Fr Charles Brandt offered courses on book and paper conservation to Universities as well as in local libraries and arts groups. The following is an invitation to a course offered at the Sybil Andrews Cottage in Campbell River.
Learn how to care for, collect old books
If you’ve ever wondered how to mend a tear in a favourite book, how to restore a damaged watercolour, or how really old books should be cared for and can be restored come and meet the master. The Campbell River Arts Council will present a workshop with Charles Brandt on Saturday, April 14, from 9:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the Sybil Andrews Cottage, 2131 South Island Highway.
Charles Brandt is an award-winning environmentalist who lives on the Oyster River, where he supports himself as a bookbinder, book/paper conservator, instructor, and retreat giver. In times past, he worked as a Chief of Bindery, a Book-Paper Conservator and a Chief Conservator with institutions such as the Canadian Conservation Institute, and the Provincial Archives of Manitoba. Charles will discuss, demonstrate and facilitate hands-on learning in restoration. As well, his slide show on his
restoration of Audubon’s Birds of America will give participants a fascinating look at the delicate work of
restoring a priceless artifact.
Part Two of the day will begin at 1 pm with an examination of the art of book collecting. Bob Evans, a noted local collector will share all the secrets he’s learned in his epic journey from packrat to bonafide book collector. If you want to know about the people, the places, and the hideouts where good and great books can be found, this is the workshop for you. Bob started collecting books when he was a child:
Big-Little books, pocket books, books he was given for Christmas and Sunday School books. Westerns led him to Zane Gray, who, Bob says, also wrote about fishing books, which are very hard to get.
Fishing books, an interest in conservation, and his wife’s uncle led him to Roderick Haig-Brown’s books,
which Bob was amazed to discover are collected all over the world. Bob has filled five scrapbooks with articles about Haig-Brown and he has compiled a bibliography of the writer’s works. It’s a labour of love that Bob says will likely never be finished.
Participants should bring books, prints, drawings and watercolours that need restoring, for discussion during the morning workshop with Charles.
For the afternoon session with Bob, please bring books you wish to discuss. The cost for the day is $45.
Please register with the Campbell River Arts Council by calling 923-0213.
Space is limited so please call early as these workshops will be popular.