Exploring the combination of the uncommon and unexpected
About
Bound by Cooksey is the Washington, USA based bookbinding studio of artist and craftsmen Gabby Cooksey.
This is the story of Gabby Cooksey.
Right out of high school in 2010 I went to college at Columbus College of Art and Design. I did very well there and it was a great school, but I knew college just wasn't right for me. I wanted to be doing what I wanted right then and there, not four years down the line. So I spent most of time at the Columbus Metropolitan Library and happened upon a book about books.
It had gilding, leather, beautiful designs, and I said, "This is exactly what I want to do."
So in 2011, I went to American Academy of Bookbinding in Telluride, CO. My first bookbinding teacher was Don Glaister. Then I attended North Bennet Street School in Boston, MA from 2012-2014 and graduated from their bookbinding program.
I am a trained traditional bookbinder with experience in book conservation.
I knew I wanted to work under someone once I finished NBSS because I still felt like there were important things to learn about running a bindery. I contacted Don Glaister and after initially thinking there wouldn't be enough work for an apprentice, he responded with his wife, Suzanne Moore, that they came across some work that they could use me for.
In February of 2014, I flew to Washington state, took a ferry to Vashon Island and the rest is really history.
I started in June of 2014, working on Don's Edgar Allen Poe edition and Suzanne's "Zero" edition book. Since then I have also began working at Springtide Press for Jessica Spring in Tacoma, WA.
When asked, why I do what I do it is really because I love it. There is nothing quite like holding a physical book, especially when the person who made it has spent so much time lovingly putting it together. Craft is important to show where I have come from (past binders), and the design is important because that's where I'm headed (myself as an artist).
I design books in a peculiar and unexpected way that makes it enticing to hold/open. I think of my books as art that you can use.
I hope other people feel this too when they interact with my work. I want them to pick my books up and wonder, “What the heck??” in the nicest way possible. I add hidden items, bones, feathers, teeth, and odd leather to my bindings because I want people to get close up and hold it.
I want them to open the book up because of the cover I put on it.
Experience
Here are some of my recent endeavors
Currently
Running my own studio, Bound by Cooksey
Studio Assistant to Jessica Spring at Springtide Press. Tacoma, WA. 2014 - present.
Studio Assistant to Don Glaister and Suzanne Moore. Vashon Island, WA. 2014 - 2020
Studio Assistant to Yoshiko Yamamoto at The Arts and Crafts Press. Tacoma, WA. 2017 - 2019
Presentations
Library of Congress, Modernism and the Book: Literature, Fine Binding and Books by Artist
January 2023, 15 Minute talk about how bookbinders put objects on their books.
Boston Athenaeum, Materialia Lumina. Collaborative Making as Creative Catalyst for Artists’ Books
September 2023, 3 hour demonstration on how to tattoo on leather. Video to come.
Competitions & Exhibitions
Designer Bookbinders International Competition. Touring in Oxford, London and Scotland. 2022-2023
Silver Prize award.
Dark Archives Exhibition. One time show at the Mutter Museum, Philadelphia. 2021
Reclamation: Artists’' Books on the Environment. San Francisco Center for the Book. San Francisco, CA. 2021
Content. The artery Gallery. Davis, CA. 2021
Open Set Competition. American Academy of Bookbinding. Touring across the U.S. 2020
8th International Artist’s book Triennial Vilnius. Toured across Europe and the U.S. 2017-2019
Formation Exhibition. Guild of Bookworkers. 2018-2019
Bound Together. North Bennet Street School. 2019
The Book as Art. Columbia City Gallery. Seattle, WA. 2019
Puget Sound Book Artist Annual Show. Tacoma, WA. 2019
Open Set Competition. American Academy of Bookbinding. 2017-2018
Professional Affiliations
Guild of Bookworkers 2012 - Present
Puget Sound Book Artists 2015 - Present
Training & Education
North Bennet Street School. Boston, MA. 2012 - 2014.
Instructors: Jeff Altepeter and Martha Kearsley
Montefiascone Conservation Project. Montefiascone, Italy.
Recreating the Medieval Pigment with Cheryl Porter. 1 week
The Syriac Book with Caroline Checkley-Scott and John Mumford. 1 week
Mamluk Binding with Kristine Rose and Alison Ohta. 1 week
Gothic Binding with Jim Bloxam and Shaun Thompson. 1 week
American Academy of Bookbinding. Telluride, CO. 2011- 2012
The Book as Art: Images+ Handwriting+ Exposed Sewing with Laura Wait. 1 week. 2011
Fundamentals of Fine Binding with Don Glaister. 4 weeks. 2011 and 2012
Paste Paper with Suzanne Moore. 3 days. 2011
Content to Concept to Object with Don Glaister and Suzanne Moore. 1 week. 2011
Intermediate/Advanced Fine Binding with Monique Lallier. 4 weeks. 2011 and 2012
Forwarding and Covering with Don Etherington. 2 weeks . 2011
Basics in Paper Conservation with Renate Mesmer. 1 week. 2012
Sewing Structures with Renate Mesmer. 1 week. 2012
Designing the Design in Design Binding with Don Glaister. 1 week. 2012
Finishing with Don Etherington. 2 weeks. 2012