The initial concept had been sparked by the Sebastopol Economic Summit of 2009, where a challenge was thrown: “What can each of you do to stimulate the local economy?” That spark fired a vision contributed to by many artists, writers, book lovers, representatives of big and small businesses and nonprofit organizations, and community volunteers. This mural from an envisioning with event organizers in May of 2010  is a dream of what could be and of what came to be in the summer of 2011.

Strategic Envisioning for Celebrate Book Arts - mural by Christine Walker

Though some of what the organizing group hoped to accomplish wasn’t realized, most and more of it was. The “festival” that evolved into Bibliophoria~ Celebrate Book Arts! took place in June & July 2011 in Sebastopol and included Bibliophoria II, a national juried exhibition of artists books, Copperfield’s Books’ 30th Anniversary party and events, a town “book arts” tour following a trail from traditional letterpress to leading-edge digital, letterpress printing workshops, fine book and book binding exhibits, youth book camp, children’s book writers conference, library events for children and teens, a teen writing contest with winners’ entries read by actors on KRCB radio, a mobile letterpress studio at the Sebastopol Farmers Market, events and exhibits at local merchants, and more.

If we can dream it, we can see it. If we can see it, we can make it happen. Going forward, there may be other Bibliophoria events throughout the seasons—hosted by individuals, businesses, and organizations—and possibly another large celebration down the road. It’s all for the love of books and the encouragement of a vital literary and artistic community and thriving local economy.

Thanks to everyone who participated in Bibliophoria to make it a success this summer!

Christine Walker ~ Artist, writer & visual strategist. Creator of Read to Write Books.

The Sebastopol Center for the Arts, Copperfield’s Books and KRCB-FM are pleased to announce the winners in the Bibliophoria “Books are…” Teen Writing Contest.

Another World fantasy story by Emily Hammond, 14, Orchard View School
Book Types essay by Mirandi Dallas Fuge, 14, Orchard View School
Books Are All Around Me essay by Sierra Cullen-Riak, 14, Orchard View School
The Adventures of Deben fantasy story by Duncan Lange, 14, Orchard View School
Letting the Light Shine Through essay by Amanda Burns, 17, Analy High School
Sanity, Clarified historical fiction by Michael John Bradford, 18, El Molino High School
The Bindings of Paper and People essay by Liana Meffert, 18, Montgomery High School
Humanity Recorded essay by Catherine Golitzin, 18, Santa Rosa Junior College

All winning entries will re read aloud by Jeffrey Weissman and other professional actors on Gil Mansergh’s “Word By Word: Conversations With Writers” radio show at 7:00 PM, Wednesday, June 22nd on KRCB 91.1 FM in Santa Rosa or streaming online at krcb.org.

Additional prizes include Copperfield’s gift certificates, excerpts printed in the  Sebastopol Center for the Arts QuARTerly newsletter and full length stories and essays posted on the Bibliophoria website, and CDs of the KRCB-FM radio broadcast.

Teen writing contest winners will have their work read on KRCB radio by professional actors on Gil Mansergh’s program “Word By Word: Conversations with Writers,” June 22, 2011, at 7 PM.

Teens between the ages of 13 and 19 are eligible. The topic is “Books are…” Deadline is May 17, 2011.

For contest details and to enter see Teen Writing Contest.

Teen writing workshops are offered at Sebastopol Center for the Arts on July 9 and July 23 by Dani Burlison and Leilani Clark of Petals and Bones. For more information, see Teen Writing Workshops.

Lin Max, a Santa Rosa artist and poet, won for “What the Flowers Dream.” Gwynn O’Gara described the work as “transcendent, exciting, and beautifully crafted.”  First prize is an edition of 100 letterpress-printed chapbooks of her poetry.

John Johnson from Petaluma won for “My Father Forgets Himself” from his chapbook “California Knockdown and Other Poems.” He receives an edition of 20 letterpress-printed broadsides of his poem.

Susan Adams, an artist and poet from Petaluma, won for the title poem in her chapbook submission, “What We Keep.” She receives an edition of 20 letterpress-printed broadsides of her poem.

All three poets have been invited to visit Iota Press where Eric will advise them on design and font choices, and they may assist in printing and binding. Iota prints literary and graphic work by hand, using wood and metal type on old presses.

The poets will participate in a reading, moderated by Gwynn O’Gara, at Sebastopol Copperfield’s on Friday, June 10, at 7 p.m.

The poetry contest was open to Sonoma and Marin County, California, poets, and is part of Bibliophoria ~ Celebrate Book Arts in Sebastopol, June and July 2011.

Eric Johnson of Iota Press demonstrates his letterpress

Enter Bibliophoria’s Poetry Chapbook Contest for a chance to win a letterpress edition chapbook of your poetry printed at Iota Press!

The winner will work with Eric Johnson in his Sebastopol letterpress print shop to produce an edition of 100 chapbooks. Second and third prizes are 20 copies of a letterpress printed broadside of your poem. All winners will read at Copperfield’s Books Sebastopol.

Gwynn O’Gara, Sonoma County Poet Laureate, will judge. Deadline is extended to March 30, 2011 (postmark.) Winners will be notified April 30. For more details, see Chapbook.

Postmark deadline is extended to March 30, 2011. For more details, see the attached pdf or Contests.

Bibliophoria Poetry Contest pdf