I’m gettin’ my art mojo back.
I know. I’m kind of in awe too!

This week I am still in recovery from The Stomach Flu From Hell so I’ve hauled out a bunch of old zines that I haven’t looked at in YEARS.  Like Art & Life and Artitudezine.

I’d actually forgotten that a Round Robin my sister Caryl hosted, “The Muses” was featured in #12 Artitude Zine above.

Reading these is so …erm… nostalgic and INNOCENT somehow. We were “altered” artists gathering in the ether and SO excited to have found each other. Collaborations and swaps and mail art were the order of the day. We were young and dewy-eyed and unjaded. We participated EAGERLY because it was fresh and new and well, because we COULD.

Today’s mixed media/alternative art scene seems so business-like and cold by comparison. The majority of blogs are mere shills for selling, promoting, “marketing” of artworks. Even challenges or collabs are but a means to an end. To gain eye candy for an upcoming publication. Or gain a 3 point move upward on google’s search engines.

I want to bring back those days.
I want to feel that heady ‘anything is possible’, ‘we are all in this together’, LET’S SHARE enthusiasm.

I have ideas.
But I need to hear if YOU are interested in playing.

So. Are you?
And if you are … will you spread the word?

Can we return to our dewy-eyed past?
Let me know.
I’m aquiver with possibility!

Some of you may be aware that over the last 2 years I’ve been a participant in a collaboration with Seth Apter and Bridgette Guerzon Mills. We each created our own book structure and then  pass them between ourselves. Here’s Bri’s much more descriptive synopsis:

My only caveat was that we each approach our books as something to challenge ourselves with, either via concept or medium. And then along with that, we had to be open to the challenge with the spirit of exploration. We were going to challenge each other, but most of all have fun and experiment. I said, let’s not get caught up with creating “masterpieces”, this is for experimentation. I would rather have a page in there that was a botched attempt at pushing oneself than a pretty page. Where’s the interest in just a pretty page?!

Bridgette’s book “Trees” was made from plaster pages. Seth’s “Contexture” was handbound from brittle ancient pages. Mine “Shine” was a compendium of metal pages. Here’s a photo of some of our metal pages:

A fitting end to this wonderful collab, is that all three books will be shown in Chicago at “Come Together” this summer (July 29, 30, 31) at the Milwaukee Avenue Art Festival, curated by Jane Michalski.

And because of that, I had to come up with an alternate way of showing Shine. My original intent was to string the pages up prayer flag style. But not knowing what the venue would have available, I decided something else needed to be constructed. Initially I thought of a Jacob’s Ladder-esque construct. Unfortunately, as I had originally felt they would be held from the top, each of us had added danglies to the bottom. And some of the pages were meant to be viewed from both sides. hmmmmm…. back to the drawing board!

Way back when, I hosted a project called 20 Things zine, wherein 20 people submitted 20 different pages which I then assembled as a loose page zine.

Maybe loose pages would translate for Shine? Something fairly hefty was required though to contain the pages. Further, having some way of showcasing each page would be a nice addition given that this is part of an exhibition. Enter the box:

Initially my idea was to create a metal box. Heh. Did I mention that in-between times I did a giant purge of most of my studio? Yah. So no big pieces of metal left. Enter the above constructed wooden box.

Anyway. The word “shine” kept coming into my mind and I thought, “Oh! Metal leaf. I’m pretty sure I have a bunch of silver left.” Uhm. Okay. Here’s where letting one’s daughter free-rein in one’s studio has it’s downside. The package was intact. But there was but one sole silver leaf sheet left. Ah well. I applied that to the top and finished the rest with just about all of my remaining “antique” leaf. Actually? I like the look better!

So the next hurdle was figuring out how to create a way of showing the pages. I happened on the idea of using the inside of the box lid as a frame of sorts.

The pages are stacked inside while two hooks at the top are ready for whichever page is chosen for display. And here are some of the pages displayed:

I hope you enjoyed viewing this as much as I enjoyed creating and participating in this phenomenal collaboration. It might be the very best collab I’ve ever been honoured to be part of. And over the years? There have been many. Seth and Bri are the most generous, compassionate, innovative, patient artists I’ve ever had the pleasure of working with. Thanks so much you two! xo

… heading to Seth. It is a miracle MeeMaMa!

“urg” because I really didn’t like what I did with this “page”. And it was SO long ago that I have no vested interest in it anymore. And it needed to LEAVE. I can always change it once it returns home for good.

I won’t post the page I did in Bri’s book Trees … can’t spoil the surprise. But I CAN post a sneak peek.

A long time in the doing but I really like how it turned out. I had some issues using Golden’s Clear Tar Gel. I applied it within a homemade stencil, left it too long and the stencil kinda stuck to the page. And it oozed underneath. Ah well. Nothing ventured, nothing gained, right?!

The stencil shape is pretty innocuous. Which I like. A lot. If you catch it in the right light though? VERY obvious. Or if you’re like me and enjoy the tactile … running your fingers over the page you can feel where it is. Image braille!

I am now working …again… on Carla’s challenge piece (photo below to refresh our memory’s!) It’s coming along swimmingly and my plan is to send it (HER!) home by month’s end.

On a bit of a roll, I am.

After what seemed like months … well, okay, it WAS months … I finished my page in Seth’s “Contexture” and shipped it off. Keeping with my resolve to not use “the uzzhh” (aka the combination of Quinacridone Gold & Mars Black), I applied only variations of neutral papers, a splash of gesso and titanium white. Oh! How I longed to slosh a glaze or two of the uzzh. But I resisted. And added more whites. More textural elements using molding paste and thick paint pressed through sequin waste and plastic mesh. But I was really missing that contrast.

Perhaps it was the Olympic influence but I hauled out the reds. Kind of the furthest away from the grungy look I normally rely on. Initially I planted 3 squares at the bottom of the right hand page but hated it. Overpainted with titanium white then worked the cadmium red through the sequin waste. Hmmm. Not. Bad.

Here’s the full spread:

Now I have to get to my own book, “Shine”!

Remember my collaboration with Seth Apter and Bridgette Guerzon Mills?

It started just a little over a year ago with each of us creating a book form and a theme for the others to add to. Mine, entitled “Shine” was/is a set of metal pages that I intend to use horizontally as prayer flags.

Well, the second full round has just been completed and I just had to share what we’ve achieved so far. Please note that both Seth and, in particular, Bridgette do not work with metal. So I’m really asking them to stretch out of their comfort zone on this collaboration. But, oh my!, they have rewarded me in spades!

Here are all 6 pages together. Individual pages with details are below.

Seth’s first page:

Detail of back of page:

Bridgette’s first page:

My second page, with detail:

I love the combination of metal and bone. The back which isn’t shown is etched with the word “Shine”. I did a bunch of etching on the front as well, in each of the 4 corners. As well as a sun around the top of the rather loose shrine shape.

Seth’s 2nd page. OMG I love the many details of this page – the stitching across the top, the weight of the page (the round thing in the center looks like stone, not sure if it is though. Seth?)

And the back is equally cool:

And finally, Bridgette’s 2nd page, prophetically using Madonna & child imagery as Bri expects her 2nd child. I absolutely ADORE the fabric pieces attached at the bottom of this page. So rustic and evocative of “handmade” in deep contrast to the hard properties of the metal shrine. Detail of the hand stitching, raveling bits of detritus below.

We are now entering the 2nd year of this collaboration with 6 pages remaining to fill. I can only imagine where we will go from here!

Lookie there:

I’d just about forgotten. Don’t have a clue what it’s going to look like – how they portrayed it – but I guess I’ll have to BUY a copy to find out. The downside of submitting work to these things. Not only do they get your work for free but you have the “honour” of paying to see it in print. I dunno. Something’s wrong with this picture, don’t you think?!? Still. Your work in colour. For all to see. The posterity of the thing. I guess.

Heh! And I just realized, this is the only photograph I have of the project, the rest died with my computer. And this isn’t even the finished product. I really must remember to store photos on the server. *sheesh*

First round of my collaboration with Seth and Bridgette is complete so I can do a Show & Tell! First let me say that you need to go over to each of these brilliant artist’s sites so you can see what they created in my metal flag book. OMG! Truly. Stellar.

Bridgette’s book – The Book of Trees – is made of plaster pages folded around low gauge wire (I’m thinking coat hanger wire but I could be wrong). They are both pliable and stiff if that makes any sense at all – more pliable than rock hard plaster but less pliable than paper. Bri and I have had many chats over the last few years about crackle paste – my frequent use of it and her love/hate relationship with it – so I knew I wanted to incorporate some in her book. Also, the idea of using this spread to do a small tribute to Mama Ash – our glorious multi-centenarian tree we had to have removed last November – seemed fitting given Bri’s theme.

I had a piece of her that I included on the left side of the spread along with a photo I’d taken at ArtFest last year of the tree in front of the haunted house. On the right side, I added crackle paste which didn’t quite take the way I thought it would. Gotta love the vagaries of materials, huh?!? I had to liberally lace this side with gel medium in order that it would stick to the plaster.

In the end the “craters” left by the crumbling paste, created opportunities to add another element. And I couldn’t think of anything more fitting than a heart as an “Ode to Mama Ash”. And next time I get my hands on this book, I am SO playing with those wires!!

Seth’s book presented a whole other kettle of fish. The signatures are multi-paged held together with eyelets in each corner and the paper is old, thin, brittle and just DARING you to try not to crumble in your hands. LOADS of potential. LOADS of sweat to keep it together! Good thing I thrive on challenge! I inserted some cardboard into the center of each signature in an effort to give some stability … I wrote about this before … and once the crackle paste dried it became evident I’d have to haul out Ye Ol’ Gel Medium to keep everything intact.

In Seth’s definition for Contexture, in part, it stated: “Interconnecting text and texture.”  I knew I wanted to incorporate some written words – not hard for me anyway!  – but I wanted it to be subtle, show the graphic nature of words rather than have something literal. I had some old french handwritten text as a transfer kicking around so I added that almost first thing, just after my liberal sloshing of Quin Gold/Mars Black to soak into the crackle paste. Nothing ages like that combo! Layers and layers of dark then light, then dark then light. Sloshes (read: washes) then drier paint applied with fingers to bring out all that scrumptious texture. In keeping with the metal bits’n'bobs from Seth’s cover (go look, I’ll wait), I added a rusty washer. Loves me them circles!

The right side got more depth, more darkness than the left. Sometimes it works out that way. I added a copper punchout that had been patina’d adding another punch of verdigris colour to the overall spread. And of course, the three teeny dentist drill bits represent the three of us. I really was worried all that texture might flake over the miles but Seth assures me it has remained intact.

And now I’m off to “Oooh!” and “Aaaah!” over my glorious metal flag book while I contemplate what’s next. Don’t forget to visit Seth and Bridgette! I know you’ll be as blown away over their pages, as I am!

Ah! Collaborations! SUCH fun!!

The problem with crackle paste is that you never know how it’s going to turn out.

The beauty with crackle paste is that you never know how it’s going to turn out.

Two sides of the same coin and I’m likely not going to stop using the stuff anytime soon just BECAUSE of its unpredictability. However. I must admit that I generally apply it to a much stronger (read: inflexible) substrate than ancient book pages so it really was a leap of faith in applying it to Seth’s book Contexture. As you can see from the above, still a work-in-progress, photo, It crackled phenomenally. Some might say a bit TOO phenomenally. But I love it when my materials give me added grief challenges.

So what DO you do when your crackle paste “outperforms expectations” (my Coach’s fave expression!)?? You slosh on some acrylic washes, damp dry using your heat gun, put a piece of non-water permeable paper in between the pages and weight down. Those lifted crackle pieces uncurl and lie flat and behave themselves. Once all the top “stuff” has been added, being sure to weight down overnight when not working on it, I also coat liberally with gel medium. I’ve found that it’s pretty good at acting as a sort of flexible finish coat. I hope!

It’s a dreary albeit Spring-like day outside. I’m waiting for it to stop raining so I can get out for my run and thought I’d start my spread in Seth’s Contexture. I usually think on my approach before putting “pen to paper” and this thought process might go on for days, weeks even months before I get started. Once started however it might only take me hours to start …and finish… a piece. Drying time not withstanding.

Such is the case for this spread.

I knew I wanted to add crackle paste to Seth’s pages. But how? Given that the signatures were quite fragile as Seth used old book pages joined together with 4 eyelets in  the corners. I tucked and glued cardboard into the center of each “block” of pages giving me enough rigidity for the crackle paste. That’s the theory anyway. We’ll see how they hold up once dried!

Here’s the book drying …

On another tack entirely… is anyone else out there an Improv Everywhere fan?? Perhaps a little known historical fact, but I used to be a Drama Queen. In high school I had ambitions to be in theatre, going so far as to audition for the National Theatre School in Montreal. I bombed miserably but I still have a soft spot in my heart for improv.

The latest mission, Subway Art Gallery Opening, hits all the right notes for me on this grey day. I love how something that started as a simple prank turned into such a philosophical debate on “What is Art?” At the very least providing a smile to those who “got it”, at the most a deep and thoughtful treatise on “Art in the Every Day”.

Be sure to read the descriptive placards for each “art piece” … wouldn’t I love to have HIM write up my next show! And, if this is your first trip to Improv Everywhere do NOT miss The Moebius. One of my all time favourites!! (Charlie Todd is a God!)

Bridgette approached both Seth and I last summer, if memory serves,  but with  moves, other projects and looming deadlines we weren’t able to start until just before Christmas. We’ve now each seen our books so the time is ripe to start documenting what we’ve been up to.

The first challenge? Create a book structure and come up with a theme. I’ve been generally moving away from mixed media and I knew that both Seth and Bri’s books would likely be more in that vein anyway, I decided to create mine from metal. I thought it would provide a nice challenge both for myself and my co-collaborators.

Also, I wasn’t married to the finished product as a book structure.  So while I did bind the metal pages … loosely … using eyelets at the top of each “page” secured with ball chain … my eventual plan is to hang each of these horizontally as a sort of metal prayer flag string.

I used a number of different types of metal thinking that should Bri or Seth not want to go the “full metal” route, they would provide more options for mixed media type applications. So included are some copper mesh pages, lighter tin that can be more easily manipulated, along with heavier vintage tin ceiling tiles with cool arch detailing. I can’t wait to see what they come up with. And I hope I haven’t provided TOO difficult a challenge for them. Somehow, knowing their abilities, I don’t think so!

My theme, SHINE, is based on my word for 2009. So what better icon for the front than that of a raven … they … WE … love shiny objects!  I had one head left over from a series of bird assemblages I did last year. I chose this tile, one I purchased from Judy’s etsy store just after she first opened it … what last year? Two years ago? Time flies! I love it’s crusty, used, patina. Though I have to say I was a bit worried as I hammered and wired and attached that there wouldn’t be any paint left!

Right around this time I visited Richard Salley‘s site wherein he was showing how to create a “trap bezel”. I hadn’t anticipated using the technique but hey! the muse had other ideas. Mine isn’t nearly as well implemented but it was the perfect way to keep that clear marble in place and the focal point, and meaning for “Shine”. Thanks Richard!

The other elements, wings, hexagonal “frame”, round filigree fell into place. But the balance was out of whack. TOO much metal can end up being cold and this was moving right down that track. I thought of adding bird’s feet (read: Artist shows and collaborations and contests … oh my) but was concerned they’d get tromped given the back-and-forth mailings in its future. I thought … beads? Meh. Chain? Too much metal. I need… something tail-like … ah! Feathers! If they don’t survive I can easily replace them while giving me that “natural” balance I was looking for. Perfect!