Welle Book Arts Studio

The Welle Book Arts Studio provides an engaging and inspiring hands-on learning environment in editing, publishing, art, history, and English courses at the College of Saint Benedict—particularly those courses that serve the College of Saint Benedict & Saint John’s University’s Book Arts Minor. The studio houses vintage and contemporary papermaking, letterpress printing (using metal, wood, and polymer blocks and type), and book binding equipment.

Broadsides

Original broadsides are designed and printed for most writers who visit CSB/SJU. Created by the Welle Book Arts Studio, these are typically unique, letterpress, limited-run prints of a selection from the writer’s catalogue to commemorate their visit. Some broadsides even incorporate handmade paper from natural materials grown at CSB/SJU.

Broadsides are available for purchase at events and can be ordered by email at [email protected]

The Mirror of Simple Souls

This is a special book arts project bringing the words of celebrated poet and classicist Anne Carson together with stunning visual images by artist Kim Anno. The CSB/SJU Literary Arts Institute (LAI) commissioned CSB alumna and book artist Mary Jo Pauly to design and print the book, which was completed in a limited letterpress edition.

Read The Mirror of Simple Souls online.

Handmade Paper Signifying the Benedictine Ethic of Environmental Sustainability

The main purpose of the project was to research prairie plants from the Saint John’s Arboretum and the Saint Benedict’s prairie to create a handmade paper that signifies the Benedictine ethic of environmental sustainability. “Scientific Methodologies Applied to the Creation of a Saint Benedict Handmade Paper,” was conducted by CSB junior Ellory Eggermont, an art major from Fargo, N.D. She was advised by assistant professors of art, Rachel Melis and Scott Murphy.

Check out a Papermaking Process Video, Images from Prairie Fields, and our Prairie Grasses Workshop Slideshow.