A Panel Discussion
As part of the HBC’s 53rd Annual Members’ Exhibition, book artists were given a unique opportunity to create original works using sections of a donated Gilbert Baker Rainbow Flag that once flew over Harvey Milk Plaza.
Slippery, synthetic, and stubborn, the fabric resisted precision—fraying, warping, and pushing back at every turn. Much like the queer identities and experiences it represents, it demanded care, patience, and persistence.
Join us for a panel discussion exploring the Pride Books: Amanda Andonian, Bridget McGraw, Erica Taketa, and Paloma Lucas, moderated by Insiya Dhatt. The resulting works are a spectrum of interpretations that reflect the challenges, beauty, and meaning embedded in the flag books and the hands that shaped it. Meet some of the artists, learn about their processes and hear about the challenges they encountered turning their vision into a book.
The Panelists:
Amanda Andonian is a writer and bookbinder living in Daly City. When she isn’t spending her time reading, writing, or bookbinding, she binge-watches Star Trek and Taskmaster while cuddling with her two Norwegian Forest cats.
Paloma Lucas is a printmaker and book artist born in Madrid, Spain, now living and working in the U.S. After starting her professional life in finance, she discovered her true calling in the arts. Her work combines traditional and digital media, often inspired by her Spanish roots, everyday life, and the therapeutic nature of creating. Deeply tactile and paper-loving, Paloma crafts each piece with care, intuition, and emotional connection. As a problem-solver by nature, Paloma brings a structural and poetic sensibility to her handmade books and visual storytelling.“Pride” is Paloma Lucas’s take on the Rainbow Flag Project. Designed, edited, printed, and lovingly hand-bound by Paloma herself—with a touch of magic from some very creative writers.
Bridget McGraw has a BA in English Literature from the University of Minnesota as her foundation, and attained two master’s degrees from NYU: Fine Art Photography and Interactive Telecommunications. Her professional employment—as a creative producer, educational technologist, and editor—informs her book arts practice.
Erika Taketa is a bookbinder from the San Francisco Bay Area. She started binding three years ago and is interested in celebrating her favorite texts with creative and meaningful digital typesetting and design. She enjoys experimenting with traditional and contemporary binding techniques.