Our Team
Leaders Dedicated to the Revival of the Tangible Arts
Sarah Chen: Executive Director & Master Binder
Sarah Chen is the driving force behind the HIVE Center, serving as its Executive Director and contributing Master Binder, bringing over two decades of experience in archival conservation and fine press printing to the organization. Holding a Master of Fine Arts in Book Arts and Printmaking from a highly respected institution, Sarah’s professional career includes key roles in prestigious library conservation labs where she specialized in the complex restoration of 18th and 19th-century texts, lending her an unparalleled depth of knowledge regarding material longevity and historical technique. Her passion, however, lies in teaching and ensuring that these venerable techniques remain accessible and vibrant in the 21st century; she combines rigorous standards with a wonderfully warm, patient teaching style, making advanced concepts digestible for beginners. Sarah is committed to fostering a supportive community environment, personally mentoring emerging book artists, and tirelessly advocating for the importance of tactile engagement in a world increasingly dominated by screens, believing strongly that the simple act of folding paper can be deeply transformative and meditative for the modern individual. Her leadership ensures the HIVE Center maintains its high educational and professional standards.
Elara Jones: Programs Manager & Conservation Assistant
Elara Jones serves as the Programs Manager and Conservation Assistant, acting as the organizational backbone of the HIVE Center, seamlessly managing the logistics of the educational schedule while supporting the bindery’s professional conservation efforts. Elara holds a degree in Arts Administration and has specialized training in non-profit operations and museum studies, skills she uses daily to coordinate the dozens of workshops, maintain student records, and manage the complex inventory of specialized tools and materials required for both teaching and custom work. Her dual role means she is intimately familiar with the demands of the craft and the needs of our diverse student body, allowing her to provide compassionate, personalized support to everyone who walks through the door. She is often the first point of contact for new students and is deeply invested in creating a welcoming, family-friendly atmosphere. Elara’s quiet efficiency and deep commitment to the Center’s mission ensure that every workshop runs smoothly, that instructors have the resources they need, and that the student experience is consistently positive and highly organized from initial registration through final project completion.
Michael Ngo: Custom Bindery Manager & Restoration Expert
Michael Ngo is the Custom Bindery Manager, responsible for overseeing all client commissions, from initial consultation and material sourcing to the final, meticulous execution of the binding or restoration project. Michael is a highly accomplished restoration expert, whose qualifications include advanced training from European master binders and a specialization in historically accurate structures and material identification, making him the go-to specialist for irreplaceable documents. He possesses a rigorous, scientific approach to conservation, combined with a keen artistic eye, enabling him to restore damaged texts to archival standards while maintaining their historical aesthetic. Under his meticulous guidance, the custom bindery consistently delivers unparalleled quality, whether it’s a run of fine art edition books or a delicate 300-year-old volume requiring sensitive paper repair. Michael takes immense pride in collaborating with clients to bring their unique, often personal, visions to life, knowing that the work he manages creates enduring objects and ensures the physical preservation of important stories and history for generations to come.
David Alvarez: Lead Instructor & Letterpress Specialist
David Alvarez is the HIVE Center’s Lead Instructor and resident Letterpress Specialist, a respected artisan known for his innovative approach to traditional printing and his infectious enthusiasm for the graphic arts. David earned his BFA in Graphic Design before dedicating his career entirely to the tactile, intentional process of setting movable type and operating antique printing presses, developing a distinctive style that merges historical printing methods with contemporary design sensibilities. His teaching excels because he breaks down the daunting mechanics of the press—from locking up a forme to achieving perfect inking—into clear, manageable steps, enabling students to quickly find success and confidence in the print shop. Beyond teaching, David manages the maintenance of the Center’s irreplaceable collection of presses, ensuring their optimal function and historical integrity. He believes that letterpress offers a vital antidote to digital fatigue, teaching patience and precision, and he is deeply fulfilled by witnessing the spark of excitement in a student’s eye when they pull their very first perfectly inked sheet from the press, connecting them directly to the craft’s rich heritage.
Community & Engagement
Connecting Generations Through Shared, Tactile Creation
The HIVE CENTER FOR THE BOOK ARTS places a high value on family involvement, recognizing that the book arts provide a unique, screen-free platform for multi-generational connection and shared creative activity that strengthens familial bonds. We offer specially designed family workshops—such as “Parent and Child Journal Making” or “Holiday Card Letterpress Printing”—that are carefully structured to accommodate different skill levels, allowing parents and children to collaborate side-by-side on a meaningful, tangible project. This shared creative experience not only imparts valuable technical skills to the young participants but also allows parents to model patience, problem-solving, and the quiet satisfaction of focused hand-craftsmanship, fostering a deep appreciation for material quality and endurance. By providing a warm, supportive, and accessible studio environment, we encourage families to make the HIVE Center a recurring destination for creative quality time, establishing memories and skills that are cherished long after the workshop is over, thereby embedding the arts within the fabric of family life.
Contact Us
Reach Out to Start Your Creative Journey or Commission Your Next Masterpiece
We warmly invite you to connect with the HIVE CENTER FOR THE BOOK ARTS through multiple convenient methods, whether you are ready to enroll in a workshop, inquire about a professional custom binding commission, or simply wish to learn more about the enduring craft of the handmade book. Our dedicated team is ready to provide detailed information about our curriculum, our community events, or to schedule a consultation with our Custom Bindery Manager regarding a personal or archival project, ensuring all your questions are answered with professional courtesy and speed. We believe that communication is the first step in the creative process, and we look forward to hearing from you and helping you transform your paper and book arts visions into beautiful, tangible realities.
Join Us/Work With Us
Investing in Talent to Sustain the Art of the Book
The HIVE CENTER FOR THE BOOK ARTS is continuously seeking passionate, highly skilled, and community-minded individuals who are dedicated to the preservation and teaching of the book arts to join our professional team, offering rewarding career opportunities that directly contribute to our cultural mission. We seek candidates across various disciplines, including Master Bookbinders with advanced archival skills, experienced Letterpress Printers who can manage a working print shop and teach all levels, and dedicated Arts Administrators capable of managing non-profit logistics and program development. Working with us means becoming an integral part of a vibrant, respected organization where your specialized expertise is valued, where you have access to state-of-the-art traditional equipment, and where your daily work involves passing on a meaningful, enduring craft to an eager and diverse community. We are deeply committed to professional development, encouraging our team members to continue their own education and artistic practice while guiding the next generation of artisans.