Half Measure Studio has been instrumental in opening social interactions that allowed me to individually connect and visit many artists. These informative conversations undoubtedly helped to feature artists in weekly and monthly posts since 2016. In 2020, the year of change and transformation Half Measure Studio will be conducting virtual studio visits, this is our undeniable reality...
During the last three years, I have appreciated the comments and contact from many artists who communicated via email after following my posts. Mark Wangberg, has emailed me enthusiastic responses with continual interest in the art highlighted on my blog. Since he lives and works in Peru, a personal studio visit was impractical, even less now given the transportation and public health circumstances.
Mark was kind enough to send images of his atelier and artists’ books for me to report on the history behind his work and lifestyle in Peru.
In 1973-74, in Nigeria, I discovered the lovely goatskins being produced and used for various crafts. At the time I wasn't aware of the tremendous quality and use of this material in fine bindings all over the world. I had been doing letterpress printing for two years at Alma College in Michigan. My comprehension of the incredible beauty and variety of artists' books was merely beginning. I published a number of limited edition books under the Jack-In-The-Box press name.
Ultimately (1979-80) I apprenticed with Daniel Tucker of Turtle Island Press, and through his excellent tutelage expanded my skills and knowledge for book arts. He indeed supported me in recognizing the possibilities for combining the total aspects of a book, so all components (materials, text, images, color, texture, etc.) were unified.
Many years later, while teaching art (including book arts in my curriculum) at a public high school outside Philadelphia, I achieved a MFA in Book Arts at The University of the Arts in 1999. Working with Hedi Kyle for those five years, blew my mind with NEW possibilities. Her inventiveness rubbed off on me and my students!
Hedi continues being a friend and inspiration! Many other instructors at The University of the Arts had profound impacts on my art and teaching — most notably Nathan Knobler, a teacher who easily doubled my knowledge and critical skills.
At my best, I "play" with the possibilities of text, materials, image, and context. Living in The Amazon has exposed me to a variety of novel materials. For instance, the use of llanchma, a local bark cloth, encouraged my lifelong dream of doing large quilt-like wall pieces. I also folded, sewed, and dyed it to develop textile versions of some of Hedi Kyle's structures. The usage of digital media and inexpensive printing on canvas-like banner material allowed me to create large format patterns using photographs of local women. By repeating the images, I created "tile" designs similar to ones from the early 1900s adorning historic buildings here in Iquitoswooden, Peru...
For the foreseeable future, all artists and studio visits will be done virtually. The pleasant side of this situation is to be able to explore ateliers and connect with artists I may never have encountered in my real time travels.