Thursday Thoughts...

“I meet a lot of readers who first encountered my work in school. And I can only assume there is another group who would run away very fast if they saw me coming, for exactly the same reason. Reading is individual, and not all tastes are alike.” 

Margaret Atwood

I love how frank Ms Atwood is here -  she understands humans and school students and how we all experience the world and books differently.

I was older than school age when I first read her work; and it was challenging enough for me then!  I imagine if I met it in high school, I would probably have struggled with it a bit more; although at the same time I daresay it may have engaged me more than my bête noir of high school English lessons - Tess of the D'Urbevilles.

She speaks the truth when she says reading is individual and not all tastes are alike. It used to concern me a bit on those occasions when a person who's reading tastes I considered to be aligned to my own would reject a book I had suggested/recommended; give up half way; or simply not enjoy it or see the point.

Now I have much greater understanding of what we each bring to a book; from our expectations, to our experiences, to the mood we are in and what we need to make us feel good at the moment. I have recently read a lot more books that I would consider on the lighter side of the spectrum. They have let me not get bogged down in further darkness beyond the darkness of the real world. They aren't fluffy; but they aren't deep or dark either. They are solid stories where somebody has followed an idea and populated it with some interesting characters and taken me along for the ride. And most of the time, I am grateful.

Passing them along to others I have been met with more 'rejections' than usual, which I think is explained by my need right now for softness, and ease as I read...

Nidus i

 The original unbound book work about nests was this one using rusted papers, and stitching. Like the grey one which followed, but which I blogged about previously, it is an unbound book work, where I invite the reader or viewer to co-create poetry about nests, from the pages I have deliberately left unbound.

Once again they can be re-arranged into 5 haiku poems; they can become single line or triple line poetry; or they can be combined into one lengthy poem.

I used a full stitching line to indicate the 7 syllable pages, just in case folk really wanted to do the haiku poems and enjoyed a shortcut kind of thing.

I had really wanted to gather together a collection of things that were linked or connected to nest making and, the notion of the divided box with that special little extra compartment to hold them came into being.

I have submitted this book to an exhibition in New Zealand. It would be wonderful if it were selected and could go on show there...

Nidus, for Narratives

 Before we left, we delivered our books for the Artists' Book exhibition Narratives, which is being held in Maleny whilst we are away (again). I am so sorry we will miss it, as it always brings forth some delightful and thoughtful books.

I changed my mind about which book to enter as I went along and in the end I submitted the second unbound book work on nests I had been preparing called Nidus  (Latin for Nest). The soft grey one.

In part because as I was working out what to include in the additional compartment of the box, Barry asked me to consider my sterling silver nest. The one I had created under Lindsey's supervision back here.

As soon as he said it, I knew he was right. I simply had to let go of the nest, and work out how best to include it. I didn't really have any other real plans for it, but I was attached to it!

But more on that later...

I have long been fascinated by 'the unbound book' (see here and here and here and here for examples).

Nearly all of my unbound book works have been about re-arranging. About a non-linear narrative and about the involvement of the reader/viewer. And so it is with these books. What begins as 15 single pages, can become so much more, and so many more things.

Initially drafted as 5 separate haiku poems (5 syllables, 7 syllables, 5 syllables) these words and poems now range free. They can be re-arranged into 5 haiku poems; they can become single line or triple line poetry; they can be combined into one lengthy poem.

A typical haiku: 5,7,5 syllables

Not a haiku, but a rather lovely gathering of thoughts nonetheless...

Another variation.

 

And some more...

It is entirely up to the reader or viewer to determine the form. As the colophon notes:

Nidus (Latin). Nest.

An unbound book work, co-creating poetry, meaning and nests.

I used the simple stitched lines to help folk, who might desire it, determine which were the five and which were the seven syllable lines.

I felt that this book (and its sibling) are both worthy and valued. I wanted to present them beautifully and I blogged about my personal inability to create what they needed in the moment here.

And so I commissioned some Perspex boxes; each with a little bit on the side to support and extend and celebrate the book. This is where the silver nest comes into its own.

Stitched with invisible (!) thread onto a piece of the embossed grey paper, and snuggled into the display compartment.

I really love the softness of this work and I hope folk enjoy exploring it as well.

Thursday Thoughts...

“today … may i be me …. being & becoming.” 

E.E.Cummings

Whenever I come across quotes by E.E. Cummings I think - oh I really should read more of their work!

I love the simplicity of this, together with its deep and thoughtful message.

This one feels to me as if it is almost a request to the Universe, to allow us to the best us we can be today. What a beautiful way to start each day - seeking a commitment from yourself to be the best you can be - both as you are and as you may become.

Being and becoming. The present and the future. I think we often struggle with simply being; being present; being enough; being happy in this moment, in this place.  So may I simply be me.

And I like the use of becoming - it has that hint of hope; of growth, of change but in a positive way as if there is still time for us to become the best we can be.

On reflection, I have clearly determined that being me = being the best me; and that works for me here.

Tree trunk, Battery Point 2014.

I wonder why this feels like me being and becoming my best me?

Up, up and away!

 Well, today is the day we head back to Scotland. It feels like an age since we have been there, and nine months really is quite a while!

We knew we would not be able to get back sooner because we had the BIG job when we returned last June, of sorting out and closing down the studio.

Whilst I am glad we gave ourselves the time to do that steadily, I am also glad that it is done and we can be free to head back to the cottage and our friends and our life over there.

With any luck, it won't be quite this cold when we get there... photos taken by a friend in January this year.

But whichever way things go, we will be happy to be there.

This trip is a trip of painting and patching - we are thinking about it as a maintenance trip rather than a trip to relax into art and visits and wandering, so there may be fewer blog posts of interest!

We have closed the online shops whilst we are away as it is too hard to manage postage and deliveries in our absence. But we will be back on track as soon as we return to Maleny.

The second book of silences (2)

Once again, the light is hard to get right here at home and the book looks duller here than it does in real life. In real life there is a softness, not a heaviness.

 And we begin again from the middle - where the silent pages rest quietly.

This spread gives such contrasting silences, with much to ponder.

More silent pages, slowing us down, making us feel and listen to the silence.

And yet more silences.

And yes, much gratitude once again.

I like how the soft Japanese paper almost muffles the book at the ending.

And further evidence of the lighting issues - here is one packaged looked light and bright and beautiful!

So, the books of silences are complete. I have enjoyed having a self-initiated, not-for-profit, community collaborative project to pursue for the past year or more.  It has been a gentle thing to be doing; it has tested my brain and made me practice a lot of things which now feel less daunting each time I do them. I will take a break from this sort of project for a bit now, and turn my mind back to making some jewellery; and a couple of ideas and works I have had burbling away in the back of my brain. 

Thursday Thoughts...

“To my mind one does not put oneself in place of the past, one only adds a new link.” 

 Paul Cézanne

I think I respond to the humility in this quote. So often, artists have the need to break free; to boldly go where no other has gone before; and to somehow prove themselves to be unique and original.  

Whilst I fully support the notion that we need to do our own unique work, that nobody but ourselves can do what we do, and that we can only do what we do, I really like the idea that this is not about individuals starring in their own show; rather we are about building on what has gone before; and building a platform for what may come after.

We are all links, this way and that. A bit like the internet with connections spanning across centuries, and the world. My work despite being mine; has been influenced and/or inspired by others who have worked with words, and books, and soft palettes, and letterpress, and lovely papers and threads, and...

That said, my work will possibly go on to influence or encourage or inspire others - when people respond positively to your work it probably means they have taken a little nugget of it into their mind, and who knows how that might appear down the track?

We are all linked, we are all connected, and so too is our art.

The second book of silences (1)

 So... the second book of silences is complete!

I have also managed to wrap, pack and post those that need posting. Once again, posting to the US proves challenging as we negotiate tariffs, non tariffs and all the rest, so I have sent them off with my very best wishes and hopes!

I wanted to show the books in full, so have created two blog posts; this one and the next one so that all of the pages can be viewed without creating a single, huge post of almost 30 images!

This is a book of silences and a second book of silences, side by side. I had thought at the last minute that I might add a second line of pen 'stitching' to the bottom (or the top) to differentiate them, but when I tried to do it it looked really awful, so I quickly retreated from that thought. Instead, they look the same on the outside, but differ on the inside.

Siblings.

I tossed up between a book of silences ii; and a second book of silences and went for the latter. So many decisions.

And straight away, the book offers you silence.

And little bit more silence, then a perfect silence.

I can feel myself in so many of these silences. Either acknowledging a shared silence; or seeking one I am yet to experience.

And we reach the middle of the book, we pause, with silence.

The rest of the book can be seen in the next post. It is nice to take time and read the silences slowly as well.