This summer, VCU Libraries launched a Book Artist in Residence program. The selected student received an honorarium along with mentorship from library staff, a workspace and special access to materials in Special Collections and Archives, as well as a budget to create a limited-edition piece of book art inspired by VCU’s outstanding Book Art Collection. The residency was made possible through private financial support. 

The inaugural recipient, Tate Bernard, is a rising sophomore in the School of the Arts, majoring in communication arts. Bernard’s work is illustrative and features strong narrative elements. She has completed several book projects incorporating techniqes including embroidery, watercolor and sculpture. Explore her portfolio.

Bernard’s residency artist’s book project–which includes printing an edition of 15 handbound copies– is titled “My Desk” and takes a more fantastical approach than her works have in the past. She says this new work is more lighthearted than previous works she has created.  

Her work will be exhibited Aug. 20 through Sept. 11 at The Anderson, an on-campus gallery. A reception will be held August 30 5-7 p.m.  at The Anderson. She plans to show the finished books as well as original watercolors to illustrate the design process. 

Proof of concept: An envisioned Books Arts Lab

The 2024 Book Art Residency was launched as a proof of concept, to explore how a VCU student immersed in the collection might be inspired to produce art in the library environment. The residency was made possible by the generous support of Fred Wayne (70/H&S, 86/CHP).  

"When I was first introduced to the plan for a lab for students, I knew I wanted to support it because of its potential to foster collaborative learning. A stellar student would help to propel the Book Arts Lab project forward and demonstrate the impact of such a space. The Book Arts Student Residency Committee found that person in Tate Bernard. Tate brings the skills of an artist as well as articulate and creative communication to the discipline and this will help to illuminate the impact of the future Book Arts Lab at VCU Libraries."

The Book Art Residency is one element in the planned expansion of Special Collections and Archives. A fundraising priority for VCU Libraries is to secure support to expand the space on the fourth floor of Cabell Library. This will include much-needed expansion of the areas where valuable artifacts, artwork and rare materials are secured in a climate-controlled, locked section. 

Part of the expansion includes construction of a Book Arts Lab. The envisioned lab will offer art studio quality worktables, an exhibit space, specialized book producing equipment, storage space for works in progress and infrastructure for teaching (drop down screens, cameras and other technology). The new lab will transform VCU’s world class Book Art Collection into a more robust teaching collection by providing examples and techniques to inspire researchers, artists, and students like Tate Bernard.

Tate Bernard’s residency experience

As Tate Bernard was finishing her summer’s work in Cabell Library, she answered questions about her creative process and the residency experience.  

Have you created book art before this residency?

I've been doing it since my senior year of high school. I had a book art sculptural project in an intensive winter break sculpture class. We had to create two books in two weeks. That was my first experience with it. I really dove into it with my second book where I did an embroidered cover. Then I did my own binding with embroidery thread and I collaged the whole inside. That was when I really started enjoying the process. Because with books, it's so much more impactful than one image.

Would you credit that intensive experience with being the reason why you applied to this residency?

Absolutely. That got me super interested in book art. And then I also took an education class my freshman year, and that also had books. I realized that this was a medium I really enjoyed. And then I saw this residency opening and I was like, this is perfect. I have the work to show for it. I can keep pursuing this and I can pursue it in a much more structured way.

What is it about book art that resonates with you?

I really love being physical with what I create. Being able to hold it and flip through the books or do more sculptural aspects like embroidery. And I've been learning how to make handmade paper for this project, so it's just so much more physical than some types of art.

What is your work process like with this project?

Normally, I come up with an idea, and then I match what materials will go with that idea. But for this book, it was different because I had access to all of the Special Collections and Archives books. And I could look at so many different ways people made stuff. It made me realize that I wanted to focus on the actual piece's format before I came up with the idea. So I ended up finding some different book bindings that I liked and I tried to see how I could fit a story or the idea into that type of bookbinding. 

What are the main materials that you're using?

The original images are all painted in watercolor. And then those are all being scanned and I'm printing them with a risograph. It creates these really bright colors, like super saturated, and you can overlay them and mix them. So it creates some really cool effects. Then I'm going to bind them with a concertina book binding. It's still kind of in the works, but hopefully, the front cover will be made with handmade paper, and then I'll be printing on top of the handmade paper as well. 

How has this residency experience impacted you?

Very positively! The help and guidance I've gotten for this process have been so amazing. It's helped me be a lot more confident. I'm able to make a really polished piece of work, which I'm very excited about. And I've never been able to physically feel pieces to help me be creative. The Book Arts Collection is so wonderful. They have such variety, which itself is supportive because it means if I'm really struggling to come up with something, or I'm in a rut, I can go look at the collection and get inspiration. 

Has there been anything that you have learned in this residency that you didn't previously know about the book art process?

I've never had to go into production and make an edition of a work, so that has been eye-opening. I've been getting used to figuring out how many supplies and how many extras I need to print off something or just scheduling my time and making sure I can keep within the deadlines. It's been a different mindset because I'm so used to whatever I create by hand, that ends up being the final piece. But now I create a painting and then I have to go on to the next step and turn it into a book. 

It's also interesting because I'm relying a lot more on machines right now than I have ever done. I used to stay away from printing and a lot of digital stuff with printing because I just enjoyed hand-made pieces so much. I’ve definitely been getting used to printing. And it's not a completely smooth process. There are a ton of layers and if a layer doesn't work I have to reprint all of the sheets again.

Do you have any idea of what you want to do after you graduate?

I have a goal, but I also recognize that life happens and things could change. I've always been interested in editorial illustration or book cover illustration, but there's always been a little voice in my head that if I ever had the opportunity to create and sell my art, that would be awesome. If I could just be a fine artist and have my shows or just create my work. I think that’s any artist's dream. 

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Interested in learning more about plans for Special Collections and Archives? To schedule a Book Art Show and Tell at VCU Libraries, please contact Director of Development Kelly Gotschalk at (804) 827-1163 or kjgotschalk@vcu.edu

Article and photos by Frances Burson, communications coordinator, VCU Libraries