Episode 15: Blue Skies for Austin Book Arts Center

Today I speak with Mary Baughman, co-founder and chair of the governing board for the Austin Book Arts Center, and retired conservator for the Harry Ransom Center at University of Texas Austin. We talk about the history of book arts in Texas, the mission of the Austin Book Arts Center, and the use of book arts education to encourage literacy. Mary is a member of the Lone Star chapter of the Guild of Book Workers, a founding member of Austin Book Workers, and one of the originators of the Book Arts Fair held for 20+ years at Laguna Gloria Art Museum.

The mission of Austin Book Arts Center is to engage people of all ages in creative, interpretive, and educational experiences related to the arts of the book.

ABAC regularly offers workshops in letterpress printing, bookbinding, papermaking, typography, book history and design, and various arts of the book.

ABAC seeks to advance the book as a vital contemporary art form, preserve the traditional and robust crafts related to making books, promote the contemporary arts of making books, inspire diverse artists and learners, and engage the community in creative, interpretive, and educational experiences, including the improvement of literacy for people of all ages.

There is a current Blue Skies Go Fund Me campaign for ABAC to help with losses suffered during the pandemic, As part of this fundraiser, donators at any level are invited to watch the premiere of the documentary film Good Book Action on Friday November 13th at 7pm Central Time, about Master Binder, conservator, and founder of BookLab Craig Jensen. The film premiere will be followed by a Q & A with Craig Jensen and filmmaker Mark Hall.

Austin Book Arts Center
Craig Jensen / BookLab
Books in the Wild
Coyote Bones Press