Have you ever wondered about the tools you use to make art? Who made them? How were they made? Are they real or synthetic materials? Could you perhaps make one yourself? These are the questions Rachel Stickney will answer as she discusses her recent trip to the Penland School of Craft in Bakersville, North Carolina. Rachel Stickney is a local book artist and educator. One of the tools used in book making and paper arts is a bone folder. A bone folder is a multipurpose hand tool used in making crisp, clean creases in paper, smoothing out edges, or burnishing surfaces. Today, modern bone folders are made of plastics and can be mass-produced. Traditionally, bone folders were made of animal bone. Penland School of Craft is a craft educational center hosting full immersion workshops in sixteen specialized studios. On this trip, Rachel learned to make traditional bone folders out of elk bone from renowned artist and tool maker, Shanna Leino. The bone pieces were cut, filed, shaped, and buffed to a shine, all by hand. Upon close examination, designs are carved into the tools for both functional and decorative elements. Come see the work in person at ARTbreak and inspect the tools up close! The KIA is offering both in-person and virtual tickets to this ARTbreak. Please RSVP accordingly. Reserve Your In-Person Ticket Reserve Your Virtual Ticket