Saturday, April 27, 2013

The next stage in the dance

Susan and I were both somewhat trepidatious about our personal contributions to this book, and came together at her place a little bit uncertain as to how it would all unfold and what we would do.

Originally I had thought we would swap our pages/pieces and then sit together and stitch them into a snaky - type book, which you can lay flat or interact with and have as a mini-sculpture.

Susan also thought about maybe stitching the pieces together as a quilt, and somehow hanging it in perpsex so that both sides could be viewed.

As we sat and chatted and pondered what next, I was playing with the pieces. We talked about how would you choose which pieces to have up or down?  How with each piece there were two stories and for each up-side or down-side there were four options of design to consider - my travels, Susan's travels, my b&w graphics, Susan's b&w graphics. And of course, the orientation of each piece added another four choices.

So I played and we both felt good that even tho my travels side was different - it still worked well with the other designs. In fact our 'travel language' is markedly similar, so no matter what the design the two would look fine together we decided.

But how to choose?

A random selection of both sides of both of our pieces? In random placement across the grid?



Or do a random allocation of the black and white graphic design sides?  Even if you went this way, there are still so many ways to combine them - the sequence, the orientation of the pieces, the orientation of the full piece...


Try the reverse and randomly allocate the travel imagery?


With some scrumptious detail...


Or go a bit more organised and do a row of mine and a row of Susan's b& w graphic design side? But which ones combine across a line? Turn each piece around a few times? Alternate the rows or put Susan's two together then mine? Vertical or horizontal?


Can you feel the exhaustion settling in? Our minds were getting a wee bit warped as we considered all the permutations and combinations.

Alternating the travel pieces...


Oh, and back to the beginning again in a way, with both sides of both of us on show, but this time in a sort of a systematic allocation.


And with such lovely details.
Sigh.


So after we sat and chatted and played, it became clear to us both, in a shy but certain way, that in fact we had just collaborated on an unbound book.  Both of us work with the unbound book, and both of us felt that the interaction and play this book encouraged would allow so many stories to be told, would allow whoever 'read' it, to also 'write' it, and would take on so many lives and expressions.

To bind it in a sequence and leave the story limited to that telling, simply felt wrong.

It was unexpected in a way, but not a real surprise.  It is one of the joys of this collaboration that we often find ourselves doing something we hadn't planned, yet which is perfectly right.

So then talk turned to how to house this wee book; and we decided to get together another day, to make a box for this book and also one for our envelope book from the end of last year.

For me, I was thrilled with where we ended up and once again delighted with how well our work gelled and came together, given that we both worked in complete isolation and had no idea what the other would be bringing to the table.

I am calling this book 'Serendipity". Thanks again Susan - I think this one was perfect for its time and I really liked our gentle unfolding of it's true nature.

20 comments:

  1. I think we posted almost at the same time! Am so glad you showed so many photographs of various combinations ..... they really look marvellous and do reinforce why we are going to leave this as an unbound book. In comparison, my post was short and not nearly as interesting!! Thanks for making the collaboration so unexpectedly delightful. x

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    1. ooh spooky! I enjoyed recreating that sense of play and variations, combinations, permutations we had in your studio. When I first saw your thumbnail image I thought you had bound the book! Laugh. There is a heightened sense of drama in your photos - amazing how the black background creates a sense of mystery whereas mine appear fresh and innocent in a way. A great place to have gotten to...

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  2. As I scrolled down and each beautiful variation came into view I kept thinking - oh this is the best - then - no I like this too...
    I am delighted that the book will remain one with many stories.
    A beautiful book.

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    1. Hi Carol- you know exactly how we felt and how tricky it would be to decide. I am no mathematician but I know there must be thousands of oodles of possible combinations and my brain almost melts thinking my way thru them. I like that the books can be read or written in so many ways - glad you do too!

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  3. As I commented on Tracemarks - such a clever idea - and one for a wider collaboration, perhaps. I can feel a series of Roman Tesserae for a future group exhibition in Roman Cirencester coming on ....

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    1. Hmmm Charlton, nice thoughts! What fun to contribute a two sided tile or two and see what the final mosaic looks like??

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    2. Indeed ... will post on my blog if anything useful transpires. I'm thinking interactive and had a thought as tiles would need to be strong - how did you strengthen each page? It looks like it might have been foam core board (may not be called that in Australia). Any help would be greatly appreciated.

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    3. Hi Charlton - the paper was heavy duty to start with, I'll need to check with Susan what she thinks it was, so we didn't need to strengthen it at all, yet you can see how sturdy they are having taken embossing, tea rusting and other marks.

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  4. You won't be surprised that I looked at each one and thought what marvellous things they were in their own right but also what tremendous starting points for prints they would make. Leaving them unbound is a good call and I feel like they need some sort of transparent box so that they can always be on view. I know you both will find the perfect solution for their final display with the same intuitive collaboration you've so eloquently described above.

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    1. Hi Lesley, glad you enjoyed the combinations, and oh yes, what a great jumping off point for prints! Funny how the unbound book became the right decision for us, and yes we are contemplating perpsex for the box, just not sure what style just yet. Go well.

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  5. It always feel like such a privilege to get a glimpse into these collaborations with Susan. This time, I could feel your 'exhaustion settling in' as you explored the many possibilities! And I have to say, as the images of your first (non)/arrangements (i.e. random) appealed to me most of all, I can understand how you ended up at the decision to allow the limitless flexibility to remain an important part of the work. Enjoy the box-making stage!

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    1. Hi Lisa - each and every collaboration has been different, not simply because we aim to collaborate differently, but the subject matter or the pages lead us in new directions each time it seems. There were sooooo many possibilities and I am rather pleased we have chosen not to select just one, it would seem so unfair for all the other beautiful ones!

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  6. The mind boggles!...so many possibilities. The decision to remain unbound makes absolute sense to me.

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    1. Yes indeed Jo - my mind was totally boggled! Glad you agree with us, neither of us planned it that way it just kind of evolved....

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  7. The first thought in my mind was that of the confusion of altered routes. Detours. Re-scheduled flights.All the new possibilities that we don't consider when we plan from A to B.
    A more interesting journey and, like this, best unfettered, I think.

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    1. Hi Di - what a great analogy. It seems apt given the look of the pieces as well as the process. Some of those re-scheduled trips lead to great adventures, and possibilities as does this wee book unbound. Go well.

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  8. These are great. How to choose what works best? I love the black and white ones best. I'm imagining a floor covered in your squares. Let's hope no-one opens the door too suddenly - or maybe that might give another arrangement.....

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  9. Hi Annie - thanks. The black and white are quite stunning aren't they? And strong. I would be mesmerised by them on the floor I think and probably run into something! I love the joy of the multiple arrangements and the hours of entertainment. Go well.

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  10. This is such a wonderful collaborative piece. I simply love all the possible combinations of pattern. Before I had finished reading, I got to the same conclusion as the two of you, and was reminded of the small, square puzzle games where there is a grid with one piece missing and one has to move the pieces around to make a picture. There is an actual picture and you have to complete it. In your case, there are any number of solutions, love that!

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  11. As I said to Susan on her blog, the complementary color palette is the kinship between these "sisters of different mothers". These are delightful and rich. I keep looking and looking, continuing to find tiny delights for the eye.

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I appreciate your thoughts and comments; thanks for taking the time.