Nagging Feeling of Absence

This is a memorial piece for absent family.

First square is the symbol used for a spacer at the beginning, end, and between words.

Nagging Feeling

Nagging Feeling

Modified tap and clock code. The rust fiber is the code, the pale green fiber is used for spacers.

Nagging Feeling

Each cardboard card is reinforced with a piece of cardstock. The cardstock is bound through the cardboard and around the cardstock.
Nagging Feeling

Notes on Work
Nagging Feeling

Nagging Feeling

Hung in the corner of the guest bedroom that has become storage space for work.

Nagging Feeling

Materials–Paper, metal, fiber, ink, PVA

Scale–66″ x 3.75″ x .25″


Just Because Book

Quote used–Just because you are taught that something is right and everyone believes it is right, it does not make it right.

Just Because

When I looked at the images, I realized I forgot to use stamps to number the pages. Maybe today.

Just Because

Just Because

Just Because

Just Because

Just Because

Just Because

Just Because

Just Because

Just Because

Just Because

Just Because

My last name in code.
Just Because

Materials–monoprints, paper,roofing felt, fiber, metal,chalk, PVA

Scale–5.75″ x 6.5″ x 1.5″


Truth–Carl Sagan

Carl Sagan quote–We wish to find the truth, no matter where it lies. But to find the truth we need imagination and skepticism both. We will not be afraid to speculate, but we will be careful to distinguish
speculation from fact.

Code is modified tap code in a domino format.

Tap Code

Domino Format

The upper portion in stitched is a lighter green than the bottom portion.

Domino Format

Since C and K are typically the same I decided to give K the code 63 (C is 13), comma 85, and period 88.

Unfortunately, when I photographed the piece with my phone, the dark green fiber is difficult to distinguish from the black domino cards.
Completed Piece

Completed Piece

Materials–Paper, Fiber, PVA, Binder Clips

Scale–11” x 35” x 1”


Book–Second Bradbury quote

Ray Badbury quote–There is more than one way to burn a book. And the world is full of people running about with lit matches.

Bradbury2_01

Bradbury2_02

Bradbury2_03

This is the second time I used burnt matches for binary code. The large single matches on a card are spacers between words.

Do the colors of the cards mean anything? Yes, modified Morse code. The layout is the repeated word Read.

Page 1 There is more
Bradbury2_Page 1

Page 2 than one way
Bradbury2_Page 2

Page 3 to burn a book
Bradbury2_Page 3

Page 4 . And the
Bradbury2_Page 4

Page 5 world is full
Bradbury2_Page 5

Page 6 of people
Bradbury2_Page 6

Page 7 running about
Bradbury2_Page 7

Page 8 with lit
Bradbury2_Page 8

Page 9 matches.
Bradbury2_Page 9

Envelope for Notes on Piece
Bradbury2_Notes 1

Bradbury2_Notes 2

Materials–Monoprints, rust paper, paper, burnt matches, clip nuts, safety pins, metal, waxed linen, cotton, pit-fired bead.

Scale–11”x6.5”x2.5”


Friendship is a Sheltering Tree

Sheltering Tree

Made a code combining Morse and Clock. Short lines are used for dots and long lines for dashes. The code is–
Friendship is a sheltering tree. It is a Samuel Taylor Coleridge quote.

Plant materials are from my gardens. California Live Oaks have sharp and prickly leaves. The needles are from, I think it is the White Pine. They are also a bit prickly.

Materials–Plant material, paper, safety pins, fiber, PVA.
Scale–21.5” x 18.5” x .5”


Book–Read

Every day there are reports of multiple books banned because some people found them offensive. Often those same people haven’t even read them. Simple Solution–if you believe that you won’t like a book; don’t read it. Don’t make books unavailable for people who would find them enjoyable, interesting, and informative.

My mother was an avid reader. She taught me to love and respect books. Some of my fondest memories are of our monthly visits to the pubic library. I loved walking through the stacks, looking for, and finding something wonderful to read.

I continued the practice when I was in college and grad school. One of the benefits about being a grad student, was being permitted to keep books for an entire term. I loved that I had a borrowed library in my apartment.

Whenever I had extra money, I bought books. I have over 1,300 printed books and nearly 650 digital books. My printed books are on shelves and stacked all over the house–on chairs, floors, desks, and my studio work table. Some books are stored in boxes in the garage. Digital books are nice because they take up little space. Just not the same sensory experience as touching, smelling, and reading paper books.

As a young adult, I never considered folding a page or making marks in my books. Most likely it was the result of decades of borrowing. Now I make notes, comments, and even record ideas for art projects. I am warming to digital books. It is easy to make highlights and add notes. The search feature and print function saves loads of time.

For the past year, I have been making books based on my reading and current events. I like that most of the books I made are small and intimate. Some are wee things can be secreted away in a shirt pocket.

I integrate several of the same techniques and materials I used in previous work. The connection to past work, makes the book format comfortable while I am learning new techniques and processes.

Read–Ray Bradbury

The Ray Bradbury quote used in the piece is–You don’t have to burn books to destroy culture. Just get people to stop reading them.

This is the first piece that I used a binary code. Since I planned to use burnt matches for the code, binary was a good fit. The book was completed in September.

Bradbury Read

Binary Code–Read
Bradbury Read

You Don’t Have To
Bradbury Read

You
Bradbury Read

Bradbury Read

Burn Books To
Bradbury Read

Destroy Culture. Just
Bradbury Read

Bradbury Read

Get People To Stop
Bradbury Read

Reading Them.
Bradbury Read

Notes on Work
Bradbury Read

Bradbury Read

There is a square knot between each page.
Bradbury Read
Bradbury Read

Materials–Burnt Matches, Cardboard, Packing Envelope, Paper, Fiber, Metal bits, Gaffer Tape, PVA, Adhesive, Ink, Sealant.

Scale_11.5″ x 9.75″ x 2.5″


Book–Old Friends

Used a Christopher Hitchens quote–A melancholy lesson of advancing years is the realization that you can’t make old friends.

Cover Code is Old Friends
Old Friends

A Melancholy
Old Friends

Lesson of
Old Friends

Advancing Years
Old Friends

Is The Realization
Old Friends

That You Can’t
Old Friends

Make Old Friends
Old Friends

.
Old Friends

Notes Envelope
Old Friends

Notes
Old Friends

Back Cover
Old Friends

Materials–monoprints, tree wrap, paper, metal, fiber, PVA

Scale–6.25″ x 5.75″ x 1″


Harmony

“Happiness is when what you think, say, and do are in harmony.” Based on a Gandhi quote.

Sealant applied to protect the rust paper and to secure the fiber.

Harmony

Details of the rust paper, code, and binding. The piece is still damp from the sealant.
Harmony
Harmony
Harmony
Harmony

Notes attached to the back of the piece.
Harmony

Idea for the piece was the result of seeing the vent over the door to the laundry room.

Harmony

Hung the piece over the door inside the guest bathroom.

Harmony

After it is hung for a few days, I will attach a piece of foam tape to the bottom. It will secure the piece and prevent it from moving about every time the door is opened and closed.