October 12, 2004
"much
of my daily quota of joy spouts from the things left behind by others."
I was gifted knowledge of Found Magazine
today. I do believe that our greatest bits of wisdom are granted from those
details in life that are so small they seem like detritus. Here is a site
that celebrates the wisdom and whimsy of lost litter. My instant favorite
is the sweet scrap entitled "I Love." Found Magazine will be having
one of its parties at our local Gabe's Oasis on October 14th.
Take
a closer look. This online Exhibit
of Hand Bookbindings at Princeton allows you to take a virtual magnifier
to see detail up close and personal. Very Cool. While not as flashy-fancy,
our own UI Bookbinding
Model Collection website recently has been updated with some new models
in the categories of Monastic, Early Codex, Conservation and Publishers' Bindings.
October
8, 2004
Recovering
the Prajna Paramita. A stolen 750 year old manuscript
of the holy Buddhist text, Prajna Paramita (meaning perfection in knowledge),
has been found and is now in the possession of Visva-Bharati University. Read
more
here.
Take
a peek at what Roberta is up to. Roberta Lavadour, of
Mission Creek Press, offers
an on-line view of her Window
Project exhibit which features 17 models of historical bindings (mainly
raised-cord, 13th-17th ce). Be sure to take her tour through the binding process
here.
October
7, 2004
they
would have tried me as a witch and crushed me beneath a pile of stones.
My friend jen and i attended
a Prairie Lights reading on Tuesday
by author Stephen Elliott. Oddly
enough, this jaunty political reading from his book "Looking Forward
To It" was scheduled up against the debates, but oh, well. Regarding
his recent visit here, he offered this sweet little Iowa narrative (and being
an Iowa-lover I must share with you now):
"But
that's not what I wanted to talk about. What I wanted to talk about was
Iowa City. I love this city. It's
comfortable and clean and the people in Iowa are the embodiment of midwestern
hospitality. Yesterday I had tea with the vegan lady I met during the caucuses
here. Then there was a reading and then drinks following the debate.
I
like everything about this town which is still bubbling and hot with political
energy. The red shirts are registering up and down the campus and the campus
is beautiful, situated on the river with it's stately buildings. And Chris
Cooney's parents came to my reading and Cooney's father whispered in my
ear as he was leaving, "I'm the only Republican in the room, but I appreciate
what you're doing." So you see, that's what I mean by hospitality. Because
if I had fallen in with a band of Republicans in Arkansas they would have tried me
as a witch and crushed me beneath a pile of stones."
And
so many more reasons to love my dear little state. . .(and I am not making
a commentary on Arkansas . . . nor do i feel comfortable stating judgments
about most anyone) . . . but i can say this: I am so grateful to live where
I do. Are you grateful to live where you live? Be sure to get out and vote.
And if you want to get a call from a famous author on November 2nd reminding
you to vote . . .check out Elliott's
Operation Ohio. . . . . which is affiliated with McSweeney's
(and THAT is how all of this linked to the BOOK. . . .but then again . . isn't
everything connected to everything else? . . .and everything relates back
to the book . . .).
.
. . speaking of which, check out jen's
webpage which includes her impressive tribute to library
career romances. we may just have to revisit this page come valentine's
day. . . .one can always dream of a little love in the stacks.
September
24, 2004
Misha
and Marina Karasik, of MK Publishers,
will be back in the States for a brief visit to Oak
Knoll Fest, in New Castle, DE. Misha has three new books to share with
the world: 1. Joseph
Brodsky. Speech About Spilt Milk, 2. Mikhail
Karasik. Board of Honour, and 3. Mikhail
Karasik. The Silver Age. Russian Types. If you don't make it to Oa k Knoll,
I hope you will do a virtural peruse of Misha's new titles.
.
. . I am struck by an excerpted line from this 3rd book: "Happiness and
a slight fatique." Something we can all aspire to.
August
28, 2004
Geez Louise,
from my lack of posts you would think I haven't been up to anything, when
in fact it's the inverse!
In April there was an opening for the UI Libraries Hamady Exhibit, a trip
to Denmark to visit Larry Raid,
Linotype King, and the Midwest
Guild of Bookworkers gathering in South Bend, Indiana. There I had the
opportunity to see the
Conservation Facilities at Notre Dame and have a brief but mind altering
workshop opportunity with Tim
Ely, who i believe to be one of the most intense and authentic people
I've ever met. He offered an abbreviated workshop in the "Painted Book,"
called the "Painted Cover."
In May I bought
a board shear, but it is not currently with me as it is being finely retrofitted
to a variety of specifications. I hope to have it by December?
In June, I received
a welcome visit from my dearest of college friends, Anne. Anne just started
a job as a reference librarian at Mesa
State College.
With July came
a Stonyhurst Gospel Workshop with Anna
Embree, a matchbox/chemise workshop with Pam Barrios, and the purchase
of my new home, formerly owned by the UICB's very own papermaking master,
Lynn
Amlie. Lynn is now resident of Sante Fe, New Mexico, pursuing a degree
in Art Therapy. I am so blessed to have come to my house via Lynn, and to
have been granted it in the most serendipitous way. . . and I awake every
morning to the rustley-dappley shade of an oak tree, and crazy squirrel playing
soccer with acorns on the roof.
I will share
more info (and images) of these events soon , but in the meantime peruse my
working bibliography, which i recently posted.
March
10, 2004
The Guild of
Bookworkers
In Flight exhibit is now online!
February20,
2004
I had the exceptional
experience today of visiting Walter and Anna Hamady
and The Perishable Press Limited, located 5.3 miles southwest of Mt. Horeb
Wisconsin. I was so stirred by that which makes up his life &stories&food&love&family
&words&art&friends&acres&acres of beautiful wisconsin
woods.
A life worth aspiring towardsI am currently planning and installing an exhibit
on Walter Hamady at the UI Libraries. I have found a new home with the pages
and poems of his books. I am particularly fond of his early book, The Plumfoot
Poems (1967), and am grateful that I have discovered new-to-me poets Toby
Olson and Paul Blackburn. I have fallen in love with the illustrative talents
of Jack Beal and Elizabeth Coberly. I am moved by the love&story&collaborative
spirit that runs throughout all of Hamady's beautifully crafted work. Lucky
us for living in a world where such creative souls run amok.
Here is Hamady in his fabulous studio barn. In the background are several
of intricate and beautifully crafted "constructions." .
February
19, 2004
Yesterday I
was the happy hostess of Misha
and Marina Karasik, of MK Publishers from St. Petersburg Russia. Misha
is a pioneer of the book arts in Russia. His work is a melding of the modern
art and traditional craft and the avant-garde. Misha and Marina gave a compelling
presentation. Pictured below is my head-honcho Gary Frost engaged in a lively
conversation with the two:
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Left:
Misha's book,
Self-Portrait, 1997
You can see
more of Misha's work here.
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