I have been thinking it would be nice to share some of the beautiful artists' books I have collected over the years - both those I have swapped and those I have purchased. So I think I shall begin an occasional series of posts called "From the collection..."
I am kicking off with my most recent acquisition "Learning Absences" made by Caren Florance (Ampersand Duck), based on the poem by Rosemary Dobson, as part of BookArtObject.
This serendipitous exchange came about when we met face to face for the first time in New Zealand at the ABCNZ Conference late last year. Caren mentioned how she often references my wee book "A Subversive Stitch" when she teaches and mentioned that if I had any left, she'd love one.
On return, I hunted one down and popped it in the post and then got to choose one of her books in exchange. I love this book and was absolutely thrilled when Caren found a spare in the edition as she looked in the nooks and crannies of her studio.
As part of BAO each participating artist made an edition of books in response to this poem. A poem about learning how to live without someone when they die.
To the book.
Black book cloth cover with hand stitching - the lovely combination of inky black and deep indigo, matched with highlights of cobalt(?), continues throughout in different ways.
The cover page. The pages are mono print images on Kozo light paper, with letterpress hand set in 10pt Sabon.
Sublimely elegant.
The light as air pages are folded at the fore-edge, which is sensible given their fragility.
I love how Caren responded to the words...the marks and the images.
Of course I haven't shown the whole book here, but it is a thing of beauty.
And this is the way Caren did her colophon at the back of the book - elegant yet again.
Thank you Caren for sharing this book with me; it is a treasure and I am so proud to own it.
I am kicking off with my most recent acquisition "Learning Absences" made by Caren Florance (Ampersand Duck), based on the poem by Rosemary Dobson, as part of BookArtObject.
This serendipitous exchange came about when we met face to face for the first time in New Zealand at the ABCNZ Conference late last year. Caren mentioned how she often references my wee book "A Subversive Stitch" when she teaches and mentioned that if I had any left, she'd love one.
On return, I hunted one down and popped it in the post and then got to choose one of her books in exchange. I love this book and was absolutely thrilled when Caren found a spare in the edition as she looked in the nooks and crannies of her studio.
As part of BAO each participating artist made an edition of books in response to this poem. A poem about learning how to live without someone when they die.
To the book.
Black book cloth cover with hand stitching - the lovely combination of inky black and deep indigo, matched with highlights of cobalt(?), continues throughout in different ways.
The cover page. The pages are mono print images on Kozo light paper, with letterpress hand set in 10pt Sabon.
Sublimely elegant.
The light as air pages are folded at the fore-edge, which is sensible given their fragility.
I love how Caren responded to the words...the marks and the images.
Of course I haven't shown the whole book here, but it is a thing of beauty.
And this is the way Caren did her colophon at the back of the book - elegant yet again.
Thank you Caren for sharing this book with me; it is a treasure and I am so proud to own it.
this is just beautiful. i would love to get into book making - you work inspires me deeply and now you share the work of others. i am so very grateful for the craftspeople and artists who push back against the lighting fast speed of modern life to create things that require care, time and attention to view. thank you, fiona -
ReplyDeleteSorry for my tardy reply MJ - and thanks for loving this book and artists' books in general! I am sure you would make beautiful books - your words and thoughts and images would be sublime. Maybe one day we can sit and stitch together! It is alien thing to sit slowly and work your way through something; making by hand is one of the greatest of therapies I am sure. Go well.
DeleteSharing the sharing ... sending ripples out into the world.
ReplyDeleteAs a newcomer, thank you for the link back to A Subversive Stitch.
We are so fortunate are we not Liz to be able to share and link and connect - ripples touching here, overlapping there... I am glad you have discovered and enjoyed A Subversive Stitch - one of my all time favourites! Go well.
Deletesuch a gorgeous book... thanks for sharing it ...
ReplyDeleteIt is indeed a real beauty Cat - Ia m so lucky to have the one! Go well.
DeleteOh! How lovely. I am looking at my own book with renewed interest :) thanks! xx
ReplyDeleteFabulous - it is right up there on the favourites list Caren! Thanks again and go well.
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