|
April 2010 Newsletter
It’s a miracle; Maine is
having a real spring with daffodils, green grass and no snow. While the trees
are still bare, I can watch the eastward movement of the sun as it rises over
Penobscot Bay. The days are much longer – sweet spring!
I was in an intense
flurry last fall finishing 4 framed panels for the new Penobscot Judicial
Center in Bangor, ME. It’s a
beautiful big courthouse with other Percent for Art works by painter, Nina
Jerome and woodcarver, Ed Harrow. I hung 3 panels in the entryway so people can
read the Preambles or the Bill of Rights while waiting to go through security.
Once inside, there is a 4 x 8’ panel
with words from the Maine Constitution; “All people are born equally
free and independent…” Working with Maine Supreme Court Justice Warren Silver
and his staff was a pleasure. There will be an official opening on May 18th..
“Ephemory” and “Discards Scroll” are 2
of my pieces included in Inventive Structures; Books Beyond the Codex at the Creative Arts Workshop in New Haven, CT from May 14th to
June 25, 2010. The show was juried by Hedi Kyle and includes work by 64 other
artists. My pieces are ink on Hollytex. “Ephemory” is long hanging panels
filled with text. and the other has names on Hollytex. The opening is on May 14th
and I plan to attend. For information on hours, gallery talk and online
catalogue: www.creativeartsworkshop.org
Maine in Four
Seasons; 20 Poets Celebrate the Turning Year has just been published by Down East Books. Poet
Wesley McNair was the editor and I made scratchboard illustrations for each
season. The poets range from Longfellow and Millay to many of my favorite
contemporary poets. www.downeast.com
“Requiem,” the book I wrote on Amanda
Degener’s Cave Paper is
included in the Letter Arts Review Annual Juried Issue that was just printed. There are
pages of exciting calligraphic work and I’m honored to be included. www.johnnealbooks.com
Amanda and I
collaborated again this spring. Amanda planned a piece for the Minnesota
Center for Book Arts portfolio
to celebrate their 25th anniversary. I wrote a few words which
Amanda letterpress printed on 28 x 8” sheets of her paper with layers and waves
of indigo. www.mnbookarts.org
“Words Made New” was a
class I taught at the Farnsworth Art Museum in Rockland in February. A dozen enthusiastic
students came to learn some calligraphy and book arts. At the same time I was
reading A Splendor of Letters by Nicholas Basbanes and other articles
about the future of books. When I was a graphic designer, type was expensive
and I had to count characters before ordering it. Learning calligraphy offered
variety and control! But now we all use computers to easily place and resize
our words. As I watched the students handle dip pens and ink, I silently
wondered, “Why?!” Then came the individual mark, a flourish, and the ability to
write on any surface or size – calligraphy was renewed as an exciting and
demanding art.
Upcoming classes:
“Paste Paper for Artists,” August 24 and
25 at the Farnsworth Art Museum.
www.farnsworthmuseum.org/education
Maine Media Workshops, June 20th to 26th taught
with printer and binder, Walter Tisdale.
www.mainemedia.edu
Haystack Mountain School
of Crafts high school students weekend in May. Last year’s students made
incredible paste paper books with cut paper and writing.
New work:
I am now finishing
several pieces with words about writing, language and new technology. There’s
lots of weaving to do so I’m planning a studio open house in June to give
myself a deadline. I’m also working on pieces about music for a July show at
Carver Hill Gallery in Rockport, ME.
And it’s spring! Even in
Maine.
Jan
|
