Saturday, December 27, 2008

Relay Replay news

Although all the books and the room divider screens are now completed, I haven't had professional photos taken of the fourth book and the screens so there have been no updates here recently. Although I should mention that the exhibit (at two locations) are going well.

At the John Wilson Special Collections, the exhibit is scheduled to come down on December 31, 2008. The artist talk went very well. We filled up the room...although admittedly, it's a small room!

At Rose Schnitzer Manor, the exhibit there was extended and will also end on December 31, 2008. Some of the seniors who participated in the project have been heard to be bragging about their artwork represented in the books and room divider screens! That's sweet news to my ears—that they're proud of their work.

The project has received quite a bit of attention from the local press too. The Asian Reporter ran an article on December 9, and the Portland Open Studios Blog ran a story on December 27. Also, RACC, the organization that gave me the grant to work on this project, ran an Artist Spotlight on me and my project for November - December.

And more good news—the four books from Relay Replay Press (along with some of my own work) have been accepted by Vamp and Tramp Booksellers, dealers in contemporary fine press & artists' books, to represent. I just got the news this morning and am very excited.

Thursday, October 2, 2008

Book 3, Esther

Esther's daughter dug up a treasure trove of family documents and photographs, and this was a walk down memory lane for mother & daughter, with me enjoying the stories. Esther is a life long dedicated mah jongg player; came snow or blizzard, she met with her friends for a weekly game or two. The game was a constant through the many changes of her life, the kids, and grandkids. She continues to play.



I chose a palm leaf binding because I wanted her book to resemble a pile of mah jongg tiles on the back, but still have the pages held together. Her prints and my prints are laminated together with Gudy O adhesive from Talas. I suppose they more resemble playing cards then mah jongg tiles, but a similar idea anyhow. The pages are held together with two bone mah jongg tile beads at the ends. And this is a 2008 winning hand in American mah jongg.



Everything is Gocco printed, on Rives Lightweight and Rives BFK.

6 1/16" W x 3 15/16" H x 5/8" D (includes thickness of mah jongg tiles)
Edition of 20
$220, plus shipping & insurance $9

Book 2, Marion

It took me a long time to figure out that Marion wanted to paint watercolors. Once I figured that out, she and I spent many wonderful afternoons chatting and painting. She returned again and again to the image of the meadow with trees, hills, and a sunset sky.

I chose two to include in her book:



Detail of the opening page:



As we painted, she would quite often talk about the family picnics that they had, with all the brothers and sisters there. I wondered if the images were about the family picnics? Thus the title.

Her watercolors are reproduced with an Epson Stylus C88+ with DuraBrite Ultra ink; I wrote and printed the text with the Print Gocco; on Rives BFK; covered in Nepal Heavyweight.

7 1/16" square x 3/8" D
Edition of 20
$125, plus shipping & insurance $9

Book 1, Martha

Martha took to the Print Gocco like fish to water! She created 18 prints, each full of wonderful little observations about her daily life and sage advice. I thought her prints were like letters to her friends and family, and therefore chose a page format that referenced an envelope form. The book has extra pockets for her to add photographs or keepsakes, and the wrap around cover keeps everything together.

Interior view:



The cover:



Martha designed and Gocco printed the individual prints; I designed and Gocco printed the envelopes and the cover. The cover was also dyed with a very diluted acrylic paint; on Rives Lightweight, Nepal Light, and Nepal Heavyweight.

7 1/16" H x 5 3/16" W x 1 1/4" D
Edition of 20
$320, please see Abecedarian Gallery.