ABOUT BOOKFORGE

Edward Patrick Kranz is a native of Erie, Pennsylvania with deep roots in the Pacific Northwest. It was in Seattle where he began his book arts journey making bespoke journals and performing book restoration and repairs for friends and family. Drawing on his experiences as a contractor, aircraft mechanic, and later, a fine artist and graphic designer, Edward blends his technical prowess and creative skills with his lifelong love for books in a perfect marriage of his passions. Today, Edward concentrates his efforts on historically accurate, traditionally hand-bound bindings, as well as one-off fine bindings for authors and design bindings for letterpress limited edition for small presses and publishers. Edward apprenticed under Master Bookbinder and book restorer, Michael L. Chrisman. Mr. Chrisman focused Edward's education on the renowned teachings of Bernard C. Middleton, his late Master.

Edward’s early efforts in the book arts consisted of mastering the technical trade aspects of making a book. Focusing on forwarding, the actual binding work, and finishing, the decorating of the cover by tooling, gilding, and inlaying, as well as the fitting of the cover to the pages. Edward discovered a tactile world of materials and tools not so different than what he employed as a fine artist and designer. He discovered that this one-time trade had evolved into an art form all its own.

Now, Edward views books as objects of art, worthy of consideration; the book's form, shape, size, paper stock, printing, cover, and binding. All these elements create an intimate experience of anticipation for the reader. This is where he expresses his imagination as a creator. This is where he expresses his emotion. This is where he tells a story beyond written words.

It is Design Binding projects like the Erie County COVID-19 Book of Remembrance, commissioned by Erie County Executive, Kathy Dahlkemper, that illustrate the idea; the form of the book is as important as the text it contains. Edward added design elements to the full leather binding such as COVID-19 “crowns” at the head and tail of the spine. The endbands were hand-sewn in gold and blue silk to represent the colors of the virus that struck down so many of our loved ones. A blue line separates the two main sections of the book representing first responders and hospital staff who put their lives at risk every day. All artistic design choices, all meaningful and meant to elicit an emotional response to the person writing about their loved one in the Book of Remembrance as well as the reader, generations down the road.

Edward lives with his wife, Antonyia, and son, Ayden in the Glenwood Hills neighborhood of Erie, Pennsylvania.