Tuesday, January 26, 2016

A rescue mission

My book Starry Starry Night suffered an injury as it was being packed up from the Pas de Deux exhibition.

It is never nice news too hear that one of your pieces has been injured, and given this book was based on a reduction lino print, I really really hoped it wasn't hurt too much, because as is the want with reduction lino printing, the block had been destroyed on the way through.

In some ways, the damage was minimal - it had been a bit bent and crushed and then torn.  No damage to the actual artworks involved as such, but a delicate operation needed to restore it to its former self. The main issue being that the tear was about 8cm long, and along a fold that was critical to the concertina nature of the book.  It has also torn across the page a bit, which would be easier to repair.

Barry and I worked on it together - two heads and two lots of ideas being better than one I figured.

The original tear from a few angles.





First of all we tried to iron some of the dents and creases out. Worked OK.


Then we tested a couple of glues with some black Japanese tissue type paper to see how they would go as backing for the fold.  It was the torn fold that worried me most - so we decided to use these strips of black along the height of the fold to create a hinge from behind.


And so the first job on the book was to glue down the flap that had been torn/lifted.


And then we adhered the strips to the back. The second fold had a small tear at the top as well, but we reinforced the length of the fold for strength and so they looked tidier.


And then the job was done. And the book folds up well and you can hardly tell from the front at all. For some unknown reason I didn't take many photos of the finished product - here it is before the final fold was tidied up.


There are signs that it has been mended, but the integrity of the book still holds, as does the reading of it and the turning of the pages. Big relief.

18 comments:

  1. hi fiona, glad you have been able to repair it, love love love that writing, l have never seen that style before, what is it ? life is certainly trying to keep you busy.

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    1. Thanks Kate - it was a good save in the end, but scary to begin with. The script is really just a condensed and elongated variation of a Carolingian type hand...

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  2. It is so difficult when work gets hurt. I like your terminology 'suffered an injury'. I had a textile piece with pages and an old book cover in the centre. It was returned having had the piece folded right across the paper! Not in 3rds like I had sent, which avoided the paper. So the paper had an ugly crack across. So, finally I just did more distressing cracks across the paper and recoated with a glaze. But still...!
    Sandy in the UK

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    1. Oh Sandy I feel your sadness about your work. It is quite distressing and leaves one quite unsteady I think. Sounds like you saved it, but not in doing so you changed it, which I am sure you would rather not have had to do. Go Elli.

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  3. I can well imagine the stomach-sinking dread that visited the person who caused the damage (having repaired rare books when I was at Colonial Williamsburg) ... but nothing could be worse than hearing of said damage to your own piece and thinking the worst. You and Barry have effected a very serviceable repair, but it does give one pause when considering how close any work on paper is to dis-integration. You are truly brave to let your pieces loose in the world ... those who get to see them are equally fortunate that you do.

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    1. You are so right Liz - we both felt awful and sick I think. It is the first time it has happened to me so I am grateful for that. It is nice to have them out in the world, and I guess this is just a wee reminder that there are risks involved...go well

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  4. What a shame! One has to wonder how that much damage was incurred. There should be as much care taking down an exhibition as there is putting one up.

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    1. Hi Melody - the accident was quite extraordinary and could barely have been avoided I think, quite a remarkable thing by what I was told. I was so pleased the artwork and writing wasn't badly damaged, but it a timely reminder of how careful we must be., I sometimes get a bit blasé about my work so it shook me up a bit! Go well.

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  5. That is SUCH bad luck. Hope it is not beyond redemption.

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    1. Thanks Jo - I felt soooo sick there for a while, but we have rescued it I think. Go well.

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    1. Thanks Mo it actually ended up looking better than that final shot, so I was OK that we had doe a good job. Great wracking of nerves tho...go well.

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  7. Glad to see that things have worked oud "well" in the end; it would have been such a shame ! Annick

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    1. Thanks Annick - yes, I would have been a wee bit heartbroken if it had been destroyed, not just injured...go well.

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  8. What a terrible shock & shame. You & Barrie worked wonders, from what I can see in the photos. It remains a beautiful piece (and has a bit more of a "story" now, doesn't it - sorry, just trying to find the "lato positivo")...

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    1. Yes the story has been enhanced for the telling I think! It was a shame, but I am so grateful it worked out...go well

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  9. Thank goodness you and Barry have the skills needed to work out a solution, and then carry it out so successfully. Whew!

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    1. There was a big sigh of relief let out I must say Carol! It was a bit daunting, but we got there. Go well.

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