Tag Archives: The Heaven Project

“How To” Books That Deserve Shelf Space #1

Posted on September 6, 2016 | 11 comments

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I’m in the middle of my studio clean out. It definitely got worse before it got better, but today I can see the light at the end of the tunnel. Or at least the floor in some places.

I’m being rather harsh in my clean out, I don’t want to do this again soon. Everything has to earn its space. Especially books. So far I’ve donated 4 bags of books to the library and I’ve got two more boxes of books to donate to the Bay Area Book Artists Sale on Sunday, October 16th.

In my studio I have one of those Ikea bookshelves with the squares to divide books. Above is a photo of one of two squares labelled, “Book Arts How To.” I thought I’d share with you the books that I think are worth keeping in my studio and why.

Most books about Book Arts include the standard bindings, Accordion, Coptic, Pamphlet, etc. In order for me to keep a book in this category, it has to have one or more of the following:

  1. Unique binding ideas
  2. The best photos and instructions for a particular binding
  3. A gallery of book examples with outstanding artists books

Today, the first 5. Note, these are in no particular order of preference. Rather the order they are on my shelf.

Book Art Studio by Stacie Dolin and Amy Lapidow.

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The primary reason this book gets to stay? The Limp Paper Binding. A variation on the traditional Limp Vellum Binding. I haven’t tried it yet so the book goes back on my shelf.

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re-bound: creating handmade books from recycled and repurposed materials by Jeannine Stein

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This book deserves shelf space for the gallery. Here two of my favorites by Elaine Nishizu and Judi Delgado.

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Next, Book Arts: Beautiful Bindings for Handmade Books by Mary Kaye Seckler

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I keep this book for The Raven’s Foot Binding. It is a fun and unusual binding and well described here.

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More Making Books By Hand by Peter and Donna Thomas

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While there are instructions about how to make books, this one gets to stay as a catalog of Peter and Donna Thomas’ artwork. Here one of my favorites, The Trout.

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Book + Art: Handcrafting Artists’ Books by Dorothy Simpson Krause

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This book is unique in that it has Thermal Bindings (bindings created with the use of heat)

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And Drumleaf Bindings, bindings created by applying glue to the spine. Neither of which I’ve done, but both of which look interesting and useful.

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Next week, the next five.

On a personal note, the wedding in Virginia Beach was wonderful, beautiful, sentimental. We’re still smiling from the joy we shared with Samantha and Jeff.

We also experienced Tropical Storm Hermine which turned out to be stormy enough to create some challenges for the bride and groom but also disappointing after watching all of the weather channel doom and gloom.  For fun, Greg and I went to the coast at took some Hermine selfies. Here is my favorite.

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~Ginger

http://www.gingerburrell.com

 

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Posted in Art, Artists' Books, Materials/Supplies, Studio

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Setting Up a Custom Google Alert for Artists Books

Posted on September 20, 2011 | 2 comments

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Every day I get three emails from Google Alerts. Google Alerts monitors the web for new content in areas I’m interested in. One is set up for “artists books” and one is for “handmade books.” Sometimes there is nothing worth mentioning in these emails, but sometimes, like today, there were some real treasures. And, often by beginning with these links, I wander into something even more interesting.

The third is for “Ginger Burrell.” Why my own name? As artists we send things out all over  – to galleries, to collectors, on the web. Keeping track of how your work is being used or being talked about is important and nearly impossible without search tools. Google Alerts helped me find this review by Lark Magazine which included a nice mention about The Heaven Project and this mention by Denison Library about adding my book, Hands, to their collection.

Today’s goodies include:

In the “handmade books” alert, a link to Huldra Press about using a sketchbook and a link to a video version of an artist’s book by Theodore Lalos.

In the “artists books” alert, there was a link to a video by Travis Shaffer: Artist’s Book: conceptual and a link to a blog about the London Art Book Fair by Artypeeps which, when following the sidebar links led me to Artypeeps Artists’ Books page and ultimately to the treasure of the day:

The August/September issue of the Book Arts Newsletter edited by Sarah Bodman and published by the Centre for Fine Print Research, Department of Creative Arts: Book Arts, at the University of West England. And that lead to the September/October issue. Grab a cold drink (it’s going to be 100 degrees here) and stay a while. These two newsletters have seventy-seven (77!) pages of book arts information. It will take a while to load but it’s well worth it – you will be inspired.

Interested in setting up your own Google Alerts? Use this easy form.

~Ginger

www.gingerburrell.com

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Posted in Art, Artists' Books, Handmade Books

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Learning about What Has Come Before: Book Art in America

Posted on September 15, 2011 | Leave a comment

When I was at San Jose State University, some of my favorite classes were art history. I know. Snooze. But I had the gift of three amazing professors who love art history and made me  love it, too.

Dr. Max Grossman’s enthusiasm for art history was a defining moment for me. What seemed dry and drudgery became interesting, even compelling. In his Medieval to Renaissance class, Dr. Grossman talked about the art and artists as if he had been there. His knowledge of the backstories of great works of art made them come alive and had a lasting effect. Now at museums I recognize work we talked about, I understand its place in the history of art, and its significance to work that followed. I’ve become a better consumer of art because I’m more educated.

Dr. Dore Bowen‘s class Contemporary Art: The Thing sounds like a good name for a horror flick. Instead it was a thought-provoking journey through the art world from Duchamp’s Fountain to Jeff Koon’s Puppy and far beyond. And, while I didn’t always like the art (or even agree that it is art), I did learn to really think. Not just about the visual impact, but also about the intent of the artist, the social and cultural context when the art was made, and the influence of that art on all that follows. This class also led to two of my artists’ books, Rocks and You’ve Come a Long Way Baby.

Brian Taylor‘s History of Photography changed everything for me. I’ve loved photography since I was a little girl (I have the “heads cut off” photos to prove it) but, until this class, I had no idea about the incredible artistic range of this medium I thought I was good at.  As I learned about Anna Atkins, Edward Steichen, Imogen Cunningham,  Jerry Uelsmann, Alexander Rodchenko and too many others to name here, I realized that I knew nothing about photography and that I need to begin again. This class also led to new work including The Heaven Project and Ode to Anna Atkins.

Why have I spent four paragraphs reminiscing about art history classes? This rather long-winded introduction leads me to my current foray into art history, reading No Longer Innocent: Book Art In America 1960-1980 by Betty Bright. I’ve had this book on my shelf for quite some time but I’d never actually opened it. One day I realized how much I was missing the reading and discussions from school and decided that this book would be a good start. I know a lot now about the histories of painting, sculpture, photography, but what do I really know about the history of my own media, book arts? So here goes, a self-directed art history class about book arts. I suspect, as the above mentioned classes changed how I view and make art, this book will also have an impact. I invite you to read along with me and join the discussion.

~Ginger

www.gingerburrell.com

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Posted in Art, Artists' Books, Handmade Books, Photography

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