POTOMAC CHAPTER: Workshop: Animated Structures with Thomas Parker Williams

Guild of Bookworkers Potomac Chapter Workshop

Animated Structures 

Taught by: Thomas Parker Williams

June 16, 2018

Glen Echo Park

Thomas Parker Williams demonstrates one of his animated structures. 

The first workshop of the year for the GBW Potomac Chapter was a great success! Taking place at on June 16th at the historical Glen Echo Park. All the participants were amazed at the fun structures that were built using the expert guidance of Philadelphia native book artist and GBW Delaware Valley Chapter member, Thomas Parker Williams. https://www.thomasparkerwilliams.com/

The participants were not only amazed by the magical structures of the volvelles, or radial hinges, sliding window elements and scrolls mounted in a box, but our leader's organization was also impressive. Traffic in Washington D.C can be quite wicked, but on this particular day it was also cruel, causing significant delays. Didn't hold us back though! Thanks to super planning on Thomas Parker Williams' part we were off and running. He utilizes laser cuts pieces to get the group through three animated structures in a short time. All the participants left with at least three built structures, instructions on the different pieces, and a CD disk with all the laser cut patterns on them. The pieces are all reversible so they can be taken apart and put back together for investigation (and let's be honest, a reminder). With the extra time we had at the end, the class started to get creative! There are lots of possibilities for creativity that can stem from this exciting class. I've personally never had so much fun at a workshop, and can't wait to get moving on something moving.

-Shannon Kerner, GBW Potomac Chapter 

A scroll in a box that goes both ways using a constant force spring.

Artwork using radial hinges by Paige Billin-Frye

Preparing the scroll rolls.

The class busy at work