JCBA Artist of the Week
This week we highlight Joanne Kluba with her inspirational work Tokonoma. In the video, Joanne succinctly describes her artistic process from inspiration to execution and offers this blueprint for others to follow. The work itself is inspirational in that it offers a glimpse into the Japanese artistic practice of Tokonoma, or a reserved space in one’s home for the purpose of combining art with life. It seems perfect that this practice, meant to offer a glimpse into the life of the person whose home, or life, you have entered is now the window into which Joanne showcases the development of a book into art.
Joanne’s background in printmaking, painting, photography and calligraphy have contributed to strong expressions of book arts. She has a BFA in Printmaking and an MA in Business from Webster University, St. Louis, Missouri. She studied Traditional bookbinding with conservator Richard Baker in St. Louis, and with guilds and universities around the country. She teaches at Washington University and Webster University in St Louis, Craft Alliance and in her studio. Her works have been exhibited in the U.S. and Europe. Joanne’s work has been published in “500 Books, I and II” Lark, and in “Bound and Lettered.”
Joanne has run Paper Birds Studio since 2001. Paper Birds is a small custom bindery, specializing in hand bookbinding, book repairs, small edition binding, handmade boxes, portfolios and calligraphy. Clients include Washington University, Casey Communications, Maritz Travel, Fleischman-Hillard, Patti Gabriel Photography, mozaic and individual collectors.
