Summer at Swem: Art of the Book
W&M Libraries staff have been hard at work over the summer months. A few of them were excited to share their favorite project. Meghan Bryant, head of special collections public services & instruction, shares about her partnership with Steve Prince, the Muscarelle Museum's director of engagement and distinguished artist in residence, and their plan to launch a workshop in the fall.
Share about your favorite summer project:
I reached out to Steve Prince to pitch a collaborative project between the Special Collections Research Center and the Muscarelle. It resulted in an upcoming workshop, which will take place this fall on October 22 & 23 from 10am-3pm. The workshop will include a visit to Special Collections to learn about the history of the book on the first day, and the second day will involve a visit to the Matoaka Studios, where participants will create their own linocut and print it on the press! There will be a materials fee of $30 ($25 for students or MMA members). The workshop is called Art of the Book and taught by Steve Prince and me.
What led you to doing the project?
I was a grad apprentice at the Muscarelle back in 2011-12, and as part of my work there I was involved in the work of launching a cultural arts camp, which was a summer program led by the Muscarelle and the Greater Williamsburg Women’s Association. Since working in Special Collections, it’s been one of my goals to get us involved in the educational programming at the Muscarelle, as it’s such a rich opportunity to collaborate and bring our resources and theirs together to reach a wider audience. Art and archives are intertwined in so many ways, and I’m excited to explore those overlaps through education and outreach with the Muscarelle.
What will be the impact of the project?
This workshop is the pilot for what Steve and I hope will be an ongoing collaboration between the SCRC and Muscarelle, whereby we hold regular workshops each semester and during the summers. The result is programming that engages the local community and learners of all ages and backgrounds, bringing art and archives to audiences in a way that’s fun, educational, and interactive.
