Contributions to 'An Encyclopaedia of Everything'

Over the past little while I have involved myself sporadically with making a few books for Cheryl Penn's artist book project "An Encyclopaedia of Everything".

I am currently working on another edition for the project.  This time pamphlet stitch books as part of a collaborative trade between Artist Book 3.0 members.  For this latest edition I am incorporating lino prints with the subject of refugees/boat people.

I think this will be the final call of works for the project as the exhibition is imminent and Cheryl will reach her goal of 500 (?) books by the conclusion of this latest collaboration.

The most recent book I contributed was "After All", a concertina fold book about the final silence which awaits us all.  A bit of a dreary subject, but don't we all love a bit of melodrama now and then?! Unfortunately, I forgot to take a photo of the cover before I sent it off into the never, never.

A small extract from a well known  Edgar Allan Poe poem "The Raven" weaves it's way across the folds 

(Deep into to that darkness peering, long I stood there wondering, fearing, doubting, dreaming dreams no mortal ever dared to dream before) 

along with images of gravestones, dodos, skeletons and the like - all symbols of memento mori and eternal demise.

The other books I have contributed:

You are my everything......

 and

Missing

Artist Books 3.0 #12 - Biography - "Missing"

I have finally completed my edition of accordion fold books

for inclusion in the Artist Books 3.0 #12 (biography/autobiography) 

Collaborative Mail Art Group project.

"Missing"

The subject I chose to explore was Agatha Christie, specifically

the 11 days in December of 1926 she went missing.

I was originally going to poke a bit of fun,

making various disguises in which Ms Agatha

might have been spotted.

However, on re-reading information about the

personal angst which Ms Agatha was suffering at the time,

I thought it would be inconsiderate to make fun of her 

obvious state of desolation, even after all these years.

Herewith are the two pieces of writing 

included with the book (the first being a copy of the 

missing notice posted after Ms Agatha's disappearance,

offering a detailed (though not wholly flattering) description of her at the time:

       BERKSHIRE CONSTABULARY.

              WOKINGHAM DIVISION.

                       9^th December 1926

MISSING

From her home “Styles” Sunningdale in this Division

Mrs. Agatha Mary Clarissa CHRISTIE

(WIFE OF COLONEL A. CHRISTIE)

AGE 35 YEARS, HEIGHT 5FT 7”. HAIR RED (Shingled),

NATURAL TEETH, EYES GREY,

COMPLEXION FAIR, WELL BUILT.

DRESSED – Grey Stockingette Skirt,

Green Jumper, Grey and dark Grey Cardigan,

small Green Velour Hat, may have hand bag

containing 5-10 pounds. Left home in

4 seater Morris Cowley car at 9.45 p.m.

on 3^rd December leaving note saying she was

going for a drive.  The next morning the

car was found abandoned at Newlands

Corner, Albury, Surrey.

Should this lady be seen or any information

regarding her be obtained please communicate

to any Police Station, or to

        CHARLES GODDARD, Superintendent

                                  WOKINGHAM.

            Telephone No. 11 Wokingham

1926 was a tumultuous year for Agatha Christie.  Agatha’s books were beginning to gain in popularity, pushing her reluctantly into the spotlight.  Her ailing mother, Clarissa, died of bronchitis in early February.  Agatha’s husband, Archie, professed his distaste of grief and sadness and resolutely remained in Spain refusing to return to support Agatha through the funeral, her grief and the ordeal of sorting through her childhood home whilst caring for their young daughter.  When Archie did eventually return to England he took up residence in London, far away from their home in Surrey. He took a mistress, Nancy Neele, who shared his passion for golf.  It is believed Agatha, a shy, reserved person, quietly suffered a nervous breakdown after a year filled with personal trauma.

On the 3^rd December, after Archie left for a weekend house party to announce his engagement to his mistress, Agatha slipped quietly from their home “Styles” and disappeared for eleven days.  After a nation wide manhunt she was found safe at the Hydropathic Hotel and Spa at Harrogate, claiming she was not aware of who she was or what she was doing there.

Her disappearance has sparked much conjecture through the years, however, Agatha refused to ever speak of the events.

BAO #4 at UNSW CANBERRA

Congratulations and thanks to Caren Florance & Terence Uren
who have curated an exhibition of Book Art Object Edition 4 artist books at the UNSW Canberra (ADFA) Library in Canberra, Australia, during November 2013.

Caren has set up a great set of photos on Flickr if you would like to view the exhibition on line:

BAO@UNSW

My contribution for BAO #4 "The Lost Typewriter Key" (photos above) is included -  

so nice to see it on display alongside some familiar names and books in what looks like a fabulous display.

Renovations - Progress

Studio space - then...

Studio space - now

Downstairs Back of House - then

Downstairs Back of House - now

Rear of House - then

Rear of House - now

New Studio Space

Well, I am glad to say that things have been moving along

with the downstairs part of our renovations.

My studio is now clad, along with a new storage room,

old laundry and garage area.  

It makes such a difference, and it's not even finished yet.

Now deciding on light fixtures/placement, studio flooring options and exterior paint colours 

(The building crew favour the same colour as the top half of the house but

I am seriously considering the grey of the hand rails.  My thinking is that this will connect it

to the top half but give it weight and differentiate the new build from the old .

Any opinions?

PS:  On a totally different note -

I hope all the artist book makers who read this little blog of mine

will visit the Personal Histories blog from time to time and

hopefully consider being part of the exhibition.

If any one has any suggestions on how I can promote

participation in the event I'd be most grateful of suggestions.

Personal Histories Artist Book Exhibition

Family Holiday, Amity Point circa January 1972

I am currently in the throes of trying to set up a collaborative

artists book and works on paper exhibition

at Redland Museum Cleveland (Qld Australia).

I am really hoping that some of you will be keen

to share some personal histories and participate in this exhibition with me.

I've started a new blog entitled

"Personal Histories"

dedicated to the project

where I will aim to share information

and images of participating artists works

and hopefully a couple of interviews or guest blog posts.

Please have a look at the new blog and let me know if you are interested.

I'd love to hear from you.

If you have any questions regarding the project please

feel free to ask.

(PS: I'm the shortest child in the photo above.  I am standing in front of my mother
& am surrounded by my siblings, a family friend named Tom
and the backside of our dachshund Heidi - taken by my Father in the front yard of
our holiday home in Gonzalez Street, Amity Point, Stradbroke Island, Qld, Australia)

You Are My Everything

This is my finished book "You Are My Everything"

made for Cheryl Penn's exhibition

"An Encyclopaedia of Everything"

scheduled for next April in Durban, South Africa.

Thought I'd take some photos of it 

before it went off into the world by itself.

Works in Progress

I am currently working on a couple of papercut bookart projects .

The first is going to live in South Africa when it is complete as part

of Cheryl Penn's collaborative book art project and exhibition 

"An Encyclopaedia of Everything" which will be on

display at KZNSA Gallery in Durban next April.

The second item I am constructing to somewhat replace my Continuum book.

I have an embryonic idea for a local collaborative book arts exhibition

for anyone who may be interested (near or far).

Will keep you "posted" on more as it pans out :)

PS:  as I'm working away at my dining table I can hear the melodic
sound of nail guns and hammers building the framework for
my studio - YAY :) So Excited!
(Next thing I'll be painting will be walls - not artworks)

Cover to Cover - Bribie Seaside Museum

Herewith my photosynth stitched photo of the

Cover to Cover 

exhibition now on at 

Bribie Island Seaside Museum

Bongaree  Qld 

Along with artists I am yet to meet

I have a few humble works in this group exhibition

alongside some very impressive works from 

bookmaking friends

Helen Malone 

and 

Amanda Watson-Will 

The museum are also running a workshop programme
in conjunction with the exhibition.

There was a great old black and white film
from the 50's running in their little
cinemarette showing the
bookmaking processes of the day.

Spoiler Alert

 It has been an age since I posted off my little 

BookArtObject parcels

to their different destinations around the globe,

I have not heard from all the recipients,

so, if you are still awaiting your little parcel,

LOOK AWAY NOW.

For everyone else,

here is what was inside my

editions (entitled LOST) of:  "The Missing Typewriter Key".

The accompanying explanatory colophon reads as follows:

LOST

by Robyn Foster

(inspired by The Missing Typewriter Key, #69 of 100 stories in An Exercise for Kurt Johannessen (2010),  used by permission of the author, Sarah Bodman)

 an edition of 12

BookArtObject 2012 Edition 4 – Group 3

http://bookartobject.blogspot.com

In 2010, inspired by Kurt Johannessen’s Exercises (1994), British book artist Sarah Bodman wrote 100 stories (An Exercise for Kurt Johannessen). Sarah buried these stories in a forest somewhere in northern Denmark, never to be read.

With Sarah’s permission, the titles of these  stories have provided the starting point for BookArtObject Edition 4, 2012.

BookArtObject is an annual online project in which book artists from around the globe form groups (numbering on average 8 per group for 2012), each artist makes an edition of books from a chosen topic and sends a copy of the completed book to each artist in their group, and a copy to Sarah Bodman via Sara Bowen (organizer and instigator of the project) for inclusion in possible exhibition opportunities.  

This edition of 12 handmade books  is my reaction to #69 of Sarah Bodman’s 100 stories:  

The Missing Typewriter Key.

The edition consists of 12 paper and card pocketed concertina fold books, each with 8 removable tags, tabs, red string and end papers/covers made from specially printed postcards.  Each book is housed in a slip box constructed from black Canson card. Cut circles, representing missing typewriter keys, appear throughout the books as do images relative to the theme of being missing or lost, without the probability of recovery.  I have focused my attention on a bygone era, a time that is lost to us,  in which typewriters would have been prevalent (BC: before computers). Shellac has been used to give the impression of patina and age on the removable tags. Text used is typed predominantly in American Typewriter or stencilled.

BookArtObject - almost revealed

Whilst I sent off my 

Book Art Object

contributions to my fellow BAO buddies

on the first of the month, I am still waiting for those

of my group in America to receive their copies.

So..... 

until I know they have opened

their little packages, and revealed the

secrets contained within, I wait patiently to

share exactly what it is that I managed to produce for this project.

I don't think I give too much away by sharing the above image 

which is of the slip boxes I made to house the books.

I am very excited too, as
Barbara Simler
has just posted on the
Book Art Object blog
that she has finished her part of the project too
and has sent her little surprises off in the mail.

BookArtObject Parcels - finally winging their way around the world

Not very exciting photos, I know - but - I am excited!

Here are my little BookArtObject parcels.

They have been ready for a few weeks now,

unfortunately life has got in the way
and they have been waiting patiently to fly off to their new homes.

They are all wrapped now and  ready to post to my BAO buddies 

(Ronnie in Australia
Kalmia, Meg & Rebecca in USA
Barbara in Canada
Angela in UK

+ 1 more to UK for Sarah Bodman via Sara Bowen in Coffs Harbour,

+ 1 for my book buddy Jack who is also doing BAO this year).

Post Office line, here I come :)

I will post photos of what is inside the packaging 

for my BookArtObject project

"The Missing Typewriter Key"

as soon as I know everyone above has received their parcels.

L-O-S-T Connections

I have been VERY busy putting together

my submission of 12 handmade books based on 

the theme of "The Missing Typewriter Key" for the 

Book Art Object 

project that I am participating in.

I never envisaged how much time would

be spent thinking, searching, deliberating, 

working on process, creating, more deliberating, editing 

and exacting this little run of handmade books.

Whilst I don't wish to give too much away

(as I wish the BAO recipients of my book

to gain some small sense of surprise upon receipt),

The above images appear in my final work up.

These century old sepia photographs 

were found in the ceiling of a house my brother moved into over a decade ago,

and I feel they are missing their history and connection as

the immediate family wasn't interested in retrieving them 

when we told them of their discovery.

They seem to hark from the Toowoomba/Ipswich region

of Queensland (Australia) and the only

information I have is from a tribute card

for the sweet little girl with the blonde curly hair

whose name was Elsie May Baills,

beloved daughter of Sam and Martha Baills

(lost to her family at the tender age of 10 yrs 10mths on 23rd April 1914).