Art Instructor Amanda Wood (left) and High School Senior Sarah Anderson with her Flexagon Card models. In this photo the cards are closed.

I’ve been teaching paper and book arts classes for sixteen years, mostly to adults, and it’s always a special privilege when I receive an invitation to teach younger artists.

On the morning of February 10th, with Lyle Lovett tunes emanating from the CD player in my PT Cruiser, I left Seattle and drove 16 miles to Meadowdale High School in Lynnwood, Washington. As I walked through the door to the main entrance to the school at 7:15 am, I was greeted with a wonderful display of art work – beautiful prints on paper and tiled plaques, created by students in classes taught by Art Instructors Amanda Wood and D’arcie Beytebiere. Seeing this vibrant artwork made me happy and even more excited to meet my students. I logged in, received my visitor’s pass, and proceeded to Amanda Wood’s classroom.

This photo shows the same Flexagon cards opened.

Art Instructor Amanda Wood had received a Book Arts Grant to have me teach four classes – ‘Flexagon Cards’ and ‘Envelope Book’ to students and adults at Meadowdale High School, and ‘Fold’n Cut Books’ to two classes at Meadowdale Middle School (You can see some of the samples I made for these classes below).

Meadowdale HS artists work on Flexagon Cards in Amanda's elective art class titled 'Art Books 9-12' as Michael adjusts overhead projector in preparation for next step (photo courtesy Amanda Wood)

High school students, teachers and parents observe basic techniques at the beginning of 'Envelope Books', taught as part of Amanda's once-a-week after school Art Club class (photo courtesy Amanda Wood)

I met Amanda for the first time when I walked into her classroom to set up, and reconnected with D’arcie, who teaches right next door (we met in the mid-90’s at a workshop I taught at Coupeville Art Center). As I walked around the two art rooms, I got inspired by ceramic sculptures that light up and lots of sculptural bookworks made by Meadowdale High School students – yet another visual (and tactile!) treat!

Michael operates Alex Tindall's flexagon heart card while Julia Higbee reads the next step in her Flexagon Cards handout (photo courtesy Amanda Wood)

Meadowdale Middle School artists made several 'Fold 'n Cut Books' in the cozy art room while snow fell outside (photo courtesy Amanda Wood)

Thank you, Amanda, for having me teach at the Meadowdale schools (and for being so totally organized!). It was exciting to experience your passion for book arts and to see that making hand-made books plays such a big part in your teaching curriculum!

Michael's samples for 'Flexagon Cards' Class

Michael's samples for 'Fold 'n Cut Books' Class

One of Michael's samples for 'Envelope Books' class