Elysian Charter School is pleased to announce the Hoboken Public Library exhibit of manuscripts created by last year’s third grade, in conjunction with the Morgan Library & Museum’s Morgan Book Project. The books will be on view through the month of September on the Library’s 2nd Floor. Twelve books are in glass display cases and 21 books are displayed in the main computer room. A reception will take place on Monday, September 18 at 6:00 p.m. – all are invited. On Wednesday, September 20, the library is inviting current 4th graders (who made the books last year) to share their knowledge. After speaking about the process, their experiences and sharing their books, there will be three book stations and an opportunity to make three kinds of mini books – folded, sewn, and accordion. All are welcome.
The program, designed by the Morgan Library & Museum in collaboration with the New York City Dept. of Education, offers a model for the integration of book arts into the classroom. As part of the program, Elysian teachers were introduced to the art of creating a handmade book during a workshop in the Summer of 2016. In the Fall, the third grade visited the Morgan to analyze manuscripts, learn historical context, and have the opportunity to utilize historical techniques, traditional tools, and ingredients used in traditional manuscript making.
Back at school, the 3rd grade began a year-long project to create their own handmade illuminated books. They wrote and edited stories, created mock-ups of their designs, ground pigments by hand - with which to paint – malachite for light green, spinach for dark green, saffron for yellow, and cochineal for red, mixed colors in mussel shells, and applied the paint their final books. They applied gold leaf, lettered their books, folded professional grade watercolor paper, and applied traditional binding techniques.
Harry said, “I am grateful to the Hoboken Public Library for displaying the 3rd grade’s books. Now the larger community will be able to see how the Morgan Book Project provided such a rich experience to our students. Exposure to Medieval and Renaissance manuscripts helps foster an appreciation for artistic expression and the written word. I am very proud of all our students and the unique stories and illustrations that they created.”
The Morgan Book Project, This School Year
This year’s 3rd grade will participate in the program during our second year working with the Morgan Library.
The 6th grade will join the project, visiting the Morgan Library and embarking on a year-long project to write their own music and create a manuscript of notation and text. 6th grade teacher Ashley, Mary (the music teacher) and Maureen (Basic Skills) attended the Summer 2017 Morgan Book workshop.
Last year’s 3rd graders - now in 4th grade - will have the opportunity to join a club to apply what they know to the practice of new book-making techniques. This club will be run by Maureen and Lynne (Shapiro).
