Tag Archives: Ginger Burrell

Community Matters at San Jose City Hall, Reception Friday June 6

Posted on June 4, 2014 | Leave a comment

I was honored to be invited to participate in the Community Matters show at San Jose City hall. This show features SJSU art department alumni and will be open until October 1., 2014. I know several of the participants and am flattered to be included in such a talented group. These are the art students I would come home and tell Greg about. “They’re going to do something big,” I’d tell him and you’ll see by their work exactly what I meant.

Each of us has our own display area an, in addition to several of my better known artist’s books, you’ll be able to see a work that isn’t even on my website yet. Tentatively titled Elephants, it is a collection of artist’s books about family secrets. When the curator, Robin Treen, visited my studio she was excited about this piece and asked if I could have it finished in time for the show. “Sure!” I told her. And it was done at 2 a.m. the day of the install.

I hope you can join me on Friday, June 6th, between 4:30-6 p.m. for the reception.

~Ginger

http://www.gingerburrell.com

When Creativity Feels Out of Reach

Posted on May 12, 2014 | 15 comments

On December 24th my dear father-in-law, Art, was hospitalized. It was not the first time and wouldn’t be the last. It feels significant, however, because that’s the last time I can remember being able to focus completely on being creative.

After December 24th caregiving and support became priorities over creativity and making art. In that time I’ve made artists’ books, I’ve had some lovely successes, and I’ve had to use every ounce of energy – when I had it – to focus on art at all.

I remember in a college seminar class when a student (much younger than me!) stated with conviction that a “real” artist would give up everything before not creating. By his definition, I am not a real artist. At the time I said would give up art in an instant to take care of my husband and our families and, for the past 6 months, that’s pretty much what I’ve done.

Four weeks ago my father-in-law decided to end treatment and come home. We were scared and sad and supportive. Our world shrank ever smaller, from the last six months of caregiving with moments of creativity and normal life in between – to 24 hours of vigilant care, love, support and putting one foot in front of the other.

Greg recently asked me if the experience with his dad has inspired me to make art. I think eventually it might. The two weeks between when he came home and when he completed his earthly journey was an education for all of us. Greg’s dad taught us how to die. Whereas I used to think of death as sad and painful and lonely, I now hope I will have the opportunity to visit with friends, listen to music, tell stories and experience the undivided love of family.

Maybe someday that will be the title of an artists’ book, How to Die. Maybe not. Right now, today, even walking the hundred and fifty feet to the studio feels too difficult. We’ve made the decisions, had the services, hosted far-flung relatives who came to pay their respects. My quiet and private husband even had the courage to give his dad’s eulogy. I have never been prouder than that moment I watched that brave and well-spoken man honor his father. I wish he would let me use the text from the eulogy for an artists’ book, but I know better than to ask.

So this morning I got up and decided to go to the studio. I put on clothes I could make messy, I poured some iced tea to take with me, and I stopped to water the garden. Then I paid bills. Then I did laundry. Then I played with the cat. Now here it is 6 p.m. and I haven’t made it to the studio yet. I finally decided that writing a long overdue blog post was at least a small move in the right direction. So this is it, this is my writing/art/creativity for today. Tomorrow morning I will get up and try again.

Have you made art about death, dying or the loss of a loved one? I’d appreciate it if you would share your stories in the comments section.

~Ginger

http://www.gingerburrell.com

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Posted in Art, Artists' Books, Business of Art, Personal Stories

Tagged art, creativity, death, dying, Ginger Burrell, returning to art after a loss, www.gingerburrell.com

A Valentine’s Flutter Book for Your Sweetheart

Posted on February 4, 2014 | 2 comments

I love Valentine’s day. I know many people scoff and I certainly would be the first to argue that you should be telling your loved ones a lot more often that they are special to you… That being said, I can’t resist sentiment, red hearts or glitter!

Last year my Valentine’s gift to you was the instructions for a book with a Polymer Clay Mosaic cover. This year I thought I’d make you a Flutter Book (also called an X Book, Maze Book, or a Cut and Fold Book).

To create the graphics for this book, I took a basic red heart and used Adobe Illustrator filters on it. This simple technique creates both the variation and the similarity that hold the book together. In a nod to the Valentines of our youth, the text is an assortment of “Roses are Red” sayings that were collected from around the web. The heart on the last page is white in the middle so that you can write in a message of your choice. (Feel free to add glitter…)

Here is the file, print as many as you’d like. Click the link to get the PDF.

Ginger Burrell Flutter Book Roses Are Red 2014

To assemble your book, first print on the highest print quality that your printer will produce. If you’d like a paper that feels velvety and more special than plain copy paper, try Hammermill Color Copy. (Trust me, you’ll fall in love with this silky paper.) Be careful when you print – my print dialogue kept defaulting to “fit to page” which changes the dimensions and will make your book turn out catty-wampus. It is designed to have the hearts and poems centered on each page.

After printing your page, fold the paper in half (with the images on the outside). Use a bone folder to make the crease sharp.

With your paper still folded, fold each end into the middle fold. Remember to crease every fold. Unfold.

Now fold your paper in half lengthwise and unfold. Again, crease carefully.

Re-fold your paper in half, with the images on the outside, and cut with scissors, very carefully, from the top of the fold, down to the horizontal fold.

Keeping your book folded, use the outer two folded halves and push inward. The cut halves will fold the other way, so you have an X. Lay flat and press, starting with the back page. Voila!