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.