The Epiphany of Art

I guess I am considered an outsider artist since my degree is not in Fine Arts. I did take college level courses in papermaking and book arts, and have taken workshops; but for the most part my book binding skills are self taught.  And the papermaking skills came after years of making paper at the now closed, Wisconsin Center for Book & Paper Arts. I've taught Paper Arts, including papermaking, paper marbling, book binding, vessel making and more, to all ages. I don't know where it comes from, but there is that moment of discovery when you are making art, when you figure out the piece you are working on, and it all comes together -- the epiphany of art.

Don't look

This book was made for an exhibit that the Bone Folders' Guild had during the Wisconsin Book Festival. It is a tunnel book, cased in, with beads, threads, my handmade cotton rag and plant fiber paper and mica  The theme was Hidden Beliefs so I chose three beliefs I have and then made them almost impossible to read. On the left side there is a pocket with a stab bound book that you might think holds the answer. But when you pull out the book you realize that it is bound on both sides and therefore it not accessible.

The Peace on earth project

This book was made with folded round handmade paper and has a coptic stitch binding and walnut covers. I cut small circles out of my handmade paper and at different events I asked people to draw or write about peace on the circle. When they left their circle they got to choose a blank circle to take with them. I then made slits in the paper and inserted the circles. I made a system of identification of where I had collected the circles of peace. This piece exhibited at the Overture Center for the Arts.

I wrote 100 Haiku for Instagram’s #100dayproject, and then I made this book, with all of the Haiku, in an edition of two.