Carol Blinn of Warwick Press to Lecture

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Nov. 18, 2009) - Carol J. Blinn, proprietor of Warwick Press in Easthampton, Mass., will be the guest book artist for the 2009 Hammer Lecture for The King Library Press at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 20, in the University of Kentucky Special Collections Library in the Great Hall of the Margaret I. King Building. This event is free and open to the public. Blinn will replace the event's original speaker, James Reid-Cunningham, who is temporarily unable to travel.

Blinn will discuss the influences on her career in Friday night's lecture, "One Woman's Work." Known throughout the book arts world, Blinn apprenticed with Harold McGrath at the Gehenna Press before beginning her own work as a printer, artist, paper decorator and lecturer. She is an author as well as a printer and binder, and has published many titles, including a memoir of the celebrated bookbinder Arno Werner. Her work is known for its elegance and color, and for her specialty of decorated paste paper bindings. 

Active in the Fine Press Book Association, Blinn has worked with the University of Virginia's Rare Book School and lectured for Yale University, Boston's Society of Printers, The Typophiles, the New York Public Library and Miss Porter's School, among many others. She has conducted workshops at the Wells College Press and elsewhere, including the King Library Press in 1992. 

On Saturday, Nov. 21, the King Library Press will present a Book Arts Workshop. At this session, participants will work at the Press with Blinn and Paul Holbrook, director of King Library Press. Activities will include printing and craft pamphlet binding, as well as producing a letter from the Library of Congress by King Library Press founder Carolyn Hammer. The fee for this workshop is $30 and participants should register in advance. To register, call (859) 257-8408 or e-mail to klijdb@uky.edu.