Book Arts News

Enjoy the new look of my Email Campaigns!

How are you all doing, after such a scorching summer (especially here in Arizona)? I’m looking forward to Fall with its cooler weather. I have been busy nesting more than producing artists’ books. My mind is cogitating on new ideas while my body is recovering from heat intolerance!

2021 © Louise Levergneux. Fishhook Barrel Cactus photographed in the resort where I live in Apache Junction, Arizona. It is a very prevalent in Arizona. Barrel Cactus (different types) are round, squat cacti that can live as long as 130 years. The most interesting fact about this cactus is that is often leans towards the southwest, so it can be used as a compass of sorts if you’re stranded in the middle of the desert.

The last few weeks I re-evaluated internet services, softwares, hours spent preparing posts, writing... This administrivia will make work flow better and less time consumed on managing different accounts and passwords. Those little tasks take so much time, but need to be done.

So, with all the nesting in our tiny home/studio, painting walls, cabinets, doors... I was able to achieve a home like feel to our small abode. This type of work which I have not done in long time triggered many memories. I enjoyed it, and I’m sure it will bring a fresh point of view and creativity for my next book with the working title “Secrets,” after the frenzy settles down.

---

Receiving news (links below) from galleries and museums through the month is uplifting. Many thanks, great work!

How can you not be excited by shows at 23 Sandy Gallery. The last exhibition through November 20, 2021, had many fantastic works. The International Juried Exhibition of Book Arts is entitled UNSEEN and is on view at the gallery form & concept. When imperceptible phenomena burst into view, revolutionary changes may follow. We learned this in 2020, as an invisible but deadly virus spread across the world, an urgent racial justice movement illuminated dark societal realities, and humanity’s long-simmering crimes against the environment unleashed fires and floods. Unseen forces can shape our lives and surface in unexpected ways, often altering our behaviors and worldviews if and when we are made aware of them. This exhibition explores the idea of the “unseen”—physically, psychologically, and philosophically.

Artist's Books Unshelved is an ongoing video series exploring selected pieces from the Cynthia Sears Artist’s Books Collection at the Bainbridge Island Museum of Art.

I love seeing emails from Robert Bolick in my inbox — it typically means goodies for the eyes and mind. Robert Bolick curates Books On Books Collection.

John Cutrone, Director of the Jaffe Center for Book Arts at Florida Atlantic University Libraries, is curator of the Jaffe Collection, and host for Book Arts 101 : Home Edition. John unpacks new items for the JCBA's permanent collection on each episode. These episodes can also be viewed at JCBA's Vimeo Channel.

---

I love reading blog posts written by artists. I equally enjoy receiving news on newly produced works.

If you are looking for a bit of humour, Big Jump Press blog written by Sarah Bryant is always encouraging.

I enjoy receiving news from Magog, Québec, through the blog of Guylaine Couture. You can also view her most recent book “Interest & exchange in the dirt,“ part of the exhibition UNSEEN.

Check out Cathryn Miller’s blog to follow what Byopia Press is teaching us these days.

2021 © Amandine Nabarra. The last Breath

Amandine Nabarra’s blog presents us with her sensitive, well designed artists’ books.

2021 © Thomas Parker Williams. Two Moons, published by Thomas; text and poetry selection by Mary Agnes Williams.

If conceptual sources from the theme of mathematics, music, literature, theology, philosophy, astronomy, history, natural sciences, architecture, and Eastern thought are of interest, view Thomas Parker Williams artists’ books.

Read more on Philip Zimmermann’s recent artists’ book Delirium and watch this short video.

Let's not forget Helen Hiebert and her superbly, well-informed posts on papermaking. Helen Hiebert video — All About Helen Hiebert Studio.

And last but no least, reading information coming from the BOOK_ARTS-L@LISTSERV.SYR.EDU can be eye opening. Sara Halpert, Museum Manager at The Printing Museum in Carson, California, compiled THE ULTIMATE PRINTING MAP where you can examine local places of interest in your corner of the world.

Videos that are part of this post are viewable only on my website!

---

Need to get back to work and read more news coming via email. Thanks for keeping me informed. Oh! By the way, Let me say that working with Squarespace’s Email Campaign feature is so much easier than Mailchimp. What has been your experience?

Surveillance

I have noticed through emails and blog posts the amount of work being done by artists during these unusual times. Congrats to all! I admire those of you who have discovered ways to keep your art world/business going. It is fantastic to feel connected every morning as I tune into my emails  and read about everyone’s creative process. As artists, we need many concentrated hours to create. The last eight months gave my husband and I the opportunity to produce while being isolated at home.

© 2020 Louise Levergneux. The accordion sides of Surveillance being cut.

Last April, as full time RV’ers, Michael and I decided to acquire a reliable place to stay. Our travels where put on hold while Covid dictated our lives. These days, weeks, months gave us the opportunity to write and produce in our incredibly compact space. Finally, cabin fever set in and with the virus still very much around; we required more room. In September we moved our studio spaces into a small, modest home (399 square feet) for our creativity to continue to blossom. 

© 2020 Louise Levergneux. Getting ready to work on Surveillance.

© 2020 Louise Levergneux. Freshly cut pages for Surveillance.

With a major publication completed, I need to concentrate and get the next artists’ book — Surveillance — done. How to get back into this complicated book after so many months since my last review?

A blog post I read back in 2016 by Big Jump Press came to mind, while sitting here in front of all the various parts to assemble for Surveillance. The subject was on how to get organized for completing a project after a long break. The article is a fun read written by Sarah Bryant entitled “Ok, where was I?” and is very impressive.

For months, I kept Surveillance on the forefront of my mind, thinking of better ideas, solutions, materials... even while conceptualizing other ideas. It never dawned on me to put into place Sarah’s method. Once I got absorbed by manhole covers, Surveillance was put aside in safe containers and disappeared from my thoughts. Even though Sarah’s article is a terrific read, it’s a bit late for me.

© 2020 Louise Levergneux. The different parts to put together.

At the moment, the plan of action is to start recalling how I developed the model, folded paper, cut, glued and assembled the book... !!! My brain hurts just thinking about it all as I prepare to get started again.

© 2019 Louise Levergneux. The first page/cover template of Surveillance once the binding is opened.

© 2019 Louise Levergneux. View through the first page/ cover of Surveillance.

In the mean time, if you intend to take a break from a book project for whatever reason, please read Sarah’s post. My suggestion is to plan for the future.

© 2015 Louise Levergneux. I wish you all a great holiday season this month and hope you will be able to celebrate with loved ones.

---

New Endeavor

Launching into a new creative endeavor or new lifestyle is often marked by fear, uncertainty, and self-doubt. All these states of being have traversed my mind in the last 4 months as we prepare to hit the road.

Analyzing a new beginning is recognizing that one is ready to embark on a new journey. So, this voyage is fast approaching, and the photo below is what my studio looked like most of the week. I was trying to make sense of the 90 square feet of available living space in our T@B trailer and our Kia Sorento.

© 2017 Louise Levergneux

© 2017 Louise Levergneux, our T@B trailer with all amenities in 90 square feet

I sold books this year, but I'm left with too many copies of each edition created throughout the years. A friend once told me to publish one to three copies only at a time. Another told me that when her artists’ bookshelf fills up she donates or gifts books to make room for newer publications.

I find it difficult to make notes good enough to publish a book at a later date, so I create the whole edition at the same time. This situation creates lots of inventory, nice with a studio, but not good to fit in a trailer for a year.

Sarah Bryant from Big Jump Press, she calls herself a genius and I don’t blame her—she’s correct—she’s excellent at creating notes on her publications giving her the capability to finish an edition later on. You can read Sarah's blog post “Ok, where was I?” published in February 2016—see how she developed a way to finish her project at a later date. Great reading and informative.

© 2016 Sarah Bryant, Sarah's studio

© 2016 Sarah Bryant, Sarah's prep bags of gigs and information

I packed and re-packed all my artists’ books. It’s strange to leave your creations somewhere for so long without access to them for exhibitions or sales.

---

I had to resolve my MacBook Pro problem throughout my packing sessions. My battery is failing, and the issue was never resolved by Simply Mac or Apple. I wish Apple would make batteries that last longer. This is my second experience with a dysfunctional computer battery. My last MacBook Pro battery exploded while I was typing on the keyboard. Literally, it made my computer three times thicker and my hands went flying. What a surprise! This time the battery will die as it will no longer charge even plugged in. How much fun can one take!

Here is what Simply Mac agreed on their Service Summary, but after many back-and-forth phone calls between Simply Mac and Apple, neither could agree on the terms of the problem. On the Simply Mac Service Summary, it was clear that if I waited until September of 2017 the battery would be FREE; Apple does not agree. This situation is difficult when the technology is needed, and the technology and the services are certainly not dependable.

© 2017 Louise Levergneux, Simply Mac's Service Summary I signed to agree on repairs. I squared in red the important parts.

---

The next phase is on my mind. I feel nervous and excited about my new adventure and hope to see you on the road and or visit your studio.

Smaller footprint, bigger ideas!