UPCOMING EVENTS



If you are looking for some foot stomping Scottish and Irish music, try The Lyon Street Celtic Band at:  http://lyonstreetcelticband.com/. 

Ottawa Construction Worker

Mail Art Call - Mayworks Festival in Courtenay, BC
Deadline:    April 15th , 2012 – Postmarked by April 1, 2012
Exhibition:   May 2012
Format:       Original postcard measuring 5" x 7"
Theme:       Work or Labour
Curator:        Ed Varney, curator
No fees, no returns.
All participants receive a catalogue in return sent via snail mail.
All work received will be exhibited.
Venues will be Nanaimo Art Gallery and, hopefully, the Courtenay and District Museum. This will be the sixth Mayworks Mail Art Exhibition so please send us some work.


Send to:

Ed Varney
Mayworks Festival Exhibition
4426 Island Highway South
Courtney, British Columbia
V9N 9T1


NEW CREATIONS

I have some new creations on the way. 

BOOKBINDING/CREATIVE BOOK ARTS CLASSES

The bookbinding/creative book arts classes are going well at the Ottawa School of Art.  We are in our third week.  Pictures will be coming soon. 



CELEBRATING VALENTINES DAY AND ALL THAT JAZZ

LOVE

Valentines Day, February 14, the month of love.  It is traditionally a day on which lovers express their love for each other and offer gifts of flowers, sweets and cards.  Valentines Day was first established by Pope Gelasius 1 in 496 AD.  It was first associated with romantic love in the circle of Geoffrey Chaucer in the High Middle Ages (1000 - 1300 AD), in Europe, when courtly love flourished. 

The image above was created for an exhibit at the PureMed Naturopathic Centre at 292 Montreal Road, 2nd floor.  Their open house, in recognition of Heart Health Month, is this Saturday, February 11 from 1:00 p.m to 4:00 p.m.  They will be demonstrating acupuncture and Bowen Therapy, offering special teas from the Orient and chocolate tastings.  All good things.  If you get a chance,  go and meet the people who practice naturopathic medicine, a great way to promote good health. 

NEW CREATIONS

Well these last couple of weeks have been busy in my creative world. 

STEAM PUNK - THE CRYSTAL TIME MACHINE

This is my first Steam Punk piece.  It was a real adventure into a new way of presenting books.

The body of the Crystal Time Machine is part of a camera casing.  I used Micaceous Iron Oxide and copper acrylic paints on the body.  It is decorated with crystal beads, a large clock hand and other pieces salvaged from the camera.  



The accordion book at the front of the Crystal Time Machine has pictures of stained glass windows.  

Side View

 

A small book sits in the back of the casing and a green scroll at the bottom. 




Two small books sit in the base of the Crystal Time Machine.  The covers of the books are made from paste paper and contain 60 pages of Fabriano sketch paper. 

DANCE

This is a simple book created from two of my abstract drawings and an ink blot picture.  I used black pigment and Indian Ink pens.  For the ink blot picture, I used acrylic paint. For the cover, I used an orange and gold thread paper and blue satin ribbons for closure. 

FRONT COVER

BACK COVER

INK BLOT PICTURE 

The writing in the book reads: Arms outstretched, she let the music envelop her.  Spinning with abandonment, she felt her spirit soar.  

NEW LITTLE BOOKS

This little book is made from a beautiful textured brown leather with a mother of pearl decorating the suede side of the turned back edge. 

 A fuchsia pink thread was used to sew the text block to the leather cover and to join the two pieces of leather that make up the cover. 

The text block consists of Fabriano sketch paper and has 36 pages with a sea horse die cut on the edge of each page. 


A Little Bit of Orange

The journey of this little book is interesting.  It was a book called, The Kiss, and I recycled the content into story boxes.  That left the covers.  I re-covered them with this beautiful orange and gold thread paper and made a new text block for it.  I used satin ribbons to attach the text block to the cover.  The closure is made of leather with a hint of orange in it and a piece of bleached chicken wing bone that I painted with copper acrylic paint. 

The text block is made up of white 70 lb sketch paper and has 50 pages with a butterfly die cut at the edge of each page. 

THE KISS:  STORY BOX/BOOK

This is a most unique box.  It is made from one piece of paper, which involves a lot of measuring and folding.  I recycled the sayings from the little orange book: The Kiss, into this box.  I charred the edges of the pictures and sayings to give them an antique look. 

End View

When opened, you can see the whole interior of the box.  I created four abstract drawings for the corners and used the pictures and sayings for the other squares, the ends, the bottom and the top of the box. 

This is a great gift.  It provides an opportunity to present a story, quotes or pictures and when closed, one can put items into it, such as chocolates.  A really great idea for Valentines Day. 

 ART

In keeping with the Valentines Day theme, I created three abstract drawings.  The first one, Love, is at the beginning of this page. 

Heart Throb

There was an interesting piece of music playing on the radio when I drew this.  It had a beat that reminded me of a heartbeat.  It is made with black pigment and Indian inks on 100 lb. bristol paper. 

Heart of My Heart

This one has three stylized hearts within the flower.  It is made with black pigment and Indian inks on 100 lb. bristol paper. 



THE ART OF JACK FROST

It is believed that Jack Frost was a Viking invention, that he was the son of Kari who was the God of the Winds.  Jack Frost or Jokul of Frosti meaning icicle or frost has been visiting my windows nightly.   As winter settles in for the next few months, I love to watch its beauty unfold.  Jack Frost has been creating amazing sculptures on my windows.  Every day as the sun rises, Jack’s art disappears, only to reappear at the end of the day.  It is always new and different.  I am transported into gardens, forests and trails of frosty white with hints of blue.  The evening lights reflected on the designs offer a soft glow to the frosty prisms.  I am reminded of carved crystal shining on a dining table with the flicker of candlelight dancing on the edges of beautifully carved flowers, leaves or stems. It is the kind of inspiration artists draw from to create the beauty in their work. 

NEW CREATIONS

I have been working on some new Endearment Book creations over the last couple of weeks.  These two books are encased in a sleeve.  I used wooden print block letters and symbols, which I painted copper.  I recycled pieces of a gold plated and enamel necklace for feet and to enhance the top of the sleeve.  The book cover is paste on Cansom flax paper (paste paper).  It has a nice texture and the colours are variegated from turquoise to coppery brown.  I used a navy blue and silver handmade paper to cover the sleeve. 

The wooden letterpress letters and symbols on the sleeve are R G and !.  They were chosen for consistency in size.

This Endearment Book sleeve was covered with a Japanese paper in fuschia and silver.  It was lined with recycled prints from a Chinese Mythology book.  Crystal beads were used to enhance the top and glass squares to create the feet.  The book is covered with turquoise paste on Canal cotton rag paper and enhanced with blue and gold paper. 

These Endearment Books are covered with paste paper covers.  They each have 60 pages in them and a die cut on the corner of each page.  They measure 2 1/8 " X 2 1/4". 



PUZZLE PURSE BOOKS

These  Origami puzzle purse books are made from Fabriano Sketch paper and decorated with handmade papers.  When opened they reveal the message written inside. 

CAMERA NOMENCALTURE AND STEAM PUNK

I had the opportunity to trade one of my journals for an old camera.  After one blood blister from my needle nose pliers and a bruised palm from my little screwdrivers, I managed to dismantle the camera.  It was an interesting task, as I got to discover how a camera is put together.  What you may ask am I going to do with all this nomenclature.  Well, I am going to venture into the world of Steam Punk and make some sleeves for journals.  I am looking forward to designing and creating them. 

SPECIAL THANKS

Special thanks to Mr. Azzam Zarif from Rivoli Watch and Jewellery at 112 Kent Street, Councourse Level, for the clock hands he gave me.  I have known Mr. Zarif since coming to Ottawa.  He has repaired a number of my watches.

Special thanks to Mr. Tom Steiner at the Camera Trading Company at 368 Bank Street, in the true spirt of trading the camera for a journal.

Special thanks to Jacinta at Holodeck Galleries, www.holodeckgalleries.com/collections/mary-kritz for creating a section in her virtual gallery for my books.







A NEW PAGE IN THE BOOK OF MARY

It is already the ninth day of 2012.  Mother Nature has spread her pristine white cloak over the land and brought winter to us.  Her shifts from mild to cold are her teasers that keep us hoping for warmer weather, sunshine, the first spring song of the songbird and green buds popping on the naked boughs of the trees.  The skaters are sharpening their skate blades in anticipation of the opening of the Rideau Canal (the longest skating rink in the world), so they can commute to work, have some fun with the family and enjoy a hot chocolate and beaver tail (a delicious pastry unique to Ottawa). 

I have been busy catching up on my reading - just finished The Golden Compass and making new creations.  Mother Tongue Books continue to carry my books.  I launched my first video, have my art hanging in a virutal gallery and my blog is now part of the Book Arts website at Syracuse University. 

NEW CREATIONS  

Following the Thread of a Thought:  Writer's Primer and Companion

There are three writer's primers in this sleeve.  Original drawings decorate the covers which are constructed of cotton rag Canal paper. 



The companion to the writer's primer is a floweret with a word or the beginning of a sentence on each petal.  This is the starting point for the free writing. 



The sleeve is constructed from book board, wooden letter press letters, spools of thread, dice  and wooden scrabble letters.

When the journals are full, the writer has the complete works in a decorative, protective sleeve.

ART

Holodeck Galleries (http://www.holodeckgalleries.com/) is a virtual art gallery that supports local artists.  My art is now hanging in the gallery. 

WATCHING

Black pigment and Indian Ink on 100 lb smooth Bristol paper

 FLORA DANCE

Black pigment ink on heavy watercolour paper

 RESPITE

Black pigment and Indian Ink on 100lb Smooth Bristol paper

TESTIMONIALS

"On behalf of the members of the Ottawa Book Collectors, I wish to thank you for your excellent presentation on Monday.  We are always most interested in the physical qualities of the book as they developed over time.  And you are the first of our many speakers to assist us in creating our own books.  When showing my friends my miniature creation, thery were most intrigued and were very impressed by pictures of your beautiful pieces."  Bernadette Walker, President

"Thank you for the lovely handcrafted journals, as gifts for speakers, tailored to our event.  Your creative touch has personalized an often difficult item to choose and I know it will be much valued." Tanmayo Krupanszky, Special Events Organizer, Canadian Organic Growers Association, Toronto, Ontario

SPECIAL THANKS

Special thanks to Laura at Mother Tongue Books, 1067 Bank Street, Ottawa, ON http://www.mothertonguebooks.ca/ for carrying my books.

I met Allison, Jamie and Lois this past summer when volunteering with a filmmaker.  They have become friends.  Special thanks to Allison Flowers http://allisonflowers.bandcamp.com/  and Jamie Myland http://ca.linkedin.com/in/jamiemyland for creating the beautiful video for me.

Special thanks to Lois Siegel, http://siegelproductions.ca/, for posting my art and video on her website. 

Special thanks to Kevin MacLeod for his royalty free music "Opportunity Walk" http://incompetech.com/ which was used with the video.

Special thanks to Jacinta at Holodeck Galleries www.holodeckgalleries.com/collections for creating a beautiful page at the Gallery for my art. 

Special thanks to Peter D. Verheyden, Book Arts Web http://www.philobiblon.com/ at Syracuse University  for posting my blog.   

INSPIRATION

NEW YEAR, NEW LAUNCH

2012 COURSES

I will be teaching bookbinding and creative book art courses throughout the winter and spring.  Here is the current line-up: 

WINTER

TUESDAYS:  January 31 to February 28, 2012 - 5 weeks -  15 hours
Time:          6:30 to 9:30 p.m.
Where:      St. Nicholas High School West, 893 Admiral Avenue, Ottawa, ON

Course Number: 13038 Introduction to Book Arts  (Part A)
Cost:  $99
Registration:  Forms available online at http://www.winterconnections.com/ or call 613-228-3338.

Course Content: 

• Interwoven Slit Concertina
• Single Signature Book
• Framed Hard Cover Concertina
• Button Hole Book
• 2 Signature Tunnel Book
• Paste Paper and Book Cloth

WEDNESDAYS: February 15 to April 4, 2012  - 8 weeks - 24 hours
Time:       6:30 to 9:30 p.m.
Where:    Ottawa School of Art, 35 George Street, Ottawa, ON

Course Number:  W12D042
Cost: $200
Course registration: http://www.artottawa.ca/  - Winter registration is now open

Course Content:  See blog post for Bookbinding Course, pictures included

SPRING

MONDAYS:  April 16 to June 18 - 8 weeks, 20 hours
Time:             1:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Where:           Soloway Jewish Community Centre
                       21 Nadolny Sachs Private, Ottawa, ON 

Course Number:  Available in 2012
Cost:  TBC
Registration: www.jccottawa.com or 613-798-9818

Course Content:  

• Introduction to Tools and Books
• Single Signature Book
• Book within a Book
• Artist Trading Cards
• Multiple Flag Book
• Japanese Stab Bound Book
• Soft Cover Coptic Bound Book
• Button Hole Book
• Paste Paper
• Codex with Paste Paper Cover

TUESDAYS:  April 24 to May 22, 2012, 5 weeks - 15 hours
Time:     6:30 to 9:30 p.m.
Where:  St. Nicholas Adult High School, 893 Admiral Avenue, Ottawa, ON

Course Number:   23038  (Part B)
Cost: $99
Registration:  Forms available online at http://www.winterconnections.com/ or call 613-228-3338.

Course Content:

• Single Signature Book
• Book within a Book
• Flag Book
• Hanging Concertina
• Japanese Stab Bound Book

Tool, supply and supplier lists will be provided at the time of registration for all courses.