Cloudy Skies…Sky Poetry 2
One December afternoon in Santa Monica…same sky, different directions.
Raising lens to the heavens.
Hoping for the best.
Cloudy Skies…Sky Poetry 1
Cloudy Skies…Sky Poetry 1
One December afternoon in Santa Monica…same sky, different directions.
Raising lens to the heavens.
Hoping for the best.
Making Our Own Books: Together!
Making Our Own Books: Together!
I had the wonderful experience of teaching “MAKE YOUR OWN BOOKS’, an enrichment class offered at Franklin Elementary School in Santa Monica by the CREST Enrichment program.
The sweet and talented students ranged from first to fourth grade, and had a blast making books of different sizes, structures and materials.
They first bound together their portfolios, made of hanging file folders, then designed and developed the outside covers of these,
getting acquainted with each other, their materials, myself, and their own creativity and imagination.
Then we began our book projects…which included accordion fold books, flag books, fan books,
single signature bindings, and side “stab” bindings.
To celebrate our achievements, learning and fun, we had a “last class” family event.
Family and CREST staff were invited to Make Books Together!
Did we have fun making “double” single signature books, learning the pamphlet stitch, and embellishing up a storm!
Moms,
Nannies,
and Dads got into the act,
along with our delightful students…
and CREST staffers who got to take a creative break!
i will miss this class, and the open, fluid creativity of the students. I hope to have the opportunity to work with them again!
Wishing everyone a creative and healthful New Year…and a celebration of the positive power of the Imagination. Let us imagine a better world…and Make It, Together.
The Sheltering Book Chapter 5
The Sheltering Book Chapter 5
I am honored to have been one of 17 artists who received an inaugural ‘The WORD Grant 2016: The Bruce Geller Memorial Prize” from the Institute for Jewish Creativity, a project of American Jewish University, to create, “The Sheltering Book“.
Open to the world.
“The Sheltering Book will be a life-sized book structure which will become the backdrop for community bookmaking workshops drawing parallels between the meaning and architecture of the book, and that of the Sukkah. The project also explores the relationship between the public sphere and private space, whether that space be our personal creativity, where we create, or what we create.” —Debra Disman
A “Sheltering Book” program was held at the , of the Santa Monica Public Library. The program was attended by participants from preschool to post school who created books, and shared them in the shelter of The Sheltering Book.
This kind patron helped Montana Branch Library Manager Stephanie Archer and I carry The Sheltering Book into the Community Room.
Covers and pages were prepped, and participants bound them together into a single signature book which they then added to with writing, drawing and collage materials.
A whole wonderful family of three generations…grandma, mom, and four fantastic, talented and creative daughters!
Reveling in materials.
Creative use of papert strips too create waving grasses, behind which cat’s eyes glimmer…
Sharing with little sis looking on…
Use of magazine images.
She has a beautiful sense of design.
Grandma gets into the act!
Creating with Grandma…pretty in Pink!
Sharing…
A children’s book illustrator…
shares her creation…lovely color choices!
This wonderful teaching artist claimed the time to create a piece about her own identity…
employing buttons, collage, mixed media,
to great effect… 
and sharing.
Beautiful use of leaves…
outside,
and inside, her book!
She strolled into the Community Room during a break, and jumped right in!
A natural presenter!
This lovely couple go right into the expressive spirit…
creating about music,
and other visions.
Photogenic too!
This maker truly committed…
using inspiration from the natural
and the man-made worlds…
and fully developing ideas
within her book.
Sharing…
This spirited artist used to be a casting agent…
and she has truly found a new medium within which to epxress herself…and vision.
The Sheltering Book becomes a synergistic process and experience for the community at-large, offering shelter, safe space, and creative inspiration for all who engage with it.
Let us hold the vision!
The Sheltering Book Chapter 4
The Sheltering Book Chapter 4
I am honored to have been one of 17 artists who received an inaugural ‘The WORD Grant 2016: The Bruce Geller Memorial Prize” from the Institute for Jewish Creativity, a project of American Jewish University, to create, “The Sheltering Book“.
“The Sheltering Book will be a life-sized book structure which will become the backdrop for community bookmaking workshops drawing parallels between the meaning and architecture of the book, and that of the Sukkah. The project also explores the relationship between the public sphere and private space, whether that space be our personal creativity, where we create, or what we create.” —Debra Disman
A “Sheltering Book” workshop was held at 430 Pico in Santa Monica, a building owned by the Community Corporation of Santa Monica (CCSM), who rents out apartments to families and others, and provides a range of programming to them. Our workshop was part of that programming, and was attended by families with children from preschool to high school. A group of volunteers provided a lovely buffet and supported the participants, who created books, and shared them in the shelter of The Sheltering Book.
Covers and pages were prepped, and participants bound them together into a single signature book which they then added to with writing, drawing and collage materials!
I taught the pamphlet stitch, but this young maker jumped right in, and wrote his book before it was bound!
Working with images cut from magazines…
Adding letters to create words…
Developing the interior…
Creating meaning…
Using the drawing materials…
A future “Women in the Arts”…
Sharing our books in the shelter of The Sheltering Book.
Room for creative work here!
He worked long and hard with a devoted volunteer to spell out his name in letters culled from magazines.
Celebration! Showing our books within the pages and open “walls” of The Sheltering Book”…supported within its loving “arms”.
The participants become the content and the characters of The Sheltering Book. Through their presence and their creations they people its pages, add meaning to its presence, and add life to its structure.Their story becomes its story, and vice versa.
The Sheltering Book becomes a synergistic process and experience for the community at-large, offering shelter, safe space, and creative inspiration for all who engage with it.
Let us hold the vision!
The Sheltering Book Chapter 3
The Sheltering Book Chapter 3
I am honored to have been one of 17 artists who received an inaugural ‘The WORD Grant 2016: The Bruce Geller Memorial Prize” from the Institute for Jewish Creativity, a project of American Jewish University, to create, “The Sheltering Book“.
“The Sheltering Book will be a life-sized book structure which will become the backdrop for community bookmaking workshops drawing parallels between the meaning and architecture of the book, and that of the Sukkah. The project also explores the relationship between the public sphere and private space, whether that space be our personal creativity, where we create, or what we create.” —Debra Disman
“The WORD Grant, a project of American Jewish University’s Institute for Jewish Creativity, supports artists creating projects that explore Jewish ideas, themes, tradition, history, and identity. We believe in supporting a contemporary, vibrant, Jewish cultural landscape in Los Angeles.” —The Institute for Jewish Creativity
Made of corrugated cardboard, primed, base-painted, and treated with layers of transparent color, the Sheltering Book becomes a Sukkah With the addition of dyed netting stenciled with ferns, the “s’chach“, roof of the Sukkah.
The Sheltering Book at The Braid Theatre Gallery, Home of the Jewish Women’s Theatre
Our first community bookmaking workshop was held at the lovely Braid Theatre Gallery.
The Sheltering Book onstage, becomes a theatrical backdrop, a set, and a theater in and of itself, as participants create their books nearby,
using brilliant and beautiful materials.
Mother and daughter work side by side.
Participants focus on”building”, then developing their flag books.
Documenting while doing.
Putting together word and image,
color,
text and texture,
themes.
Then we shared….in the safety of The Sheltering Book.
Was it a fluke that black was the predominant clothing color that day? Creating a striking contrast between Book and Bookmaker.
Glorious…and sublime.
…to be continued…
The Sheltering Book Chapter 2
The Sheltering Book Chapter 2
I am honored to have been one of 17 artists who received an inaugural ‘The WORD Grant 2016: The Bruce Geller Memorial Prize” from the Institute for Jewish Creativity, a project of American Jewish University.
The Sheltering Book at The Braid Theatre Gallery, Home of the Jewish Women’s Theatre
“The WORD Grant, a project of American Jewish University’s Institute for Jewish Creativity, supports artists creating projects that explore Jewish ideas, themes, tradition, history, and identity. We believe in supporting a contemporary, vibrant, Jewish cultural landscape in Los Angeles.” —The Institute for Jewish Creativity
For my project, “The Sheltering Book“, I constructed a “life-sized” book, to become the backdrop and inspiration point for bookmaking workshops! The book also draws parallels to the “Sukkah”, a small temporary shelter used in ancient times for those harvesting to eat and sleep in during harvest season (part of the Jewish holiday of Sukkot which falls in October).
Please join us this coming Saturday at The Montana Branch Library to make books and explore The Sheltering Book in community!
Saturday October 22nd 10 AM – 1 PM The Montana Branch Library/Santa Monica Public Library 1704 Montana Avenue, Santa Monica, CA 90403
I will also be there with The Sheltering Book from 2 – 5 PM that afternoon for more exploration, bookmaking and sharing!
The Sheltering Book Chapter 1
The Sheltering Book Chapter 1
I am honored to have been one of 17 artists who received an inaugural ‘Word Grant 2016: The Bruce Geller Memorial Prize” from the Institute for Jewish Creativity, a project of American Jewish University.
“The WORD Grant, a project of American Jewish University’s Institute for Jewish Creativity, supports artists creating projects that explore Jewish ideas, themes, tradition, history, and identity. We believe in supporting a contemporary, vibrant, Jewish cultural landscape in Los Angeles.” —The Institute for Jewish Creativity
For my project, “The Sheltering Book“, I am constructing a “life-sized” book, to become the backdrop and inspiration point for bookmaking workshops! The book also draws parallels to the “Sukkah”, a small temporary shelter used in ancient times for those harvesting to eat and sleep in during harvest season (part of the Jewish holiday of Sukkot which falls in October).
Here is The Sheltering Book in process in the studio:
The book is made of corrugated cardboard, primed, base-painted and layered with paint washed, a paint effect, or decorative painting technique. Here boards are waiting to be painted, while the accordion spine
is readied to receive its wash treatment on the work table.
The base colors are Fine Paints of Europe primary colors, the paint version of the Pantone Color System.
Accordion spine made in two parts, with overlapped center. Extra pieces added to the top to add height.
Because the spine was made of moving boxes, there were slits cut on either end. The end that became the bottom of the book was folded over and glued to create extra strength. (Not pictured here.)
The slits and resulting gaps in the top were covered with board prepared in the same manner as the primed, painted and treated surface. The diamonds cover the last bit of gap, and became a design element.
Cover board before border added.
Cover boards with borders, glued and stitched to accordion spine.
Stitching cover board to spine. Interior view.
Cover board attached to inside of spine. Left side exterior view.
Cover board stitching. Right side exterior view.
Left side pages glued to spine.
Ready to glue left side pages.
Harvest colors: red-russet covers, golden-yellow pages (complimentary purple on reverse- not pictured.)
The process: holes punched with awl, spaced with handmade cardboard template. Sewn with 48lb / 21.7kg natural hemp cord.
Please join us for one of the public bookmaking workshops!
- Sunday October 16th 10 AM – 12:30 PM The Braid Theater Gallery, Home of the Jewish Women’s Theater / 2912 Colorado Ave #102 Santa Monica, CA 90404
- Thursday October 20th 7 – 9 PM, 430 Pico Boulevard, Santa Monica, CA 90405, A Community Corporation of Santa Monica (CCSM) Affordable Housing Bldg. (This one is just for building residents and CCSM Staff).
- Saturday October 22nd 10 AM – 1 PM The Montana Branch Library/Santa Monica Public Library 1704 Montana Avenue, Santa Monica, CA 90403 I will also be there with The Sheltering Book from 2 – 5 PM that afternoon!
Moses @ 90: Inspiration
Moses @ 90: Inspiration
The extraordinary artist Ed Moses is showing recent works in the former Santa Monica Museum of Art in Bergamot Station. He is 90, and I was told that most of the works on view were done in 2016.
Now that’s an inspiration.
Moses seems to continually reinvent his oeuvre, breaking new ground with unexpected juxtapositions of color, form, materials, dimension, and use of shapes and space.
He works in series…huge gestural paintings that seem to leap off the canvas, yet retain molten centers of passion and energy.
He breaks into the paint, using a “secret sauce” that makes it crack when “activated’ by applying another layer of paint over the dried layer of what sounds suspiciously (to my decorative painter’s ear) like crackle glaze, or at least shellac or white glue, both of which can crack through wet paint laid over it. The effect is stunning.
Fun house mirror? After a fashion. This room is a whole installation of reflective metal, painted and cracked pieces, and applique, which combine to transform the world into something never seen before.
The distorted head silhouette appears to be a repeating Moses motif…showing up in painted dialogue,
and appliquéd onto other wild pieces like these screens stenciled with delicate wallpaper-like florals and punctured by squiggly worm-like cut-outs.
On some pieces the head shapes are partially cut out from the surface in concert with the other cut-out shapes and lines,
Here shocking yellow cut-out squiggles are sliced with blue. Determinedly undulating, they seem to be trying to subvert the gray and lacy ivory butterflies and blossoms of their riotously bucolic environment. I mean…background.
These stunningly inventive works don’t need to come alive…they are alive.
And happily, so is the prolific and endlessly creative Mr. Moses.
Siting Santa Monica: The Door I
Siting Santa Monica: The Door I
A beautiful old door, touched by time…discovered on a walk in Santa Monica.
Adorned with peeling layers of paint,
and metal details,
the doors swing open beneath foliage, elaborate carving, and a lantern-like light fixture.
There is the sense of time gone by,
and the entrance into a magical world.
Who knows what is on the other side? Lives being lived, no doubt.
Artissima - Blog of ArtiFactory Studio 