Alain Taral and ‘Bound For Success’ in NYC

Thanks to my friends at Paper Dragon Books I can give you the promised update from my February 2010 post: Alain Taral and the ‘Bound For Success’ International Bookbinding Exhibition
www.designerbookbinders.uk.org

Alain Taral

Thursday, May 20, 2010
The Marquetry and bindings of Alain Taral

From a recent post by Gavin Dovey at Paper Dragon Books:

“It was my good fortune recently at the Grolier club in town, to meet among others the winner of the 2009 International Bookbinding competition, Alain Taral.It was my further good fortune to arrange a meeting at the bindery today through his student and interpreter Laurence Fayard, who now is living and working in Brooklyn, and I am very glad I did.
It was a great opportunity to see a completely different style and approach to binding, and its always nice to meet other binders anyway.

"Its all about the hinge..."

Alain started binding in Toulon in 1989.A client had asked for a binding using wood, and so began his career, perfecting his solid wood, and veneer bindings, complete with the most exquisite inlaying and marquetry.

Friday, May 21, 2010 (Posted at Paper Dragon Books)

The Marquetry and bindings of Alain Taral-le deuxieme jour!!

Gavin Dovey wrote:

“So I was lucky enough to sit in on visits to the Metropolitan Museum, and the Morgan Library , with Alain Taral and Laurence Fayard. Mindy Dubansky was gracious, considering the recent upheaval of renovations to the conservation dept.,and totally engaged with the work. Mindy has worked at the Met for 27 years, and in so doing has an extensive knowledge of collections, history, and art.”

One of Alain Taral's beautiful hardwood bindings

Since MiArtStudio is still in its aggregating phase, I’m placing these images and posts for our edification, but all credit accrues to Gavin Dovey with  Paper Dragon Books.
Thanks for helping me fulfill my promise to report on Alain Taral’s visit to NYC! :-)