365 DAYS OF HANDWRITING AND OTHER PROJECTS

365 DAYS OF HANDWRITING  

This project has started off with a lot of support and well wishes.   I have completed the handwriting sample books for the first two weeks of 2014.  In week one, instead of creating the book using only the samples in a vertical or horizontal designation, I decided to work with both and create the book around them. 

WEEK ONE

Working with both horizontal and vertical handwriting samples contributed to creating this shape. 

I decided on an accordion book binding. I mounted each handwriting sample on Fabriano card stock and created a pocket, for each sample, from the same card stock.  The samples slide comfortably into a pocket, so when the book is closed, all is neatly packed away.  When the book is open, some of handwriting from each sample may be seen, through the design I created, in the front of each sleeve. 

When pulled out of the sleeve, the handwriting sample may be viewed to a greater degree.  To view the complete text, the samples may be removed from the sleeve.

CONTRIBUTORS FOR WEEK ONE  

Les Cassidy, Ottawa, Ontario
Veronique Guichart, KeriKeri, New Zealand
Doreen Meyer, Rockland, Ontario 
Cathryn Miller, Grasswood, Saskatchewan, http://tinyurl.com/n16hy97,
http://tinyurl.com/qd2zot4
DavidMiller, Grasswood, Saskatchewan
Lisa Nelson Raabe, Peoria Heights, Illinois, www.lisanelsonraabe.com


WEEK TWO

I used Strathmore Water Colour paper for the cover and pages of this book. The binding is long stitch and I used Canson paper for the tabs. 

For each sample I used the Canson paper and created a simple 'book-within-a-book' type of effect.  I wrote the name and location of each contributor on the outside leaf of the sample.  When viewed, the viewer first sees who contributed the sample and where she or he is located.  Upon opening the leaf, the viewer is introduced to the handwriting sample.  I used both vertical and horizontal samples in this book, so when viewed it has to be turned to read some of the samples.

CONTRIBUTORS FOR WEEK TWO

Helen Hiebert, Edwards, Colorado
Marjorie Hollis, Olney, Maryland
Graham Moss, Oldham England, www.inclinepres.com
Gail Murray, Santa Fe, New Mexico
Rita Rottman, Ottawa, Ontario
Candy Wooding, Ashland, Oregon, www.mypaperarts.com
Luce Zolna, Chicago, Illinois

PHOTOGRAPHIC DIALOGUE

In 2013 I participated in a year long project called Photographic Dialogue, with Ginger Burell.  She started the project by sending us (25 project participants) a photograph one week and the following week we responded with one of our photographs; no words were allowed, nor could we talk about the picture.  The project is now complete, except for the making of the book.  This past month I have worked on my maquette for the book. 

The cover of the book is made from St. Armand flax paper and lined with Canson sketch paper.  Straps circle the book and have red leather ends.  I braided waxed cotton thread for the closures and used a long stitch binding.

I used Strathmore Watercolour paper for the signatures and Fabriano parchment paper to cover one of the photos.  When opened, one sees a photograph and the hint of another photograph through the parchment.  When the partchment is lifted the dialogue is exposed. 

As the book has a light coloured cover and white pages I decided to create a clam shell box for protection.  I covered the box with amate paper (Mexico), a gift from a student, and lined the inside with Lokta paper (Nepal).

COURSES AND WORKSHOPS

The Japanese Bound book and the Box making workshops were well attended and students went home with some beautifully crafted books and boxes.  The next course is in March: Print Making, Letter Press and Bookbinding, followed by Decorated Paper and Flowers and Folding books.  These workshops will take place in late March at the Ottawa School of Art, Orleans campus at the Shenkman Arts Centre.  Registration for these workshops is through the Ottawa School of Art.   

PRINT MAKING, LETTER PRESS AND BOOKBINDING COURSE

March 10th to the 14th, at the Ottawa School of Art, George Street Campus, myself and Guillermo Trejo, a printmaker at the School, are offering a one week course in print making, letter press and bookbinding.  Participants will spend the first two and a half days learning print making and letter press and with their final results, they will make a limited edition of books, which they will bind in the last two and a half days.  The class is limited to eight participants.  Registration for this class is through the Ottawa School of Art.  Come out and join us for a week of creative fun.....

EXHIBITS

WARMTH, a group exhibit at the Cube gallery, is now open and will close on March 2, 2014.  I have a book in the exhibit called: The Cremation of Sam MacGee.  It is a double accordion book with a barge for the front cover and the stern of a sailboat for the back cover.  The vernissage was well attended.  I met some of the other artists and had interesting discussion with people who were curious about the book and how it was made.  

This is an aerial view of the book.  I used Fabrian card stock for the accordion portion of the book.  I used photographs from the arctic in response to the cold that Sam MacGee endured while moiling for gold.  Photographs of summer days and flowers were used to depict Sam's home in the south where it was warm.

This is the front of the book, a barge.  Pictures in the windows are of boats I photographed on the shore in Kimmirut on Baffin Island.

This is the back of the book, the stern of a sail boat.  I used hand decorated canvas for the sails. 

This is one side of the double accordion book.  I had a great deal of fun putting this together and the poem, The Cremation of Sam MacGee, by Robert Service, has been a favourite of mine since learning it in school, as a child. 

That is all for now.  I hope you are enjoying our pleasant weather and bright sunlight.  Spring is just around the corner.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me at: bbinder999@gmail.com

Mary

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