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 

T'IS THE SEASON

ARTISTS' PORTFOLIO PRESENTAITON CASE 

Students have been asking me about making a portfolio presentation case for their portfolios.  At first I wasn't sure what this entailed.  Once I did some research, I created three different styles of portfolio presentation cases.  This one has a three-sided envelope inside.  The sides are flexible and made to accommodate a number of pieces in different sizes.  Once tied, the art work remains in place.  I covered this one with hand marbled paper by a marbler in the city.  I used book cloth for the spine and to join the envelope pieces.  

I used silk ribbons for closures on the outside of the box and waxed, braided cotton thread for closures on the inside. 

This is the second style I made.  I used untreated canvas to cover the outside of the case.   

I lined the inside of the covers and box with a copper foil decorative Japanese paper.  The box is covered with a textured decorative paper that compliments the  unfinished canvas. 

I used a red and gold ribbon for closure.  This is the Portfolio Presentation Case that I will be teaching on four Monday evenings, starting November 18th and finishing on December 9th.  This mini-course will be offered at the Ottawa School of Art, Shenkman Arts Centre campus.  If you are interested in attending, registration is through the Ottawa School of Art - course cost $150 plus the cost of supplies - $25 - $40 depending on the needs - based on the size of one's portfolio.  I will also demonstrate how this case may be sectioned to accommodate different sizes of work in a portfolio.  This case can also be used by collectors for special pieces and of course. for book lovers.  I have put three journals in the different cases that I have made.  

NEW BINDING

I have been playing around with different stitchings and bindings.  I find the straight stitching on the single signature books quite boring and so my boredom led to the creation of a new decorative binding.  I call it 'corn cob' binding because it looks like two rows of corn on a cob.  

I find this binding quite decorative and it adds a nice touch to the single signature books that I have been making for the book fairs.  

NEW JOURNALS AND EXHIBITION PIECE

This year I have been making large journals.  I am getting great pleasure out of creating a full-bodied journal that is substantial and feels good when held.  I have also been experimenting with different papers for the text blocks.  I have used a beautiful Ingres paper by Fabriano in two shades of blue, Fabriano writing paper and Strathmore sketch paper in grey and beige tones.  The Strathmore paper is heavier and gives the journals a weighted elegance.  I have used both leather and paper covers for these journals. 

This journal is made with lamb skin and lined with Lokta paper.  I used a chain, glass beads and leather to create the design and closure.

This journal is made with a reptile stamped cowhide and is lined with a faux reptile decorated paper.  I like working with the shape of the leather, so the top right hand corner of the journal is exposed to show a decorative die cut on the page. 

 

I have had a lot of fun mixing and matching papers and ribbons.  The cover of this journal is made with Lokta paper and lined with the same. I used a green, white and fuschia gross grain ribbon for the closure.  

I used a navy blue reptile stamped leather for the cover of this journal.  There was a small hole in the leather and rather than work around it, I like to work with it.  The leather is lined with a Japanese copper foil decorative paper.  I wove the binding and made the closures from waxed, braided cotton thread.  

I was looking through my different pieces of art work this past week and came across two photographs that I had done on fine art paper. The paper is beautiful to touch and I really like the image: which is a reflection.  So they are now both covers for single signature books.   

I also had some beautiful fine papers that were for special invitations.  I made drawings on them and they are now covers for single signature books.  I used the decorative corn cob stitch I mentioned earlier on these books.  

NEW EXHIBIT PIECE -  THE DELICIOUS DIVA AND THE CONFIRMED BACHELOR

This book was initially created in response to a call for art representing the human figure.  It is two accordion books joined back-to-back.  One end of the book has five female figures and one side of the book has the poem: Phenomenal Woman by Maya Angelou.  The other cover of the book has five male figures.  The poem: To Lou Adreas-Solome, by Rainer Rilke is on the other accordion book.  I used photographs on both sides of the accordion folds - soft curves for the diva and angular curves for the bachelor.  I decided not to submit the book to the first call when I was told that it didn't have enough of the human figure showing in the piece.  I then submitted it to the Fritizi Gallery in response to a call out.  The piece of art was to be in response to a play - modern version of Othello.  I received a letter stating it was a very good match for the play, however, because the gallery is an open space there was concern that the book would be stolen.  So alas, I have this beautiful double accordion book which will now be the first piece in a series of books.  Watch for the complete series next year. 

This is the Diva's side of the book, with the poem: Phenomenal Woman.  The photos represent the soft curves of the female figure and the words in the poem.  

This is the bachelor's end of the book.  I used leather and textured papers to cover the figures.  

The photographs I used for this side of the book are very angular, representing the male figure. 

BOOK FAIRS AND WINTER CRAFT SHOWS

I attended the Ottawa Small Press Book Fair this past month.  There was a steady stream of visitors and I sat between two authors.  A video of my time at the book fair can be seen at: http://youtu.be/ZJJ8hs84aS4.

The next craft fair for me is on November 9th at the Britannia United Church on Pinecrest road.  The event opens at 9:00 am and goes through to 3:00 pm. 

Following this I can be found at BazArt at the Shenkman Arts Centre, 245 Centrum Boulevard on November 30th and December 1 from 11:00 am to 5:00 pm.

You will also be able to find me at the Noel Market at the Museum of Civilization, in Gatineau, Quebec, on December 6, 7 and 8th.   I hope to see you at one or more of these events.  

WINTER COURSES AND WORKSHOPS 

 I will be teaching courses and workshops at the Ottawa School of Art again this winter.  Here is the schedule and course codes.  For a full description and registration: go to the Ottawa School of Art: www.artsottawa.ca

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

 

FALLING INTO AUTUMN

It’s Sunday morning and I’m sitting at the window looking out at the world.  By all appearances it is a beautiful, warm, sunny day.  The grass is green and the leaves are swaying gently in the wind.  We have turned the corner into September and autumn.  When one walks outside the air smells like a changed season and it has a noticeable chill; not cool enough for a heavy coat yet, just a light jacket. 

I had a very good summer, teaching, making books and enjoying the warm weather.  August was a blur as I taught classes at both campuses.  I moved from August into September participating in the Ottawa Mini Maker Faire at the Canada Science and Technology Museum.  This is the first time I have participated in such an event.  It was very interesting and included artisans, industrial designers and an interesting assortment of electronic and technical inventions by young and mature inventors.  The attendance was amazing and adults and children alike enjoyed the offerings. 

I spent some of my summer days down at the Byward market in the heart of Ottawa.  I always enjoy my time there watching people, taking pictures and enjoying the ice cream. 

This gentleman was kind enough to step out of his kiosk so I could take his picture. 

 

 I love looking at the reflections of my surroundings.  There are so many layers of images that one can see, not to mention photograph. 

 Right from the heart of maple syrup land.  If you want an education on maple syrup, this is the place to go.  Just fantastic on pancakes and crepes.  

Can you believe this is a receiving door at one of the many loading docks in the market.  As a shoe lover, I see a beautiful shoe.  What do you see?  

 I was sitting down enjoying some great ice cream when I saw this image in a cracked mirror in front of me.  As luck would have it, I had my camera handy. 

FALL COURSES AND WORKSHOPS

 As the season changes, so do my activities.  Fall courses are starting up at the Ottawa School of Art again.  My course is now offered as an option to certificatae and diploma students.  

FALL 2013 – 35 George Street Campus
Date	Time	Course	Course Code
Sept. 17 –  Dec. 3 Tuesdays	1830 – 2130	Book Arts – 12 Weeks	F13D044
FALL 2013 – Orléans Campus – Shenkman Arts Centre
Date	Time	Course	Course Code
Sept 18 – Dec. 4 Wednesdays	1300 – 1600	Book Arts I - Intro	F13SO40C
Fall 2013  -  Workshops – Orléans Campus – Shenkman Arts Centre
Date	Time	Workshop	Workshop Code
Sat, Sept. 28 & Sun, Sept. 29	10:00– 1630	Japanese Hidden Compartment Box – Part 1	F13SWS11
Thur. Nov 7, 2013	10:00 - 1630	Leather Explorer’s Journal	F13SWS12
Saturday, Dec. 7	1300 - 1600	Hand Decorated Paper – Intro	F13SWS13

All registration is done through the Ottawa School of Art at: www.artottawa.ca.  Course information can be found on the website under General Interest – Printmaking, for the George Street and Orleans campuses.   Come out and have some fun creating books and/or boxes.  They make fabulous gifts for family and friends.  

STUDENT WORK 

I had the opportunity to photograph a couple of books made by my students.  These are Coptic bound books with a sleeve.  Both ladies worked with blue papers.  

 Jenny decorated the covers of her book with cut outs which she had drawn; one was of the Phoenix rising and the other, a tree.  The orange Japanese paper she used was textured and it made an interesting contrast to the smooth book cover and sleeve.  She used a red satin ribbon for the closure.

Randa used a beautiful handmade paper and lined it with blue card stock.  The sleeve on the left and book on the right were covered with the same paper.  When held it looked like a clutch purse. 

 

 FALL AND WINTER CRAFT SHOWS AND BOOK FAIRS 

I will be at a number of craft shows and book fairs again this fall.  To date here is the list: 

October 12, 2013 - Ottawa Small Press Book Fair - Jack Percell Centre, 2nd floor 

Jack Percell Lane, just off of Elgin Street - 12:00 to 5:00 pm 

November 9, 2013 - Britannia United Church Craft Show - 985 Pincrest Road, 

9:00 am to 3:00 pm

November 30 & December 1, 2013 - BazArt - Shenkman Arts Centre, 245 Centrum Boulevard, Orléans - 11:00 am - 5:00 pm 

I hope to see you at one of these events.  

If you have any questions about the courses, workshops or books, please let me know.  I will be happy to discuss them with you.  You can contact me at: bbinder999@gmail.com.
 

My books are now available at the Ottawa School of Art Boutique, 35 George Street and the Ottawa Art Gallery, Leasing and Sales Boutique at 2 Daly Avenue

Wishing you all a fabulous autumn. 

Mary  

http://youtu.be/k8w13ewrOqg (Note: the e-mail address on this video is no longer in use)