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.

34 International Calligraphy Conference

Over in California an amazing get together is being held at Sonoma State University. It's the 34th International Calligraphy Conference July 25th to August 1st. Here is the link http://www.thepassionatepen.org You will find all the information you need on the website. As I read through the tutors I ohh and ahh at each one, all well known people who's work is so amazing. I recommend you go have a cup of tea (or two) as you look through their work. The campus is flat, with accommodation on site, there is a cafe, there will be calligraphy gear outlets, bookshops, and tutors and students work for sale etc. Mobility wheels for those who need them, everything is within half a mile of each other through pleasant leafy walks.  

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.

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.  

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.

Yukimi Annand is a calligrapher and text artist that I found on Pinterest one day and thought that her work was interesting and experimental. Perhaps it is something we could try with the flotsam and jetsam we all collect when we go to the beach, bush or mountains. If you would like to see more of her work here is the link to her website Yukimi Annand. Maybe we could even see it displayed in the collaborative pages, that some of us are working on. She very kindly gave me permission to use her image on the blog.

Dale-Cormack Pearson resigned earlier this year. A long time anchor for almost every position in our society,  and sometimes seemed to hold them all at once. A motivator, educator, co-ordinator, and enthusiast with infectious positivity, we decided to celebrate and have a meal together. It was a beautiful day, clear skies, sunshine and no wind, we met out in Karaka country at St Margaret's Garden Cafe. The food was devoured and the wine disappeared, all was good as folk we hadn't seen in a while had come and 'catch up conversations' went around the table. There were cards from well wishers and those unable to attend, gifts too.  Thank you to all those who participated and remembered Dale's contribution to our group.

Peter Defty

Alphatecture word search of architectural terms

Peter has kindly given me permission to post some of his work so we can share in his vision. The series that caught my eye was architectural forms that echoed letters of the western alphabet.  His website has much more information, both about his work and the projects he has completed, http://www.peterdefty.com/Site/HOME.html

He published the 'Geordie Alphapet' which created a lot of interest:- Geordie referring to native of Newcastle..AlphaPET being a play on the word alphabet, but PET refers to a phrase/slang referring to someone affectionately...so play on words....and has one for Paris, San Sebastian, Newcastle, London, Manchester and Leeds. Folk living in these areas would probably be able to recognise the buildings and be on the lookout for the more difficult unsolved ones.

When you are out and about in your home town, look for architectural shapes that echo our alphabet and see if you can manage a local effort. It may make you more aware of the negative and positive shapes that are in our everyday lives. I would love to post what you do and perhaps have a guess whereabouts  you live. You could digress further  still and use all sorts of images to make up your alphabet.

The James Wallace Arts Trust

Ink wash and Calligraphy

Mr Lee, master calligrapher will be demonstrating Calligraphy and Ink Wash later this month on the 21st August. The demonstration will run from 10.30 am onwards. Jan was out and about and spotted this, contacted the Trust and handed on the information for your interest.

For more information:-

Organised by the Education and Public Programmes, 

of the The James Wallace Arts Trust, P O BOX 24657 Royal Oak, Auckland 1345
Telephone: (09) 639 2010  Fax: (09) 624 4636  Mobile: 021 0316331
Email: zoe.hoeberigs@wallaceartstrust.org.nz
www.tsbbankwallaceartscentre.org.nz
www.wallaceartstrust.org.nz

Glenn Grishkoff

Brush Maker Extraordinaire

California-based Glenn grew up watching his Chinese-born Russian father grind his own ink and brush iconic glyphs from his childhood onto rice paper. This and his own experience in Asia taught Grishkoff the power of a brushstroke and the spirit of natural materials. The sculptural objects and performances he creates with clay, paper, wood, metal, textiles and hair, reference his own story and the materials he uses.

In his work, one sees a reflection of human experience as the artist pays homage to the animal spirit instilled within the physical world.  He is interested in the brush as art and function. More information  here.  

"Rock", coil-built porcelain, garnet sand; raku fired, cone 06; horse mane hair; 10"x15.5"x12",

He conducts hands on brush making workshops and is currently booking future workshop presentations. He is constructing a second website that will feature, his functional brushes, paintings, student work, collaboratives and all workshop information for people wanting to host workshops and people taking his workshops. The brushes he teaches how to make in his workshops work with all visual art areas and appeal to a diverse crowd. 

"Ink Well", porcelain sculpted with elbow and hand impressions; 

high salt fired, cone 10, powdered glass; brush handle, course garnet dust, deer tail hair; 10"x 7" x 3.5", 2008

    

I wrote to Glenn and he kindly gave his permission to use the images and information on his site. If the contents of this post interested you - there is a lot more available and I recommend visiting Glenn's website http://www.glenngrishkoff.com/ 

Installation

Paper Rusting

A small experience as an aside from the usual practise of calligraphy, the Easter break found some of us trying paper rusting. This process is almost uncontrollable, after dipping our paper in various chemicals, they were left to dry. The chemicals interacted with each other creating organic patterns.

These are some of the chemicals used. We now have piles of paper to look at and use over the winter. Dale is hanging out her sheets and checking the ones that are dry.

Thank you to Diane Johnson who was there with her camera, now we have a record of the day.

Wayzgoose

The annual get together of the Associated Book Crafts, Auckland Hand printers and the New Zealand Calligraphers. This year it was hosted by the Printers in Ferndale House, Mt Albert. The photos from left to right are, early arrivals waiting outside for the doors to be unlocked on a glorious day, setting up the Adana hand printing presses for everyone to have a go, eating lunch and trying to do the quiz, and finally the men networking.

Photographer Diane

Do you ever notice the alphabet being used in public places? Good or bad signs, handwritten work,  why don't you take a snapshot and send it to us here ? Diane was at a NZ Post shop at the local airport and noticed a stamp sheet on the wall, It was behind the counter so she asked permission to photograph it. It was the Alphabet made up with NZ postage stamps. I like The Edmonds E. There are many identifiable letters from the logos and some well recognised images, and the stamps are real. Look out for this sheet. Click on image to enlarge.

Ink  Paper Thread

 at

A Fine Line Gallery

A unique exhibition by 10 artists who are linked by ink, paper, and thread, they are Printmakers, Calligraphers and Book Artists. The Gallery is based in Charlie's Gelato Garden, 17 Sharp Road, Matakana. There is still time to see this  unusual combined exhibition as it runs until the 2nd December. 

Some casual snapshots have become available,  they were taken on the opening night,  and capture only a few of the exhibits, you really need to visit to appreciate the range of skill and ability of these artists.

Diane Johnson photographer

        

An opportunity arose for me to visit Margaret Woollett's Exhibition in Devonport this week. See earlier post of Oct 29th for more details. For those who are out of the city here are a few details up closer than the other available material shows. However nothing is quite the same as seeing with your own eyes, you need to see the impact of size and the play of light etc. The Museum sits on an amazing site, nestled in under the hill, right on the water's edge with a wide view of Auckland city from across the harbour. With no charges, on site parking, and a pleasant modern cafe, I recommend a visit.

Out and About

The Katikati Millennium project of a haiku pathway along the Uretara Stream has matured. It is believed to be the largest display of boulder haiku in english, outside of Japan.

Diane Johnson photographer

The words evoke images and if you look around you realise how well chosen they are. Alison Furminger visited  this Haiku Trail many years ago, Diane Johnson has revisited recently.

Click on each picture to enlarge it and make reading the haiku easier. There are more boulders on the trail than are shown here. If you are out and about and see examples of calligraphy being used in unusual places, send some photos to show us, perhaps we could even visit and see for ourselves.

Diane Johnson was the photographer for this series.