, she has found her true peace and calling in creating these spaces for people like you to come find deep rest and healing. Her grounded presence and energetic attunement help create transformative experiences, connecting you to your most authentic self. She is a long time resident of beautiful Boulder, CO. Learn more about Betsy's practice here.  

This class takes place at Groundworks MAIN 3750 Canfield St, Boulder, CO. 

PLEASE NOTE: This one-time class runs for 2 hours. You will not have access to the studio outside of the scheduled class time and all work will be completed during class time. You will also not have access to our other locations.

Ages: 16+

Available for registration Friday, May 30th at 8:00am