Upon first encounter, the term artists’ books may conjure visions of oversized coffee table tomes with oil paintings decorating their covers and names like MANET or DÜRER printed in imposing serif typefaces. In reality it refers to works of art in the form of a book or inspired by the idea of a book. While this general definition captures the essence of artists’ books, it cannot account for their fluid, manifold nature. At End Paper, the NCMA’s biennial art book fair, we celebrate not only this genre but the extraordinary local artists who continue to rethink the expressive capabilities of book arts more broadly—including zines, comics, and photo books.
In its inaugural year (2023), End Paper welcomed over 2,600 visitors to our Raleigh campus and provided free tabling opportunities for over 60 vendors—almost entirely independent artists or small publishers. With End Paper 2025, scheduled for September 20–21, we seek to expand the fair’s impact even further, growing our community of participating artists (over 70) and piloting new satellite programs throughout North Carolina. Artist-led workshops and demonstrations also make their triumphant return, providing hands-on experience with a variety of book-related art forms, like bookbinding, gelli printing, zine making, and more.
In anticipation of this one-of-a-kind weekend, we’re introducing five of the fantastic artists sharing their passion for book arts on the vendor floor. Vendors are split up by day, so if you want to experience all of their amazing work, be sure to join us for the entirety of the fair.
Josh Hockensmith / Blue Bluer Books
A beloved advocate of book arts within the Triangle, Josh Hockensmith has published work under the press name Blue Bluer Books for almost 30 years. His practice involves a rich engagement with poetics, specifically in his conception of each work as a material poem or poem-object. No matter the form his books take, Hockensmith finds equal potential for meaning making in their physical qualities and contents.
Over the course of his 25-year career at UNC–Chapel Hill, Hockensmith curated the Sloane Art Library’s sizable collection of artists’ books, introducing students to the genre’s potential for creative expression and scholarly engagement through demonstrations and discussions. During that time he helped co-found and lead Triangle Book Arts, a local network of book artists.
Learn more about Hockensmith’s work—inspired by the natural world, Zen Buddhist practice, and the history of the book—by visiting his vendor table on Sunday, September 21, from 10 am to 4 pm.
Milk & Honey Comics
Founded by Giancarlo D’Alessandro, Milk & Honey Comics is a publisher of indie comics and apparel based out of Wilmington, North Carolina. Through printed anthology magazines, they promote the work of international small-press artists, contributing to the growing comics landscape of our state.
Before visiting the Milk & Honey vendor table on Sunday, September 21, explore the Milk & Honey Comic Anthology Archive to encounter the diverse range of art styles and genres represented in the pages of their publications.
Gerald Ward / Bibliopathologist
Gerald Ward is a bookbinder, librarian, and maker with over 20 years of experience in preservation, design, and historical media. Under the studio name Bibliopathologist, Ward creates custom book bindings, archival enclosures, handcrafted sketchbooks, and bespoke journals. He also restores rare and collectible books with a care and deep respect for the stories they hold.
Serving as assistant director of media and digital services for the library at High Point University, Ward leads students in creative, educational programming related to book arts, digital storytelling, and media production. This transfer of practical knowledge represents the preservation of physical media’s legacy and a strengthening of its ability to connect us to history, each other, and ourselves.
During End Paper Ward will be hosting a bookbinding workshop on Sunday, September 21, from 10:30 am to 12:30 pm, in which students will learn how to construct several styles of nonadhesive bindings, including the five-hole pamphlet stitch, string of pearls stitch, and chain stitch. That same day, he will also be exhibiting his store of custom-bound books and other wares on the vendor floor.
Western Carolina University / Tatiana Potts
On Saturday, September 20, students will take over the vendor floor and exhibit their work for the Museum’s book arts community. Western Carolina University (WCU), represented by Professor Tatiana Potts, will be one of the many local schools tabling as part of Student Day. Almost all of the work that will be on view from WCU was created in the school’s Book Arts I and Book Arts II courses, where students explore a variety of book structures and create unique works using simple printmaking techniques.
Having more than one book arts course offered at a single college or university is a rarity, making WCU an exceptional destination for book arts education in our state. To learn more about the curriculum, facilities, and equipment available at WCU, stop by their table or visit the WCU Print and Book Arts webpage.
Jessica C. White
Winner of the People’s Choice Award at End Paper 2023, Jessica C. White returns to the fair with her exceptional prints, books, and crankies—art objects composed of long scrolls cranked through a viewing box, simulating the effect of moving panoramas. White’s award-winning crankie, Moon-eyed People, is featured in Then and There, Here and Now: Contemporary Visions of North Carolina, an exhibition now on view at the NCMA.
White, based in Asheville, NC, draws inspiration for the narrative and formal aspects of her artwork from music, folktales, ghost stories, children’s books, and the ancient beauty of the Appalachian Mountains. Her work has been exhibited internationally and can be seen in public collections at Yale University, Standford University, and the Art Institute of Chicago, among others.
Visit White’s vendor table on Sunday, September 21, to hear more about her practice and browse her works for sale. That same day, from 1:30 to 2:30 pm, she will be putting on a crankie performance accompanied by live music. Register for free to learn more about the heritage of an interactive and imaginative storytelling medium.
We can’t wait to introduce NCMA community members to the full range of artists represented at End Paper 2025. Since book arts are a regularly neglected or marginalized art form, fairs of this sort have become an increasingly important way for artists to connect with new audiences. Moreover, End Paper gathers organizations and individuals from across the state, supplying important networking opportunities and growing NC’s book arts culture. We invite you to pick up a new art-making skill, find the next pièce de résistance of your personal art collection, and uplift the generative perspectives of local artists at this can’t-miss weekend event.
To view the full list of End Paper exhibiting artists, programs, and satellite programs, visit ncartmuseum.org/endpaper.
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