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Reimagining Illumination

Reimagining Illumination was a series of workshops held in 2025-2026, designed to interrogate and expand the concept of illumination (i.e., the use of light) in books and manuscripts.

Photo of a manuscript page with gold letters shining in the light

How can we use light to make our books beautiful, interesting, fun, or informative? Through a series of workshops, scheduled over the 2025-2026 academic year, we will investigate this question. Over the course of the year we looked at books from the Kislak Center for Special Collections, Rare Books, and Manuscripts, and we'll make some of our own. The series culminated in an open exhibition with manuscripts and books viewed under candlelight, and featured our creations, too.

The workshops were all held in the Vitale II Lab for Digital Humanities and Book History (Van Pelt 623, in the Kislak Center for Special Collections, Rare Books and Manuscripts).

Workshops

May 01
  • Exhibit
Open to the Public

Reimagining Illumination: A Celebratory Exhibit for Reading Days

On Friday, May 1, we invite you to celebrate the culmination of Reimagining Illumination with an open, drop-in exhibition! Under the gentle illumination of electric candles, we'll display manuscripts and artist's books from Penn's collections, along with creations made by workshop attendees over the course of the year. Everyone is welcome!

  • May 1, 2026
  • 4:00pm - 5:30pm
  • Kislak Center Vitale II, Rm 623, 6th Floor, Van Pelt-Dietrich Library Center
photo of a manuscript page under candlelight
Apr 14
  • Workshop
Open to the Public

Reimagining Illumination: Getting Creative With Medieval Manuscripts

Christine Kemp and Dot Porter will lead a workshop where we paint 3D figures of marginal characters pulled from our fantastic 13th century Bible, Ms. Codex 724.

  • April 14, 2026
  • 2:00pm - 4:00pm
  • Kislak Center Vitale II, Rm 623, 6th Floor, Van Pelt-Dietrich Library Center
Photo of a 3d printed guy from a manuscript, painted with delightful colors
Mar 24
  • Workshop
Open to the Public

Reimagining Illumination: Mirrors + Movable Books

On March 24, Emily Brooks, Associate Director of Digital Research in the Humanities in the Price Lab for Digital Humanities, will lead a workshop where we will make pop-up mirror books.

  • March 24, 2026
  • 2:00pm - 4:00pm
  • Kislak Center Vitale II, Rm 623, 6th Floor, Van Pelt-Dietrich Library Center
Screenshot of a mirror pop-up
Feb 24
  • Workshop
Open to the Public

Reimagining Illumination: Make Your Own Paper Circuit

On Tuesday, February 24th, Emily Brooks will lead us in creating our own mini holographic light-up constellation shadow boxes based on artwork from a Netherlandish astronomy book from Penn's collection.

  • February 24, 2026
  • 2:00pm - 4:00pm
  • Kislak Center Vitale II, Rm 623, 6th Floor
A photo of a book illustration showing a constellation diagram in the form of a unicorn
Feb 17
  • Workshop
Open to the Public

Reimagining Illumination: Make Your Own Illuminated Initial

On Tuesday, February 17, SIMS Curator for Digital Humanities Dot Porter and Program Coordinator of Technology and Play Christine Kemp will lead a workshop where we will make our own illuminated initials on parchment using gold leaf and paint.

  • February 17, 2026
  • 2:00pm - 4:00pm
  • Kislak Center Vitale II, Rm 623, 6th Floor
Photo of an illuminated letter A created by a student
Jan 20
  • Workshop
Open to the Public

Reimagining Illumination: Light in Artist's Books

On Tuesday, January 20, we'll look at the many ways that modern artists make use of light in their book creations - including transparencies, reflections, and electric light.

  • January 20, 2026
  • 2:00pm - 4:00pm
  • Kislak Center Vitale II, Rm 623, 6th Floor
photo of an artist's book, a small square with lights shining through
Nov 11
  • Workshop
Open to the Public

Reimagining Illumination: Be Creative with Illuminated Manuscripts

On Tuesday, November 11, Program Coordinator of Technology and Play Christine Kemp and SIMS Curator for Digital Humanities Dot Porter and will lead a workshop where we will investigate the playfulness of manuscript illumination through hands-on making, including stickers, buttons, and plushies.

  • November 11, 2025
  • 2:00pm - 4:00pm
  • Kislak Center Vitale II, Rm 623, 6th Floor
Oct 28
  • Workshop
Open to the Public

Reimagining Illumination: Make Your Own Illuminated Initial

On Tuesday, October 28 (rescheduled from October 21), SIMS Curator for Digital Humanities Dot Porter and Program Coordinator of Technology and Play Christine Kemp will lead a workshop where we will make our own illuminated initials on parchment using gold leaf and paint.

  • October 28, 2025
  • 2:00pm - 4:00pm
  • Kislak Center Vitale II, Rm 623, 6th Floor
Photo of an illuminated initial S
Sep 16
  • Workshop
Open to the Public

Reimagining Illumination: Illuminated Manuscripts

On Tuesday, September 16, Schoenberg Curator of Manuscripts Nick Herman will talk about the practice of illumination in premodern manuscripts, showing us a variety of manuscripts from Penn's collections.

  • September 16, 2025
  • 2:00pm - 3:00pm
  • Kislak Center Vitale II (Room 623), Van Pelt-Dietrich Library Center, 6th Floor
Photo of a manuscript page with gold letters shining in the light

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