Alphabet Books with Priya Pereira

Discover how a little street toy inspired an artist’s book! India-based Priya Pereira shares her alphabet book format, as well as the moments of her husband’s childhood and memories of her beloved city of Bombay that fill its pages. Learn how to make your own, and reflect on personal experiences that will bring that format to life.

Registrants receive a recommended supply list, applicable digital resources, and Zoom meeting link one week prior to each session.

Camp activities are largely designed to make use of materials and tools you might have at home, to encourage repurposing and seeing everyday objects in a new light.

Session participants can request a professional development certificate of completion reflecting total earned participation hours.

About the Instructor

After graduating in 1988 in Applied Arts, Priya Pereira was an Art Director at the advertising agency J. Walter Thompson for five years working on print and film on national and international brands.

She first began making books in 1993 along with her husband Tony, under the imprint Pixie Bks. Not knowing why she made them or what they were called or who the audience and buyer were, it just seemed right then. And fortunately seems right even now. It was only in 1999 (and 26 books later), during a visit to the US that they discovered a term for what they did—artists’ books. Today Priya is featured as India’s first contemporary Book Artist dedicated to artists’ books. Work by Priya and her husband can be found in more than 60 museums, libraries, and university and private collections around the world.

Pixie Bks have been exhibited at many museums from the Brooklyn Museum (2019) and NMWA (2016) to Bibliotheque Louis-Nucera at Nice (2010). Most recently, Pixie Bks have been reviewed in the Book Club of California, Summer Quarterly (2020). In July 2020, Priya was selected along with ten other artists, collectors, curators, academics, writers, and librarians from all over the world to be a part of the International Council of the Center for Book Arts, New York.

This program is sold out. Email education@nmwa.org to be added to the wait list.

About the Virtual Educator Camp Series

Our free, virtual Educator Summer Camp welcomes anyone who identifies as an educator. Sessions, inspired by the ABC Institutes and NMWA’s collection, are hands-on, participatory, and fun!

Independent, 90-minute sessions on a variety of topics are offered Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, Monday, July 12, through Friday, July 30.

Register for one session or many depending on your interest and commitments.