Books – Page 3 – Everything is Not Black and White

Slat Book in Progress

I snagged some Pandorea jasminoides seed pods from a friend’s garden. They are woody and beautiful.

Pods

Open Pod

Open Pod Exposing Seeds

Pod Interior

Pod, Seeds Removed, With Interior Part

The pods have been used in my Change series.

Change Series

I kept the interior bits and seeds for possible future use.

Interior Bits

Seeds

Curious if the seeds were viable, so I planted a few–

Seedlings

I kept thinking about the interior bits. How could I use them? Recently ran across reference to slat books in one of my sketch books.

So, I selected the bits with the most interesting light lines.

Parts

The plan is to stitch a letter on each bit, then stitch them together. I had thought about using Ogham or A-tom-tom code, but for various reasons they didn’t feel right. Instead I made a stitch pattern based on Morse code. I actually made three versions. This is the phrase: Long forgotten memory.

Code for Long Forgotten Memory

For the slat book, I am deciding between the phrases, link with the past and accustomed to being invisible. Probably will use bamboo cord or Egyptian cotton thread for the stitch work.

When I quickly searched for the two types of code that I decided not use, I realized that both times I hit Omniglot, the online encyclopedia of writing systems and languages. It is a great site with loads of information.

Strip or Slat books were made of a variety of material–bamboo, bark, and palm leaves. The material was cut into slats. The slats were either bound together or holes were made and cord was threaded through binding the slats together.

Information about the history of books and slat books can be found on the
Harry Ransom Center, The University of Texas at Austin website.

Slat Book

Information on Horizontal and Vertical Writing in East Asian Scripts can be found on Wikipedia.

Writing in vertical columns from right to left facilitated writing with a brush in the right hand while continually unrolling the sheet of paper or scroll with the left.

A brief description about slat books and a nice image can be found on Susan Kapuscinski Gaylord’s website makingbooks.com.

Slat Book

Information on early Chinese inscriptions can be found on Jeremy Norman’s website historyofinformation.com.

Regret Quotes

“Regret. It piles up around us like books we never read.”

…is a great line from the movie, Jack Ryan: Shadow Recuit.

A few other regret quotes I have accumulated–

“…stained dark with regret and long-time abandonment.”

from Painted From Memories by Barbara Forte.

“…anger dissolved in a sigh of regret…”

from Deceptive Cadence: The Virtuosic Spy by Kathryn Guare.

“…time of early evening when the world seems trapped in melancholy, and all its regrets for all its mislaid plans for the day spelled in the fading clouds…”

from Where She Went by Kate Walbert.

And from The Gray and Guilty Sea-An Oregon Coast Mystery by Scott William Carter.

“…no room for even a sliver of regret”

Concrete as an Art Medium

I attempted to use concrete several times over the past 20 years. While some results were promising, I wasn’t ready to commit time to figure out why problems occurred.

I am currently working on a series of pod pieces. The pieces are constructed of actual woody pods. The contents removed and replaced with coins or metal bits woven into fulled wool, with hinges and bindings added.

Pods in Progress

Yep, they are in a plastic box. Ever since casemaking moths came to live in my studio, everything they might like to eat is stored in plastic or glass.

The plan was to make cedar boxes for the pods. And then a fun thing happened. I was rearranging some things in my studio and found some concrete cups and tiles from my last concrete casting attempt.

Concrete Cup and Prototype

The concrete cup on the right was cast in a silicone mold.
The mold was made of a waxed woven cup similar to the on the left.

Immediately I started thinking about making concrete boxes for my pods. But how? Concrete box with wood lids? Concrete with bamboo support? Concrete with inlaid copper? Concrete with metal mesh and code?

I googled concrete and found loads of stuff on using ready mixed concrete to make functional objects and tons of stuff on hypertufa.

Then I found Andrew Goss. He has a website with lots of great information for using concrete to make art pieces.

After reading the information on his site, I realized that I had attempted to cast thin walls without compensating for the removal of aggregate. Adding latex wasn’t enough especially when I was not caring properly for the pieces. I did not know the importance of wrapping the pieces in plastic. Why, I don’t know. My background is in clay and I definitely know how to care for clay during forming and drying.

I selected four concrete and hypertufa mixes for my first test–

Materials	Mix 1	Mix 2	Mix 3	Mix 4
Concrete	1	1	1	1
Vermiculite	4	1.5	1
Peat Moss		1.5	1
Sand			1	3

I added very little water so that I could press the concrete into silicone cup molds. I wrapped the concrete-filled molds in plastic. After two days I removed the pieces from the molds, leveled the bottoms of the cups, then wrapped them in plastic. Every day I have given the concrete cups a dip in water, then rewrapped them in plastic, and popped them in yogurt cups. I do think that a thinner plastic would be better.

Wrapped Concrete Cups

The main objective is to find a concrete mix that when cured will live nicely with my pod pieces. I like the texture that results from using peat in a hypertufa mix, but I do not like the bits flitting about in the air when it is sifted. Wearing a respirator does not keep the peat dust from collecting all over the studio. Also, I really dislike the way it smells in the wet mix and every time I unwrap the test pieces.

Since I want to make a success of concrete this time, I thought it would be a good idea to use good and tested information. I purchased Andrew’s book, Concrete Handbook for Artists, Technical Notes for Small-Scale Objects. I wish that I had found the book the first time I attempted concrete.

Andrew Goss’ blog, Art Concrete.

Elder Jones’ blog, Sandpudding Studio. Wet Carved Concrete

John Annesley’s blog, Sustainable Buildings as Art. Burlap-crete

The Hypertufa Gardener

The Cement Tile Blog

Fun Illustration Books

I just found the Illustration School books by Sachiko Umoto. They are very fun. My niece and nephew are enjoying the one I gave to my nephew–

Let’s Draw Cute Animals.

These are some quick snaps of the dust jacket and the page on how to draw a bunny.

Yep, that is a rock form one of trips to the beach.

Illustration School Book

Bunny Pages

There are several books in the series. They would be great for anyone, even adults who would like to learn some simple drawing techniques.

Flat Stanley Came For A Visit

My nephew’s teacher sent Flat Stanley for a visit. I put together a scrapbook and made a box for the collected things from the beach and hikes.

I didn’t know anything about Flat Stanley. Apparently Flat Stanley books have been around since 1964.

These are a few photos of the scrapbook that I made for my nephew and his class.

Scrapbook and Box. The box contains rocks, shells, pods, and twigs with lichens.

Scrapbook Pages 14 and 15. While Stanley was here he went with John when he donated platelets.
Stanley also went with our bunny, Big Baby when he went to the vet’s for a check-up.

Scrapbook Page 17 shows John at work with his assistant, The Bird.

Scrapbook Page 19 has photos of a project that I made for my sister’s 50th birthday.
Stanley helped.

Scrapbook Page 20 is the back cover.
Had a difficult time getting a photo of Stanley and Big Baby.
Big Baby was a bit too interested in Stanley.

Stanley is Packed and Ready To Travel.
I included a CD with the images of Stanely’s visit and the pages of the scrapbook.

This is what the class will see when Stanley arrives.

Maryland 2012 and Sandy

I was in rural Maryland during Sandy.

House

The power went off on Monday at 12:41 pm and wasn’t restored until yesterday evening, that would be Wednesday. Not that many hours really, but it was my longest experience living without running water, heat, electricity, and of course the internet. The week prior I was often wearing shorts; during the power outage I was wearing nearly everything that I packed.

I lived briefly without power while in Ohio during storms, tornadoes, and blizzards. When I was living in the California Bay Area we lost power during my first experience with earthquakes, the Loma Prieta in 1989. What I remember the most about the earthquake was the noise. Actually the noise brought back memories of tornadoes in Ohio. Nature can be powerful and destructive.

At the time I was completing my undergrad degree and working for a group of orthopedic surgeons. I realized how fragile the human body can be when dealing with the forces of nature. In nature there is no right or wrong, no evil. It does not discriminate.

When I was going to grad school in Washington it seemed the power would go off willy nilly, so I started carrying a small flashlight at all times.

I still carry my emergency flashlight. After reading a story about folks stranded in the dark on the subway, I gave flashlights to everyone in my family. My little flashlight helped me make my way through the dark of the house and it gave me light for reading.

The book I am reading may not have been the best choice–The Night Eternal, the third book in the series by Guillermo Del Toro and Chuck Hogan.

This was a great sight to see! So many possibilities–a cup of cocoa, a bowl of ramen, a hot shower.

Power Trucks and Crew

The Comfort of Books–A Three Dog Life

Today while I was working on a database I listened to one of the University of Minnesota Bookstore Author Events. It was a talk and reading by Abigail Thomas. The reading was from A Three Dog Life.

The book recounts Abigail’s experience as the spouse of an individual who sustained a traumatic brain injury. It is written with such honesty and humor, I felt like I was sitting with a friend having a discussion over coffee. Or in my case a cup of chocolate.

After listening to Abigail, I ordered a copy for my Mom. The last few years of my Dad’s life were a challenge for her. He had several surgeries, some dementia, and spent his last months in an extended care facility. It occurred to me that Abigail’s journey and words might be of some help to Mom during her grieving process.

This is a photo of my copy of A Three Dog Life. Can you tell how much I loved the book?

A Three Dog Life

Some of the pages are folded at top and bottom, and on both sides. And there are underlined passages as well.

These are a few of my favorite passages–

The past gets swallowed up in the extraordinary circumstances of now. p16

Rich spoke in mysteries. It was as if he were now connected to some vast reservoir of wisdom, available only to those whose brains have been altered, a reservoir unencumbered by personality, quirks, history, habits… p17

I can’t find the place that matches my memory. p27

Dogs are never in a bad mood over something you said at breakfast. Dogs never sniff at the husks of old conversations… p75

I kept forgetting the fact that I actually couldn’t take care of him. My terror obscured the truth: no single person, no two people could have taken care of a man in Rich’s condition. Why then did I feel so ashamed? What standard do we women hold ourselves to? After all these years I can finally say the words I want to live my life without feeling unnatural, selfish, cowardly. p115

I’m employed by a software company that produces projects for “language, learning, and speech,” which includes projects for TBI. My interest in brain injury began when my nephew suffered an injury when he was 18 months old. I had seriously considered a career in art therapy, but after researching it three times during various stages of my life I realized it wasn’t a good fit for me. Art should be used for expression not as a diagnostic tool.

The Comfort of Books

When I packed for my trip home to attend my Dad’s funeral I included Joe Coomer’s book, Beachcombing for a Shipwrecked God. I read the book several years back and liked it quite a lot. Coomer writes women who seem familiar, interesting, and some are even artists. It is a pleasure to read descriptions of artists whose creativity isn’t a form of mental illness.

While I was home, I helped pack up my Mom to move her to another state. Going through my parents’ things was an odd experience. I am too sentimental at times, attaching meaning to objects. This passage from Beachcombing rang true for me.

I’d walked into the hospital with dirty hands and knees, holding what I thought was a box of love and memory and hope, and walked out with the same box, a loose collection of yard-sale merchandise.

My Mom left her home of 62 years with four boxes and a few bags of clothes. I have been attempting to lessen my possession responsibility, but again being a mixed media artist it is difficult to give away potential art materials.

My favorite Joe Coomer books–

The Loop

Beachcombing for a Shipwrecked God

Pocketful of Names

One Vacant Chair

The Loop has finally become a film, A Bird of the Air. I can’t wait to see it.

An interview with Coomer can be read here.

Neil Gaiman–Make Good Art

Today I received an email with a link to Zen Pencils. There are some illustrations based on comments made by Neil Gaiman in a commencement address given to the University of the Arts. Thank you Neil for reminding me to not forget “the journey to my destination.” Sometimes I allow life stuff to consume my studio time.

Neil stated that he learned to write by writing. That brought to mind Art & Fear, a book that I read during my first year of college teaching. There is a story about a ceramics class and their project for the term. The class was divided into two groups–the “quantity” group and the “perfection” group. The quantity group would be evaluated on the weight of their work at the end of the term and the perfection group would be evaluated on their one perfect pot.

Most folks know that the more work you make, the better work you make. Mistakes and pieces that don’t quite work can offer loads of important information, perhaps even new techniques added to your bag of tricks. I feel that making lots of work allows me to be more creative and not too fussy with a single piece.

If a piece doesn’t quite work, why? Perhaps something does–the combination of materials, a technique that I might want to develop, or maybe the work is so ugly a hammer is in order.

In undergrad there was the Ugly Wall and in grad school Bisque Ware Bowling.

“the journey to my destination”

I had the pleasure of taking a film class when I was an undergrad. Much has stuck with me. We viewed François Truffaut’s film, Day for Night, a film within a film. Truffaut is the director of the film and plays Ferrand, the director in the film. There is a quote about process that often comes to mind when I am working on a piece and something isn’t going quite right.

“Shooting a movie is like a stagecoach trip. At first you hope for a nice ride. Then you just hope to reach your destination.”

The titles of my Avian Headboxes are the result of my love of literature and film.

A few of the titles are Ferrand from Day for Night, Adele from The Story of Adele H., and Victor from The Wild Child.

Adele

Bill the Bull, Another Reason to be Vegan

Today I was on the road with my sister and her young daughter, when we saw a rather disturbing thing.

Bill the Bull

This is what is left of Bill the Bull.

The folks attempting to sell Bill’s head mentioned that he made great steaks. Then they told the story of how he was a pet, then his head hung in their house, and for several years he was in storage. They decided that they did not want him anymore.

My 9 year old niece thought it was horrible that they cut off his head, and that they made steaks out of him. So I asked, “What is the difference between the steaks made from Bill and the hamburger that you had last night?” A good discussion occurred regarding the use of animals for food.

The following is a list of my current favorite vegan books, websites, and blogs.

I was a vegetarian for years before I found Dr. McDougall’s books.

Books authored by Dr. McDougall and Mary McDougall–

The McDougall Plan

The McDougall Quick and Easy Cookbook: Over 300 Delicious Low-Fat Recipes You Can Prepare in Fifteen Minutes or Less

Dr. McDougall’s Website

I was in a bookstore looking through the vegan section one day and found Tanya and Sarah’s first book, How It All Vegan . I must admit the title cracked me up. When I travel I always carry my copy of Vegan a Go-Go with a few additional favorite recipes.

Books authored by Tanya Barnard and Sarah Kramer–

How It All Vegan!

The Garden of Vegan

I gave a copy of La Dolce Vegan to several family members and friends.

Books authored by Sarah Kramer–

La Dolce Vegan!: Vegan Livin’ Made Easy

Vegan a Go-Go!: A Cookbook & Survival Manual for Vegans on the Road

Sarah Kramer’s Website

I ran across Jennifer’s blog, liked her recipes so much that I ordered a copy of Vegan Lunch Box for my sister who has kids, and a copy for myself. Everyone loves Jennifer’s Triple Chocolate Cupcake recipe.

Jennifer McCann’s first book–

Vegan Lunch Box: 130 Amazing, Animal-Free Lunches Kids and Grown-Ups Will Love!

Jennifer McCann’s Blog