FOBA 2026 - Genevieve Kaplan - Altered Texts: Obscuring to Reveal

Focus on Book Arts 2026

Genevieve Kaplan
Altered Texts: Obscuring to Reveal - Saturday June 27, 2026

Read more about FOBA 2026 on their website!
https://focusonbookarts.org/2026-foba-conference/

Workshop Description:

In this one-day workshop, perfect for all levels, students will follow a step-by-step process to create their own small book of engaging visual-literary erasure.

Beginning with a provided source text (selected by the instructor), we will begin by briefly considering language, themes, and questions that may be useful to inspire our visual work. We will then review
published examples of literary and visual altered texts for inspiration, and brainstorm and experiment with methods of creating resonance across letters, words, phrases, colors, and images. Then, we will turn to our own pre-cut pages to plan, enact, and complete our own altered text pamphlet. Each student will plan and produce a single, cohesive, six- to eight-page page altered book, bound with a simple sewn binding.

For those who may undertake a larger altered-book project in the future, the instructor will offer tips and methods for choosing source texts

Materials/equipment to be provided by students:

• Metal ruler
• X-Acto knife or other cutting blade
• Cutting mat
• Bone folder
• Bookbinding or other needle
• Bookbinding thread or embroidery thread
• Pencil (preferably mechanical)
• PVA or glue stick
• Glue brush (for PVA, if using)
• Awl
• Mark making tools like crayons, markers, pens, colored pencils, stamps, or acrylic paints, needle and thread (whatever students typically enjoy using)

Optional:

• Tweezers
• Scissors or snips
• Hole punch (any size, shape)
• Miscellaneous collage supplies (i.e., photos, sequins, patterned paper bits, ribbon, etc.)