Box Making #3
The box making class I took at Center for Book Arts, NYC, was designed for those interested in making boxes for books and small objects. Participants were asked to bring in books or small objects to be encased. So we had an opportunity to make boxes with a specific purpose and customize it for a specific object.
I’ve been wanting to make a box that resembles a book that has a tiny book inside. I also wanted the book inside to have its own little cubby…or be presented in a way that jewelry might be. In other words, the object inside is the center of attention and presented to the viewer. I really wanted to grasp the concept of making closures, too. For the sake of time, I went with a ribbon. Though I’d love for future boxes to have hardware or unconventional closures…this process opened up new confidence to try some other ideas.
For my project, I brought in a tiny book I made earlier this year. A small hard cover wrapped in experimental inks with faux leather along the spine. Speckled edges. So cute. It’s about the size of a business card and about 1/4” deep.
This box took forever to construct. I think I spent every day working on some part of the main tray, the wrap around cover, and the inner cubby + decorations. But it was TOTALLY worth it. I wanted the outside box to be much larger than the contents to emphasize the adorableness of the little book inside. I covered it in all black fabric so the yellow from the book would be a shock in contrast when the box was opened. The cubby has a little ribbon to easily pop the book out like a pair of AA batteries. I only wish i I had a fat satin ribbon for the outer box for more texture contrast. But this still satisfied my love of black-on-black design.
I really enjoy that the book inside doesn’t jostle around. I like that it’s a little experience, too. All black and mysterious on the outside. You cant really tell what (if anything) is inside. The size and color of the object inside is in surprising contrast to the outside of the container. The materials and weight look and feel special. I realize designing the experience is part of the pleasure of this artform. It informs so much of the decision making and makes this whole process so stimulating. Figuring out how to infuse some magic the viewer (…or umm ..box holder?) can feel is the challenge I’m after.
