Feature Artists - Angie Butler & Philippa Wood

MY PLACE/YOUR PLACE

is a collaborative artists' book project devised by

ANGIE BUTLER & PHILIPPA WOOD

The resultant two volume set of artists' books  OPEN HOUSE - No.18 and No.42, were originally created for Sense of Place , curated by Karen Kinoshita at the University of Minnesota, Oct-Dec 2012. An edition is now included in the Personal Histories International Artist Book Exhibition.

In January 2012 we were asked by Karen Kinoshita to participate in the 'Sense of Place in Artists' Books' to be held at the Architecture Library, University of Minnesota Oct-Dec 2012, to coincide with the International Conference "Mapping Spectral Traces: PLaCE Minnesota.

With this in mind, we began to e-mail each other our thoughts and ideas, trying to pinpoint shared interests, thinking how we could develop our ideas regarding the concept "sense of place", and how to increase understanding towards, and empathy with our work through it's publication.

Through our online conversations, we realised that, although we had met a number of times, through our academic and artistic practice; we had never been to, or seen each other's houses.

We had no knowledge of where we both dwell, or of the surroundings in which we inhabit daily.  Although we have shared appreciation for nostalgia, letterpress, Delia Smith, typewriters and the histories and narratives of objects - we didn't know an awful lot about our respective pasts, present, or future selves, our hopes and dreams.

So, as an attempt to discover and reveal a few interesting stories, we decided to carry out some domestic archaeology.  We gave each other an online 'tour' of our own houses in words and pictures, and made an accompanying artists' book that focuses on an intimate selection of the tour.

By acknowledging the past, discussing the present and investing in the future we have not only developed our own relationship, but have raised an awareness of how we are connected to the places where we live, and better understand the psychology that underpins our furnishings, decor and household adornments.

The resultant artists' books are also accompanied by an ongoing blog.

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ANGIE BUTLER is currently carrying out a PhD. study based at The Centre for Fine Print Research at The University of the West of England, Bristol, United Kingdom.  

Angie has a multi-disciplinary approach to making, producing artists' books and printed matter with letterpress printing and hand typed text under the press name ABPress.  Her books have been exhibited internationally and are held in private and public collections in the UK, USA, Denmark, Norway, Italy, Iraq, Taiwan and Australia.  

Angie lectures, leads workshops and courses teaching into various CPD programmes, undergraduate and postgraduate degree courses (from Fine Art and Multi-Disciplinary Printmaking to Graphic Design and Illustration), at Universities and Studios throughout the UK.

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PHILIPPA WOOD is a Senior Lecturer within the Department of Design at The University of Lincoln and produces work as part of a small collective called The Caseroom Press.  

Her work in the book arts field explores a range of interests, from what could be considered the minutiae of life - the seemingly insignificant aspects of our living and working environments and the importance we place on them; to projects that explore how applying mandatory rules and systems impacts on the content and form of the book and whether this means the artist relinquishes creative control.

Having originally qualified as a graphic designer her current creative practice embraces her interest in typography and the utilisation of traditional print processes such as letterpress.

Philippa's books are held within various permanent collections including The Klingspor-Museum Offenbach Archive, Germany; Boise State University, Idaho, USA: Winchester School of Art and Design and Bristol Bower Ashton Library, UWE, UK.

Philippa has also submitted a second artists' book for the Personal Histories project entitled Objects of Others (inhabit my kitchen).  This book is a visual record of items within Philippa's kitchen.  Items bestowed or inherited from friends and relatives; or unwanted and donated items purchased from second-hand or charity shops.

ALL IMAGES COPYRIGHT OF THE ARTISTS; 

ANGIE BUTLER & PHILIPPA WOOD

Redland Museum - Exhibition Opening

The opening for the first of the Personal Histories International Artist Book Exhibitions will be at:

10am (Australian EST)

Sunday 12 OCTOBER 2014

 Redland Museum

60 Smith Street

Cleveland  Qld  4163

ph:   (07) 3286 3494

Please rsvp by Monday 6 October to Redland Museum if you are interested in coming along.

admin@redlandmuseum.org.au

Thank you and congratulations to each artist whose work is included in this exhibition.

Feature Artist - TIM LAURIN

TIM LAURIN

is a master printmaker from Ontario, Canada.

Working from his self renovated Octopus Studio Press site which, in a former life, was the one room 1938 Tyrone School, Tim skilfully combines new and old technologies to create absorbing artworks.

Originally trained as a fine craftsman working in metal and glass, Tim found himself drawn to the media of printmaking around 15 years ago.  Since then he has focused on alternative approaches to intaglio, which often incorporates photo-based sources.  Tim also began exploring the medium of Letterpress printing in 2008 working on a Vandercook Proofing Press #1 and an SP-15. 

The bookwork titled, Masc-U-line, is an exploration of self-identity and the social perception of masculinity.  Appropriating vintage photographs, I combine my photo types with short verse, using lead type in a traditional letterpress format.

The book, Some Men I Know, is a collection of ten portraits.  New technologies such as the internet and smart phones have dramatically changed how I interact with people.  Much of my socializing is now mediated through mobile apps on a 2 by 3 inch screen.  

This series of dry points is directly drawn from the photo-profiles of my acquaintances and have been created  using traditional techniques of drypoint and spit-bite etching. By using the screen capture function on my phone, I save the profile pic of my guy-pals and then begin scratching their likeness into a metal plate.  The result is a tiny print on Japanese washi tissue that is also laminated onto BFK cotton paper (chine colle)

ALL IMAGES COPYRIGHT OF THE ARTIST TIMOTHY LAURIN  

Feature Artist - ALIZA THOMAS

ALIZA THOMAS

is a visual artist and paper maker from The Netherlands.

Aliza teaches paper making at the International Papier Biennal Rijswijk  and has done extensive research into the history of Islamic paper making.  She specialises in asian style paper and printmaking and has studied the art of paper making in many places worldwide, including Japan.  She has participated in the paper fashion shows in Jeonju, South Korea which are part of the Hanji Cultural Festival. She has recently made a journalistic contribution, together with the Royal Dutch Library and Henk Porck, to the Hand Paper Making Journal.

As well as all her paper making activities, Aliza has studied the art of  Qigong and Taiji quan (Tai Chi) under the instruction of Mr Gerard Pronk and Grand Master Kong Mien Ho.  She now teaches lessons in Qigong in rehabilitation programmes as well as to companies.  Aliza has travelled to China many times to continue her study of the art there.  

Aliza has exhibited her works in many places worldwide including Amsterdam, Netherlands, South Korea, Bulgaria, France, Australia, Israel, Lithuania, Philippines, Indonesia, Belgium.  Her works are held in many collections including Haifa Museum of Modern Art Israel, Bertha Urdang Gallery New York, University of Cape Town, Cannabis Press Japan, Honolulu Book Arts Society Hawaii, Israel Museum Jerusalem, City of the Hague Holland, Royal Dutch Library Holland and Kyoto Paper Museum Japan.

ALL IMAGES COPYRIGHT OF THE ARTIST ALIZA THOMAS

Feature Artist - LESLEY HAAS

LESLEY HAAS

is an artist born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania USA.

Lesley spent many of the years between 1988 -2000 living in Heidelberg, Germany. She is currently  back living in  Philadelphia.

Lesley developed an interest in handmade paper after viewing a comprehensive exhibit in New York City in which the artworks were made with paper.  Her technique and style have been influenced over the years by ongoing studio work and by course work with well known paper artists.  She is an active member of the International Association of Hand Paper Makers and Paper Artists (IAPMA).  

 In recent years she has re-used packaging materials, magazines and all types of paper to create her works and scrolls.  Individual collage work is custom made and printed with archival inks and paper.

The signature of my work is the use of natural fibres and pigments from various parts of the world to blend the characteristics of the fibres with different elements of style.  A rough deckled edge exposes the raw textured beauty of what has always drawn me to using paper as my main art medium.  As an extension of my paper making I have also created objects from vegetable papyrus.  Dresses and recycled paper art can also be found among my artworks.

 Lesley has exhibited her works widely in the United States as well as in numerous international exhibitions including in Italy, Germany, Korea, the Netherlands, France, Australia, England, Switzerland, Canada, Sweden, and Denmark.

ALL IMAGES COPYRIGHT OF THE ARTIST LESLEY HAAS