Mission Complete!

Friday the 13th has always been a lucky day for me and this year was no exception.  I did my private defense with my committee members (although my husband was in the room too), and received the piece of paper that says that I met all the requirements for completion. (YEAH!)  In the afternoon I gave my public presentation.  I talked about the inception for the project, , the research, and the journey of making the book.  I read a few of your responses and made people tear up.  Thank you to everyone who made this moment possible.  This part of the journey has finished but your journey is still on going.  I wish you all the best and promise to mail things soon.

Private Defense

Me talking at public presentation

Me and Allison, my friend and fellow classmate.  It was her day too!

The show goes up and Opening Night

The past week was so full.  I had some glitches that, thankfully, worked themselves out.  Hanging the show went smoothly, although I had to make some changes in what I had envisioned for it,  but liked the end result very much. I made the decision to focus on just a few things for my show.  The most important thing that I wanted everyone to see was what all the spouses said about being a spouse.  I decided in order for everyone to really be able to view them, I would frame each response and hang them on the gallery walls.  Otherwise, there would be a few books that everyone would have to gather around and try to see.  I did a picture montage on each side of the walls in the middle of the framed responses. To me the next thing that was important was the paper I printed on because of the materials I used.  I set up a display with explanations of what materials I used and how paper is made.  Lastly, I decided to use a quote from Deborah Mullen on the back wall.  Simple but powerful is what I wanted for this show and I think I achieved it.  I could not have done any of this without the men and women who participated in this project.  I cannot thank them enough.  It is my deep desire that this show helps people to understand us better and to give thought to the lives of people who serve our country and their families.

So on Thursday night I was ready for this event to happen.  Many people came out to see it.  Some of my book arts friends, who also teach at school, brought their classes with them.  It was really interesting to talk to some of the undergraduates about the show, and to hear their thoughts about it. Here are pictures with all the gallery lights on after I'd finished hanging the show.  I forgot to give my husband the camera as opening night happened and only remembered at the tail end. Here are three from that evening.   I'm sure my dad took lots more and will send them to me later.  This Friday will be the final step in this long process.  The private defense with my committee members in the morning and the public discussion in the afternoon.  Wish me luck!

The Show is coming..soon

I've been prepping for the show for the last few weeks with a little aggravation.  The postcards are still not done and the show is only 1.5 weeks away.  Really??  I mean it should be already done. Part of it comes from not getting me e-mailed in a timely manner from the person in charge.  Part of this is due to a new gallery manager and the learning curve.  Then Spring Break happened.  So no advertisement at this point.

I have been steadily working on what is going in the show.  After much internal discussion I made a few decisions that will not be revealed here but you will see pictures of the show.  This weekend, I cut mats and then started to put it all together.

Representation

So what happens to the books now that the work is done?  That is a question that I get a lot.  I sell them or hope to sell them.  After working hard one important thing that a book artist needs to consider is, are you going to try to sell your book on your own or are you going to seek representation with a book dealer.  I am choosing to go with a dealer.  The thought making some sort of prospectus, sending it out, making follow up calls does not rock my world.

I am very lucky in that right up the road in Birmingham is a delightful couple who are book dealers.  Bill and Vicky Stewart own Vamp & Tramp.  They travel all over the USA carrying our precious books with them making calls at special collections libraries, public libraries and private collectors.  

My husband and I made the trip to see them last Friday.  I not only took my thesis, but some other books that I have made while in school.  I am please to say that they took all of them.  Holding Down the Fort will be priced at $325.00.  I gladly give them a percentage of the sale in exchange for peace of mind and time to pursue other projects.

Here is there website.  It is worth checking out and full of treasures.  www.vampandtramp.com

Here They Are!

The final, finished stack of my edition.  Now that this is done, I'm going to start to work on the show.  I am meeting with the gallery manager tomorrow about details.  Only 5 weeks until the show opens.

Finished Binding!!!!

Today at 4:12 pm CST, I finished binding my edition of 50 books.  I am so happy and thrilled to be at this point of the process now.  Here is another pictorial essay of the process.

Trim uneven edges of covering

place text block on case, making sure everything is even.

I forgot to take a picture of pasting out.  I place a piece of newsprint under the first end sheet and then paste out the
end sheet.  Take away any extra glue with my finger and then carefully close cover onto the text block.  I then open the front cover a tad and then using my teflon folder, smoothing and making sure the end sheet is adhered to the case well. After doing both sides, I then put it back in the nipping press. 

The stack of finished books on my Kuttrimmer

The studio aftermath  No time to be polite about throwing newsprint in a trashcan.

I did start to clean up my studio tonight. 

Putting Paper on Case

 The next to last step before the end.  Now I am getting really excited as the end it truly in site.  Here is a pictorial essay of these steps.

Marking paper so I place the case correctly

Pasting out the Case

Placing Case on Cover Paper

Trimming all the sides and corners

Nip the case in the nipping press. This will make the case really adhere to boards.

Final step......casing in the text blocks.... :)