Workshop to be run by Dale-Cormack Pearson and Roselda Stevens 

 A fun Parallel Pen workshop  for experimentation, learning to use your  pens, and making a little book to keep all your examples in. For those of you who have  parallel pens and want to learn more about them, bring your pens with you and come and join us on 7 April 6.30 – 9pm at Gifford Gallery, 27 Poronui Street, Mt Eden, Auckland 1024, cost for the evening $10 and please be on time as we have lots to do.

 TOOLS

Bring all your Parallel pens,  we will show you how to remove the ink cartridge so that you can use this with water and or colour, also a useful skill so you can keep the nib assembly clean and flowing well.   I keep my 6.0mm and 1.5mm clean and only used water. Other things to bring if you have them:- Water colour paints, Gouache pans or tubes, a small palate to hold the paints (buy palate from a $2 shop) old small brush, A3 cartridge paper or Zeta paper. Pencil, rubber, ruler, cutter knife for cutting paper. This is open to ABC members who have Parallel pens and would like to attend.  Looking  forward to seeing you,  if you need to contact me please email me at dalecormackpearson36@gmail.com.

Margaret Beech visits us. 

By 'out and about' reporter Hillary

                                                                                               Margaret is a generous, charming, story teller come bookmaker/calligrapher who spent the afternoon sharing her passion and ingenuity about making books, with us. Answering our questions, showing us how to do the tricky bits - the time just flew.  Margaret sees potential, and has many ideas about adapting templates, putting her own twist on various constructions.                                              

                                                                                      Left: These are made from wallpaper. The wallpaper can be straightened by soaking in the bath and lying flat to dry. Place paper shapes on top of each other, offset by a fingers-width lengthwise, even top and bottom, cut pattern with craft knife through all layers at centre, separate and tap spine end even, bind as you wish.

A series of progressively smaller envelopes which are sewn on one edge in a traditional pamphlet stitch. Assemble each one closed on top of each other

                                                                                                         

Margaret explaining the cutout map of York and the folded pocket that it fits into. The template came from Tabellae Ansata vol 1 no. 2 . Do you fold first? Before cutting? Which is better?

A delighful construction made for Jubilee Year. That edition had very small flags going across the rooves of the houses. The house constuction was collaged from magazines in front of the TV. If you looked carefully you could see shirt patterns as windows, the Olympic torch as a house and a roofing ad acting as roof. When the collage was finished it was colour printed and assembled.

These structures would adapt very well to calligraphy projects, I for one will be trying to see what I can do. Thank you Margaret for sharing your precious time with us.

Chop/Seal, a workshop with Ruth Renner. 

By Dale-Cormack Pearson, our reporter in the field. 

What a wonderful packed day, filled with lots to learn. The four of us - Glenice, Jan, Barbara and myself - were very spoilt to have Ruth to ourselves. Ruth started by showing us her seals and telling us their history.

This was followed by a lesson on carving into soft stone. We all found it much harder than we expected, but with practice, like all things we would hope to improve. Before we knew it was lunchtime. Ruth then talked about her latest exhibition 'She Dreamt'. Spending time explaining about mulberry paper, moon paper, a soft see through paper, and what magic you can create when you use chinese ink and a brush.

Our chance soon came and we had time to play with some mulberry paper, brushes and chinese ink. We practised bamboo, characters, learning about the meaning of the strokes, how the energy takes you from one part of the stroke to completing the letter. We all have a better understanding of the construction of characters now.

After that we went back to our chop/seal carving and finally produced something. I am not entirely sure that we were happy with them. I realised I had carved mine back to front, I had to laugh. Jan made one for Sue, as she had wanted to come but ill health prevented her.

We would like to thank Ruth making time during her holiday to teach us and look forward to her next visit.

Report from Tuesday Night 3rd March

Susan organised this evening, we worked to music, on strips of practise paper (i.e. wall paper) which ran the full length of our tables. We used a variety of tools and paint to start with, aiming for backgrounds, eventually using ink, pigments we bought with us and any thing we thought might make an interesting mark. Better paper was tried after the loosening up period, this was to be worked on at home and next meeting we are expected to bring along a finished project. Woe betide, a warning from Susan, do something.

Please forgive me if your work is displayed upside down or sideways.

What we are doing on Tuesday night 3rd March:

Calligraphy outside your comfort zone:

The focus on this meeting is all about thinking big. The program is a hands on evening, so bring your aprons, and any big tools you have! Prepare to go home with inky fingers.

Paint, ink and paper will be supplied, and there will be plastic gloves for the really cautious folk. There will be lots of playing, non conforming, experimental calligraphy. Do come along, we look forward to seeing you. if you want to use the library come at 6 o'clock, we will start the evening properly at 6.30.

Barbara and Jan

Barbara and Jan's exhibition at the Steel Gallery in Pukekohe. In case you were not able to attend - it is open until the 13th of March, so you still have time to visit. The room was filled, and there were lots of people eager to wait their turn to see the exhibition. Patrons were looked after with dainty sandwhiches, savouries and cool drinks. 

Top row, some of the smaller pieces. Middle row, larger works, bottom row, the introductions, after the initial rush, and discussions with the artist.

After the Workshop

Dale has supplied a few more photos that she took during the workshop with Kate Hursthouse. You should be able to click on the compiled image to enlarge. Left to right,  Kate demonstrating, home made pens, some of our group, Kate explaining pens, Erin and Barbara, Kate discussing structure, lettering, Kate's book, more lettering, Rose's work on good paper. Enjoy.

2015 Monthly meetings start February 3rd.

That's this Tuesday!        Library 6pm, meeting starts 6.30pm

Kate Hursthouse

“In September 2014 Kate Hursthouse took part in a week long work shop in Arezzo, Italy with Italian Calligrapher Monica Dengo. During the workshop she studied historical manuscripts, texture, pattern and contemporary gestural writing.        http://www.monicadengo.com 

Kate worked with a range of tools created from a variety of materials and the students were encouraged to develop their own hands, experimenting with forms, textures, inks, instruments and papers.   

Kate is going to do a bit of a show and tell of the experiments and work she produced during the workshop and we are all going to experiment with some contemporary gestural writing.

Please bring along lots of paper, ink and any experimental tools such as cola pens, ruling pens, cork, balsa that you would like to experiment and play with."

Kate came across this video the other day of Luca Barcellona teaming up with Red Bull to create some work. It is quite beautiful. Well worth watching.

http://www.redbull.com/it/it/music/stories/1331687840871/variazioni-bertallot-ep.-3

You're invited

Auckland's southern-most Gallery will play host to 

"Beyond Type"

an exhibition that celebrates the journey of calligraphy 

presented by Jan Leonard and Barbara Ellis.

Flyer with details

A Message to New Zealand Calligraphers:

Jan and I are having an exhibition in our local Art Gallery from the 27th Feb to the 13th March and we would like to let you know and please note everyone is welcome. The opening is on Sat 28th February, so it's not far away.  

A bit of a spring clean for the new year.

An important date to remember is the first tuesday in February, this is the start of the monthly meetings for this year. Kate Hursthouse will be entertaining us with a presentation. We hope to touch base with the pages of the collaborative book, find out where the pages have been holidaying and perhaps hand over finished work. The date is the 3rd February, come at 6pm if you wish to use the library, the meeting proper will start around 6.30.

A reminder that it is this year we are having an exhibition and members should be thinking about a piece to hang (or maybe several). You should be past just the thinking stage, trials of paper and pigments perhaps roughs, with fine tuning around the corner. It is a good idea to make several copies keep them all, I remember Lorraine Brady saying 3 was the minium number you should do, then select the best.

Below is the information from the magazine in case you have misplaced it. You should be able to click on the image to enlarge it. If this doesnt work check issue no 88 for the flyer.

Photo Nicole Swain. Massimo on canvas.
 

More Massimo Workshop comments.

Theresa

Massimo was a great teacher and it was a breath of fresh air for me to spend quite some time thinking about design and what makes a good one. He was helpful and brought some interesting photocopies of varied artists work. It was great to study how they moved the eye around the work, resting on a focal point and then exiting through another clever drawing out technique.

He even had an example of a Caravaggio painting which was really, really interesting and Massimo pointed out the clever way Caravaggio moved the eye into and around the work.

It has been very helpful and I can see already that re-visiting the all important basics of design has made me spend more time evaluating why things are/are not working. 

Thanks Massimo!

Bevan

An interesting and challenging three days!

Glenice

This was a fantastic workshop – one in which we used all the materials that were requested.  That it covered three days made it far more comfortable than having to rush through a two day course.  Things had to dry and Massimo has certainly stirred the creative pot for us.  I am so looking forward to spending time scrutinizing the work we covered and completing some of it.  Trish Carrick Leslie was a stalwart in taking notes, which she is collating and intends to hand on.  Massimo, himself, was the most amenable tutor and guest one could have and we all hope that we have done enough to entice him back for a future workshop i.e. there is so much of the country he has yet to see …………..

Lesley 

I found the workshop challenging as I had never used canvases/gesso before, and had done very little collage, but found the whole workshop most rewarding.  Especially liked using the balsa wood on paper - I could see it could be useful for backgrounds for calligraphy.  A big thank you to all the Aucklanders who organised the workshop, kept us fed and watered, transported us and everyone who shared so freely with knowledge and equipment.   Massimo was a great tutor and I loved the bell he rang to bring us all to attention! 

A big thank you to those that sent in photos, to those that hosted over night,  those who made ‘out of towners’ feel at home, and the back door helpers and those unseen doing their bit to help.

Photo Kate Thurston. Lunchtime break.

Massimo

continues

Margaret said
 ...had a fantastic time... 

Dale chose to comment 
on Massimo's workshop
 by creating with a piece
 from one of the days.

Writing on tissue.                                        Adding collage.                                  Pigment and water.

CHRISTMAS TIME, 

MISTLETOE AND WINE

'TIS THE SEASON TO PROCRASTINATE, TO FORGET YOUR DUTIES AND CELEBRATE!   PUT YOUR WORK OUT OF MIND, SIP A SMALL DRINK AND UNWIND.

Please join us for some music, calories and conversation as we wrap up another year of Calligraphy. The meeting is at Gifford Gallery, Poronui Road, Mt Eden

Tuesday December 2 at 6:30

Can you please bring with you:

A plate (with some yummy food on it) and something to drink

An interesting question that you feel the group would enjoy discussing – not necessarily about calligraphy!

Some money, 'cause there will be raffles … Massimo Polello’s art!

A Christmas card you have made yourself, to exchange

A silly Santa gift – up to the value of $10

-Ahh Massimo-

Massimo Polello has gone on South after a most instructive, motivating and exciting workshop with us and the effects of his teaching will resonate for some time. I would like to thank Margaret and Dale for their photographs, stopping in the midst of their own work to take photos for reference and for those who did not attend. We have been spoilt for choice.

Jan summed it up with this report:-

FULLNESS AND EMPTYNESS WORKSHOP

Fabulous, frustrating, fun, fascinating, fast, fatiguing, friendly fellowship, and FANTASTIC!!

Left: Massimo using the syringe. Right: More layers.

And lastly for this post some of Massimo's demonstration pieces.

Next week there will be some of our members workshop trials, tests and attempts along with (hopefully) a few more individual reports.

Margaret Woollett Calligraphy

Margaret Woollett has challenged herself with a wonderful exercise of discovery. One hundred alphabets recorded on the web. There are several ways to access this, try typing in your search engine (i.e. safari, explorer, goggle etc) 'Margaret Woollett Calligraphy' The best link is on Facebook, click on that or try this Margaret Woollett Calligraphy

Margaret started by posting day 1 on September 8.2014 using Monoline Geometric Roman Capitals. On day 67 Margaret is up to Wide Fat Square lettering with a pointed brush. It is well worth the time to look it up and be inspired. The journey is recorded well on face book and the images much larger than the few I have at the top of this post. 

This information has been forwarded to me as it might be of interest to our members. As a society we normally join in with the Association of Handcraft Printers and The Association of Book Arts in an annual get together, it's called the Waysgoose. This year it will be held at the Auckland Horticultural Centre on the 23rd November. See below for more information.

ASSOCIATION OF HANDCRAFT PRINTERS

Workshop

Handmade Books

Owhanake Barn, 57 Korora Road, Oneroa, Waiheke, Auckland

Thursday 9 October 2014, 10.30am – 4.15pm

Create your own handmade books, journals and gifts with talented book craft artist Beth Serjeant at this all-day workshop.Part of the Waiheke Book Festival 2014.

$85, all materials are supplied. BYO lunch (tea and coffee supplied). Phone 0800 289 849 to book.

Exhibitions

Proceed and Be Bold: The Pear Tree Press

Until 6 October 2014

Christchurch Art Gallery

An exhibition of beautifully crafted, designed and hand-printed books from New Zealand's most renowned private press, The Pear Tree Press.

Mark Cleverley: Objectspace Master of Craft

Until 11 October 2014

Object Space, 8 Ponsonby Road, Ponsonby, Auckland

Objectspace’s Masters of Craft is an on-going series of exhibitions that tell the stories of New Zealand craft and design practitioners whose practice is distinctive, enduring, influential and redefining of tradition.

Janus Press: The New Zealand Connection 

17 October – 1 November

Object Space, 8 Ponsonby Road, Ponsonby, Auckland

Internationally renowned Janus Press is the oldest private press currently operating in the US. Founded in Vermont 1955, by artist, illustrator and typographer Claire Van Vliet. Open for just two weeks, this curated collection features over twenty books on loan from Auckland book makers Elizabeth Steiner and Beth Serjeant.

For the Love of Books

Opens 20 October

Auckland Central Library, Sir George Grey Special Collections, Lorne Street, Auckland

This exhibition will inspire lovers of books with the inventiveness, imagination and technical skill of the work of contemporary book artists and fine printers. The books on show are a selection of the best international and national examples of fine book making held in Sir George Grey Special Collections.

Dark Arts: 20 years of the Holloway Press 

24 – 26 October 2014

Auckland University of Technology, City Campus

This retrospective celebrates the work of the Holloway Press, the fine press of the University of Auckland, which was established in 1994 by Alan Loney and Associate Professor Peter Simpson. If you missed this exhibition at the Gus Fisher then this is your second chance to see the entire Holloway Press collection on show during the ABC conference at AUT.

AHP Members Outing

B&F Papers, 33 Oakleigh Avenue, Takanini, Auckland

Saturday 1 November 2014, 10am

B&F Papers Ltd are a New Zealand owned paper supply company that have been serving the printing industry for over 85 years. They have an excellent range of specialty papers and boards, most of them cut and packed to convenient sizes. This is a trip to their warehouse to see how a paper merchant operates. There may be samples available!

Conferences/Symposiums

Art and Book/Against the Odds:

The Editing, Design and Production of Books

16-18 October 2014

Dunedin School of Art

Two days of papers and discussion from those engaged in art and book – as artists, art historians or theorists, teachers and cultural workers, and others involved in the wide constituency of the art world, as well as those engaged in the world of books – writers, illustrators, librarians, publishers and the many others whose lives are touched by the use of books in all forms – from those clay tablets to e-books, blogs, online hypertexts and any future manifestations of books. For more information visit http://www.artandbook.org/

Inside Outside – A Case for the Book

24-26 October 2014

Auckland University of Technology, City Campus

The Association of Book Crafts is hosting its first international conference, providing a platform for discussion on all aspects of book production, the bindings and contents of both traditional and innovative structures including conservation/history, exhibition of books, design, illustration, book arts, book collecting, education and so much more. It's an exciting programme of presenters, there'll also be a trade fair where book industry traders can network with the professional and amateur bookbinders, craft printers, calligraphers, librarians and specialists in other related fields. For more information and registration visit www.abc-nz.org

Storylines

For many years now AHP has participated in the Auckland Storylines - Children’s Literature Festival event and this year was no exception. Thanks to financial support from the Waitemata Local Board we were able to set up a game of letterpress Scrabble, view images here. Thanks are also due to our volunteers on the day Nathan, Amy and Brendan Laing and Graham Judd, who helped to make letterpress Scrabble a big success.

Wayzgoose

The date for your diary this year is Sunday 23 November 2014, 11am - 3.30pm. Please note the change of venue: The Auckland Horticultural Centre, 990 Great North Road, Western Springs, Auckland.

Entry is the usual $5 on the door and we ask that you bring a plate of savoury food for a shared lunch.

Vinculum

Look out for news of a Vinculum day coming up soon at MOTAT, meantime please post your submissions to Lesley Smith, 69 Paturoa Road, Titirangi, Auckland 0604 by 27 October 2014. Submissions are held until we have a minimum of 12 pages, we currently have six.

AHP Survey

Thank you to those members who have answered the AHP survey we hope to bring their stories to the website soon. For those who haven't, it's not too late, the information gathered will develop into a valuable resource and reveal the state of letterpress printing in New Zealand today. Take the survey here.

On the Web

Calcutta was the hub of India's printing trade in the 19th Century, here's an interesting picture story from the BBC of a letterpress print shop that has survived the transition to desk top publishing.