Kate Cheney Chappell '83 Center for Book Arts at USM

06/16/2026

“Sweetie Pie" by Carleigh Sawyer, created during ART341-The Visual Book II; Wooden pie slices, air-dry clay crust, acrylic paint, and mixed-media collages, 2026.

"Sweetie Pie" is a sculptural book created by Carleigh Sawyer, inspired by Lin Lisberger's Sandwich Book from the KCCCBA Special Collections, a mostly wooden, sculptural depiction of a food item in the form of book art. ©Carleigh Sawyer

05/04/2026

We're starting the week by featuring our amazing Summer Book Program instructors including Richard Reitz Smith 📚

Richard Reitz Smith is an artist and designer who creates work within the fine arts as a painter and printmaker, and book arts. He was the founding chair of the Book Arts and Design program at Maine Media Workshops and College in Rockport, Maine where he taught workshops in letterpress printing and book design. He holds a BFA in fine art (painting and illustration) from Carnegie Mellon University and MFA in graphic design from Tyler School of Art. He has worked professionally as a package designer, brand developer, illustrator, teacher/professor and more. His work is included in private and public collections including University of Oxford Bodleian Library, Yale University Beinecke Special Collections Library, Colby College Special Collections Library, Bowdoin College Hawthorne-Longfellow Library, and more.

Our Summer Book Program runs for two weeks between July 6 - July 17, 2026 and only a few seats remain. Join us! https://usm.maine.edu/book-arts/summer-book-arts-workshop/

04/30/2026

This week we're featuring some of our amazing Summer Book Program instructors including Elizabeth A. Jabar of Hinge Collaborative 📚

Elizabeth A. Jabar is a feminist printmaker who explores a range of personal-political issues in her work including cultural identity, representation, equity and maternal ethics. Her most recent social practice endeavor is Hinge Collaborative, a community arts initiative and printmaking studio in central Maine. The studio is a platform for socially engaged art projects, educational partnerships, and cultural events in local communities across Maine. As a place-based initiative, the studio aims to foster ongoing relationships, strong community coalitions, cultural expression and meaningful belonging.

Our Summer Book Program runs for two weeks between July 6 - July 17, 2026 and only a few seats remain. Join us! https://usm.maine.edu/book-arts/summer-book-arts-workshop/

04/29/2026

This week we're featuring some of our amazing Summer Book Program instructors including Evelyn Wong of Fireball Bookbindery 📚

Evelyn Wong (they/she) is an interdisciplinary artist, printmaker, and socially-engaged artist working through the lens of personal narratives as well as their Asian American heritage. Their explorations reference, critique, and celebrate Chinese and Asian American topics, including histories and narratives, legends and mythology, long-held traditions, and contemporary culture.

Our Summer Book Program runs for two weeks between July 6 - July 17, 2026 and only a few seats remain. Join us! https://usm.maine.edu/book-arts/summer-book-arts-workshop/

04/28/2026

This week we're featuring some of our amazing Summer Book Program instructors including Martha Kearsley of Strong Arm Bindery 📚

Martha Kearsley is a bookbinder and letterpress printer in Portland, Maine, where she has owned and operated Strong Arm Bindery for 25 years. She is also on the faculty at North Bennet Street School, where she teaches in the full-time Bookbinding Program, as well as workshops for NBSS Community Education.

Our Summer Book Program runs for two weeks between July 6 - July 17, 2026 and only a few seats remain. Join us! https://usm.maine.edu/book-arts/summer-book-arts-workshop/

04/27/2026

This week we're featuring some of our amazing Summer Book Program instructors, starting with Annie Lee-Zimerle Studio 😃

Annie Lee-Zimerle is an interdisciplinary artist with a background in printmaking, painting, drawing, and book arts. She received her BFA and MFA from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. She is currently an Associate Professor and Program Director of the Kate Cheney Chappell Center for Book Arts at the University of Southern Maine.

Our Summer Book Program runs for two weeks between July 6 - July 17, 2026 and only a few seats remain. Join us! https://usm.maine.edu/book-arts/summer-book-arts-workshop/

04/21/2026

Mark your calendars for the Spring 2026 Open Studios at the University of Southern Maine Art Department! 😃 The public is welcome to walk through our Gorham campus artist studios on Friday, May 1st from 4 – 7 PM. Joins us!

Open Studios is a time to view student art projects completed during the semester, talk with students about their work, and enjoy food, fun, and camaraderie. During Open Studios student artwork on display in all Studio spaces on the Gorham Campus: Robie-Andrews Art, the Print Shop, the Academy ...

04/15/2026

THANK YOU! Everyone who attended and vended at the 2026 Book Arts Bazaar, we couldn't have done it without you! This year's event was a success and we can't wait to grow with you next year! 😄

04/15/2026

What an amazing weekend w/ Purplebean Bindery 😀