BOOKS-BOOKS-BOOKS ...for the love of books....

Found this great site today.....check it out..if you love books, you have found a slice of heaven here....
http://fuckyeahbookarts.tumblr.com/

Books are on the brain...I am excited about teaching "The Altered Book" at the 6th International Encaustic Conference in Provincetown, MA, in June 2012....

Details about this session:  The Altered Book

This session will demonstrate how to create a work of art out of an old book, using including encaustic medium, pigment sticks, and a variety of collage elements, such as Japanese papers, found objects, mixed media and organics. Specifically discussed will be the types of books that can be altered, what to consider when choosing books, the binding, spine applications and the types of papers within the books. Many examples of finished altered books will be shared and examples of books that are problematic from a technical standpoint will also be shared with the audience. Supria will also show you her personal favorite: how to use mica as a window within the book cover.

Supria will offer a two-day Post-Con on the same topic

Here is some more great information on this need to attend event - registration is open now... THE ENCAUSTIC CONFERENCE

Joanne Mattera founder & Director of the International Encaustic Conference & Cherie Mittenthal executive Director of Truro Center for the Arts at Castle Hill are please to announce that Registration is now open.

THE SIXTH INTERNATIONAL ENCAUSTIC CONFERENCE  Number Six! Welcome to the Sixth International Encaustic Conference. This is a conference of firsts: the first annual event devoted to the serious study of encaustic; the first international event, drawing artists from the U.S. and Canada, plus Mexico, Latin America, Scandinavia, Europe, Australia, Norway and New Zealand; and the first event of its kind anywhere to place encaustic within the context of contemporary art. It’s also the largest encaustic conference anywhere. Allow us to kvell for a moment when we say that it draws the best teachers, the most talented artists, and nicest group of folks you’ll ever meet. And it has a Vendor Room that’s as close to heaven as you’ll find on earth. The Conference, in co-production with Truro Center for the Arts at Castle Hill, now makes its home in one of the most beautiful locations on earth—Provincetown, at the tip of the great arm of Massachusetts. Opportunities for learning, sharing, networking, creative collaboration and entrepreneurship have grown each year. This year there are more talks and demos; an earlier start time; another Friday afternoon extravaganza—this year, Print-a-Palooza; an expanded Sunday morning Hotel Fair; and three days of Pre-Conference workshops in addition to the five days of Post-Con. The workshops will take place at Castle Hill in Truro. Provincetown is a gallery town—it’s the oldest continuous art colony in the United States—and we expect to have an expanded range of exhibition opportunities. A number of galleries, excited by our presence last year, are eager to be part of the excitement. We’ll have our juried show at Kobalt Gallery again this year. And at Castle Hill we’ll have two invitational exhibitions: Cherie is curating an show of encaustic work on paper, while artist and teacher Supria Karmaker is organizing a small show of artists’ books. So the short of it is that there’s much to learn, to do, to see, to experience. Pray for sun, but know that whatever the weather, this Conference promises to a bright spot in your art year. -- Joanne Mattera, founder and director -- Cherie Mittenthal, director, Truro Center for the Arts at Castle Hill

What Happens to Art once it is sold...stories about the journey which keeps unfolding ....

"Window to the Soul" - Book Art, Encaustic and Mixed Media, 2009

"Window to the Soul" - Inside, Book Art, Encaustic and Mixed Media, 2009

Well, a funny thing happened to me a few weeks ago....I was preparing for the "Beyond the Cover", Beeswax meets Mica, Altered book, Encaustic Assemblage, a 3-day long summer art playshop....and I decided to stop into one of my favourite antique shops in Guelph, Chat Noir.....

I had to come back several times, as it wasn't opening until 11 am, and it was only 10 a.m...so I did some errands, came back but it still wasn't open....Yet something kept pulling me to wait..and not dash back home, which was a half an hour north,...I needed to get into the store....For some reason there was a VERY STRONG pull to wait.....I thought it was for some delicious finds for new work....antique finds or so I thought....So I went off to do some more errands..then came back....

Finally at 12:30 the store opened...I asked the owner if I could come in though he was still setting up as I had to be back and had been waiting to get in...found some really cool things for my mixed media art work...but along with the finds I also found "Window to the Soul" my very own art work (above images)....At first I was taken back...as I had sold this work back in 2009 at a collective gallery I belong to....it was odd to see it here...and even more odd was the gamut of emotions I was feeling....

I went home after this,  reflecting at what the Universe was telling me...and discovered a few interesting messages.   First that our work after it leaves us has a journey to take and stories to unfold, sometimes or always, way beyond our control....It was interesting that this book was calling me back...and this preceded by a few days the of teaching a great summer intensive on making encaustic mixed media books to a great group of students....I decided I needed to buy it back.....

So I went back two days later and bought it to keep it with me a little longer...and it was great to share with the students.

The second message I got from this, was to not 'hold so precious' our work, to value and respect it yes, to share it and trust the unfolding journey it will have...it will find its way to others sharing its message and beauty wherever it goes...and this one needed to be seen again by the Chat Noir's customers and to find me again.  I have decided I will hold onto it for a while and see what else and other wise things I might get from this book and the story that needs to unfold....

And once again it will find its way to someone else that needs to have it....

Interesting to me is how art resonates and shares even years after their birthing.....