A NEW YEAR AND NEW BEGINNINGS

Winter arrived very gently, full of fluffy snow, cloaking everything in its white beauty. 

However, the new year arrived bitterly cold – biting us mercilessly and Jack Frost brought his beauty thanks to the cold.

CHRISTMAS FAIRS AND MARKETS

I had a very successful season this year at the craft shows and Christmas markets.  It was very nice to see familiar faces and new ones.  This was the first year I attended the Noel Market at the Museum of Civilization.  I had a great time with the other vendors, met some new and interesting people, sold a lot of books and had a great deal of fun.

PHOTOGRAPHIC DIALOGUE PROJECT

For the past year I have participated in a project called Photographic Dialogue.  Ginger Burrell, a bookbinder and photographer, from California, initiated the project.  There were 25 international participants involved in the project.  Ginger would send a photograph one week and I would respond with a photograph the following week.  We were not allowed to talk about the photographs, which was very difficult at times.  It was also a great deal of fun because one could respond to anything in the photo, so the responses were motivating, thought provoking and funny.  The project came to a close at the end of December.  I will be putting the photographs together and making two books, one for Ginger and one for myself.  I’ll post pictures once the books are completed.

Ginger started out the project with this photograph.  It went to all of the participants. 

This was my response to her photograph.  We continued to dialogue with one another throughout the year with our photographs.  A great project. 

365 DAYS OF HAND WRITING – A BOOKBINDING PROJECT

Hand writing (cursive) is no longer being taught in schools.  In response to this, I have started a bookbinding project, for 2014, that involves collecting 365 different samples of hand writing.  I will bind the samples in weekly groups.  At the end of the year there will be fifty-two hand bound books in a variety of styles.  Once I have completed the books, I will exhibit the collection.  If you wish to participate, contact me at: kritz.mary@gmail.com and I will send you the project guidelines.

        MARCH BREAK OFFERING  - OTTAWA SCHOOL OF ART

35 GEORE STREET CAMPUS

PRINT MAKING, LETTER PRESS AND BOOKBINDING

MARCH 10 – 14, 2014 – 9:00 am – 4:00 pm

I am collaborating with Guillermo Trejo, a print maker and instructor at the Ottawa School of Art.  During spring break, at the George Street campus, we are offering a one week course in print making, letter press and bookbinding.  In this one week class, using the theme of spring, you will learn how to create free image lino cuts for printmaking.  You will learn how to set-up and print selected quotes, with one colour in the letterpress and then bind the prints and letterpress pages into a limited edition set of books.  Students will also exchange prints to create a class book. 

Registration:  Ottawa School of Art: General Interest Courses

by phone: 613-241-7471/ Online: info@artottawa.ca

 

WINTER COURSES AND WORKSHOPS

Winter courses and workshops are starting up again.  Here is the following line-up. 

WINTER 2014 – George Street Campus
Date	Time	Course	Course Code
Jan. 14 – April 1 Tuesday Evening	1800 – 2100	Book Arts – 12 Weeks	W14D044
WINTER 2014 – Orléans Campus – Shenkman Arts Centre
Date	Time	Course	Course Code
Jan. 15 – April 2 Wednesdays	1300 – 1600	Book Arts - Intro - $260.	W14SO40C
WINTER 2014  -  Workshops – Orléans Campus – Shenkman Arts Centre
Date	Time	Workshop	W/Shop Code
January 25	10:00 – 4:00	Japanese Stab Binding - $110	W14SWS9
February 8	10:00 – 4:30	Introductory Box Making - $110	W14SWS10
February 6 – 27 4 Thursdays	1:00 – 4:00	Artist’s Portfolio Presentation Case - $150	W14SWS8
March 1	10:00 – 1:00	Hand Decorated Paper - $80	W14SWS11
March 29	10:00 – 1:00	Flowers & Folding Books - $80	W14SWS12

NEW OFFERING – ARTIST’S PORTFOLIO PRESENTATION

This winter I am offering a workshop called Artist’s Portfolio Presentation Case, for four Thursday afternoons.  There are two different styles; one has an envelope enclosure to hold the artist’s portfolio and the other has a box constructed within the covers to hold the portfolio.  One of these will be taught in the February workshop. 

  This is the closed, envelope portfolio case.  I used  hand marbled paper on the outside with book cloth for the spine.

This is the portfolio opened.  It has an envelope enclosure and can be opened completely to remove the portfolio.  I have a book inside with a paste paper cover. 

This is the second portfolio presentation case.  I covered this one with unprepared canvas.  It is a very nice material to work with and provides a beautiful finish.  The closure on this is a ribbon. 

I lined the inside of the portfolio case with a beautiful copper foil Japanese paper.  A little bit of decadence inside a fairly plain cover. 

STUDENT COMMENTS

I taught at both campuses, at the Ottawa School of Art, this fall.  I had a great deal of fun with the students as did they with me.  Here are some of their comments about the course and the instructor:

·        Loved the course and the Mary’s teaching style

·        The skill level (introductory) of the course was perfect for us

·        Fabulous course, most enjoyable

·        Mary is a great instructor, willing to take time with each person

·        Excellent course.  Mary is a wonderful, caring, patient instructor – Bravo

What a nice way to end a semester of teaching.  Thank you. 

STUDENT WORK

My students have been busy since taking the Book Arts Course.  One of my students, Eva, was in Ottawa for a year and has now returned to Spain.  She is making some amazing books.

 Eva made this one out of a pair of jeans, for her daughter's friend. 

Another student, Marie, who is a fiber artist in Ottawa, has also been making some incredible books. She does some amazing things with paper and texture.  

SHOW AND TELL

Approximately every 6 months, I have a show and tell with my past and present students.  They bring work that they are working on or have completed to show and talk about.  It is a very enjoyable time and new friendships are made.  This year our show and tell will be Thursday, January 23 from 5:30 – 7:00 pm at La Moulin Provence in the Market - the big bakery in the long building. 

Have a great January.

Mary