HBC44 - 2016
Welcome to the Hand Bookbinders of California Annual Members’ Exhibition celebrating the group’s 44th year!
We are delighted to return to our longtime “home” — the San Francisco Public Library, Civic Center. The Skylight Gallery in the Main Library is always one of our favorite venues as is evidenced by the exceptionally high participation by our members in this year’s exhibition. More than forty members have contributed nearly seventy books, all of which demonstrate our membership’s tremendous range of skills, talents and interests. Some books perpetuate traditional forms of craftsmanship while others are wildly innovative. All have some trait that will educate your mind or please your eye.
This year we are also paying tribute to the work of one of our most venerable members, Robert Rosenzweig. Bob was born, raised and educated in Chicago, Illinois (University of Chicago, MS Mathematics, 1949.) As a young man, he developed a love of books and art and began collecting during his stint in the army during WWII. Although pursuing a career in the design and implementation of computer systems for the insurance industry, Bob started lessons in the English tradition of binding at the Newberry Library during his spare time. After retiring here in the Bay Area, Bob turned to bookbinding in earnest, volunteering in 1988 at the Arion Press. While sanding boards and paring pigskin for the Arion Press edition of James Joyce’s Ulysses, he was introduced to Eleanore Ramsey who became his teacher — this time in the French tradition of fine binding. Since then, Bob has completed many full leather bindings in the French style as well as other books and boxes in a wide variety of structures and materials.
Bob is a committed family man. He is married to Regina Kirschner-Rosenzweig, who is herself a talented printmaker, painter, and art teacher; Regina, too, is a valued member of the HBC community. Much of Bob’s work displayed here demonstrates their close collaboration either in inspiration or the materials Bob has incorporated into his books. In several you will see Regina’s monotypes, etchings, and paintings used as decorative panels or covers. His binding for About Love, was especially designed to open into an easel displaying a selection of Regina’s monoprints. Many of his works were made for his grandchildren and testify to his deep love for both books and family.
These are just a few of an extraordinary body of work for a full-time computer specialist.
We are so glad Bob’s persistence has kept him working on his great love, books.
On behalf of the HBC I would like to thank the HBC board, members, and exhibitors who have contributed their time and work to making this year’s exhibition possible. I would also like to thank Lisa Heer now in her third year as Exhibition Coordinator for the HBC. Special thanks go out to all the wonderful people at the San Francisco Public Library: Lisa Dunseth, Andrea Grimes, Samantha Cairo-Toby, Penelope Houston, Ellen Reilly, Ann Carroll, Everett Erlandson, Joan Jasper, Maureen Russell, and many others who have been so generous with their time and support in making this exhibition a success!
Signa Judy Houghteling
President, Hand Bookbinders of California
HBC44 - 2016
Welcome to the Hand Bookbinders of California Annual Members’ Exhibition celebrating the group’s 44th year!
We are delighted to return to our longtime “home” — the San Francisco Public Library, Civic Center. The Skylight Gallery in the Main Library is always one of our favorite venues as is evidenced by the exceptionally high participation by our members in this year’s exhibition. More than forty members have contributed nearly seventy books, all of which demonstrate our membership’s tremendous range of skills, talents and interests. Some books perpetuate traditional forms of craftsmanship while others are wildly innovative. All have some trait that will educate your mind or please your eye.
This year we are also paying tribute to the work of one of our most venerable members, Robert Rosenzweig. Bob was born, raised and educated in Chicago, Illinois (University of Chicago, MS Mathematics, 1949.) As a young man, he developed a love of books and art and began collecting during his stint in the army during WWII. Although pursuing a career in the design and implementation of computer systems for the insurance industry, Bob started lessons in the English tradition of binding at the Newberry Library during his spare time. After retiring here in the Bay Area, Bob turned to bookbinding in earnest, volunteering in 1988 at the Arion Press. While sanding boards and paring pigskin for the Arion Press edition of James Joyce’s Ulysses, he was introduced to Eleanore Ramsey who became his teacher — this time in the French tradition of fine binding. Since then, Bob has completed many full leather bindings in the French style as well as other books and boxes in a wide variety of structures and materials.
Bob is a committed family man. He is married to Regina Kirschner-Rosenzweig, who is herself a talented printmaker, painter, and art teacher; Regina, too, is a valued member of the HBC community. Much of Bob’s work displayed here demonstrates their close collaboration either in inspiration or the materials Bob has incorporated into his books. In several you will see Regina’s monotypes, etchings, and paintings used as decorative panels or covers. His binding for About Love, was especially designed to open into an easel displaying a selection of Regina’s monoprints. Many of his works were made for his grandchildren and testify to his deep love for both books and family.
These are just a few of an extraordinary body of work for a full-time computer specialist.
We are so glad Bob’s persistence has kept him working on his great love, books.
On behalf of the HBC I would like to thank the HBC board, members, and exhibitors who have contributed their time and work to making this year’s exhibition possible. I would also like to thank Lisa Heer now in her third year as Exhibition Coordinator for the HBC. Special thanks go out to all the wonderful people at the San Francisco Public Library: Lisa Dunseth, Andrea Grimes, Samantha Cairo-Toby, Penelope Houston, Ellen Reilly, Ann Carroll, Everett Erlandson, Joan Jasper, Maureen Russell, and many others who have been so generous with their time and support in making this exhibition a success!
Signa Judy Houghteling
President, Hand Bookbinders of California