Masterful Maquettes: Photobooks in the Making (Feb 23)

Dates: February 23, 2024

Meetings: Sunday, 1:00 PM to 5:00 PM CST

Location: Museum of Fine Arts, Houston

Cost: $95 (HCP members can receive a 10% discount)

Instructor: Jon Evans

Skill Level: Open to All Levels

There are few opportunities to peer into the mind of an artist and gain insight into the creative process as ideas shift and fluctuate before becoming fully realized. Maquettes, also known as models or dummies, provide just such an instance when we can assess photographers’ intentions as they develop bodies of work in book form. These preliminary works show how photographers and designers make shifts in concept, narrative, sequence, and rhythm, as well as typography, paper selection, and binding type in the course of developing a photobook. Join Jon Evans, the Chief of Libraries & Archives at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, as he shares select maquette highlights from the internationally recognized photobook collection at the MFAH. Attendees will have the opportunity to study these works alongside objects from the museum’s collection and gain access to the museum’s rare book collections. This workshop will take place at the MFAH.

Objectives:

• Recognize what constitutes a photobook maquette and learn about its rich history

• Identify key components of a successful photobook maquette

• Gain valuable insight into the process of creating well-conceived photobooks

• Better understand the interconnected history of photography and photobooks

• Learn about the various processes used to create photobook maquettes

• Get an insider’s view of the Library’s special collections at the MFAH 

• Develop a deeper appreciation for photobooks of all types 

Prerequisites: None

Course Prep: 

Participants are encouraged to bring pencils, paper, laptops, and an open mind. Students are strongly encouraged to review a modest reading list (will be emailed before the workshop) as a basis for discussions.