Prototype #1

Little online presence recently as I have been involved with three others on a project at North Bay Letterpress Arts which we have called Prototype. Prototype #1 is a new _____________________. We are leaving it blank because it is still unclear to us what it is and what will come. So

Here beginneth:

Some Kind of Information. About the nature of Titles. Inspired by a poet who introduced a poem with two titles, then another with three and another without. Prototype #1 reflects our conversations and explorations about titles—-what they are, and what they are not. Of course we started by first consulting the dictionary for its definition:

NOUN

  1. The name of a book, composition, or other artistic work

  2. A name that describes someone’s position or job

  3. The position of being the champion of a major sports competition

  4. A right or claim to the ownership of property or to a rank or throne

  5. (in church use) a fixed sphere of work and source of income as a condition or ordination

VERB

1. give a name to (a book, composition, or other work)

ORIGIN

Old Englishtitul, reinforced by Old Frenchtitle, both from Latintitulus’ inscription, title’. The word originally denoted a placard or inscription placed on an object, giving information about it, hence a descriptive heading in a book or other composition.

Four folds and 24 folds ago. Now prepared to assemble.

Four folds and 24 folds to go to create just the structure (the spine and cover) for prototype. Image above are the printed parts of the spine for 100 prototypes.

Four folds and 24 folds to go to create just the structure (the spine and cover) for prototype. Image above are the printed parts of the spine for 100 prototypes.

Still under construction due to be launched at *NBLA’s Second Annual Fundraiser on Sunday, October 6th.

We have printed and currently are binding an edition of 100. Pricing still under discussion as we are trying to decide how to price it— by its folds, its page number, print runs, and…..

All proceeds will benefit North Bay Letterpress Arts. More to come upon its completion.

*One more note:

You’re invited to our Second Annual Fundraiser!

Please join us at Hopmonk Tavern for our Second Annual Fundraiser on October 6th! A celebration of printmaking, book arts, education and community. Tickets are available by contacting NBLA

Sunday, October 6, 2019
Lunch: 2:00 PM - 5:00 PM at HopMonk
Reception: 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM at Iota Printshop

Altered Book Show at MarinMOCA

I have donated an artist book for this event, pictured below. Note that the details for this event follow.

Book Iceland Reports

Land & Texture: Exploring Iceland for Content in Artist Books

The directors at the Gullkistan Center for Creativity in southern Iceland invited me to teach a workshop on “something related to books and texture”. The invitation prompted me to reflect on my travels and experiences there, and my impressions & thoughts about its landscape of unique textures and colors not seen elsewhere on this earth. The two words, books & texture, guided me in shaping the workshop.

Last summer I returned to Iceland to teach the workshop, Book Iceland. On April 2nd, I will report back on it in a talk entitled, Land & Texture: Exploring Iceland For Content in Artist Books at the San Francisco Center For the Book. Book Iceland was inspired by the natural energies that shaped Iceland’s landscapes. Participating artists explored materials, tools, and processes — forming content for their artist book projects.

The talk is one of several public programs offered during the exhibition, Posted/Unposted, an exhibition of artist books, letterpress & printmaking from the Nordic collective Codex Polaris of the greater Scandinavian book arts community.

Date:
Tuesday, April 2, 6 - 8 pm (Talk @ 6:30 pm)

Location:
San Francisco Center for the Book
375 Rhode Island Street
San Francisco, CA

SFCB is open to the public 10am to 5:30pm every day

ath'wart press at Codex 2019

A rhythm of weather effects—light blinding rays offset by gray belting hail and rain. A spectacular and felt side show as my table was located on the aisle closest to the industrial sized windows of the Craneway Center in Richmond at the Codex International Book Fair.

I enjoyed every minute of this event. Where else can one experience a gathering of book artists from all over the world? Over 200 exhibitors from more than twenty-five countries shared their quality books along with engaging conversations on their creative processes.

The international focus this year was Codex Nordica and artists from Iceland, Norway, Sweden, Denmark and Finland were represented. Special to me as I have been traveling to Iceland for artist residencies since 2012. Last summer I taught Book Iceland at the Gullkistan Center for Creativity and met two of the artists as they presented the work of Airkir (www.aikir.wordpress.com), to the class. Eight from the group came to Codex. I invited them up to the NBLA shop in Sebastopol after Codex. They accepted. So, two days after the closing, we hosted what mushroomed into a delegation of ten artists: six from Iceland, three from Norway and one from Sweden. The whole afternoon was charmed. There was a lunch next door, then a showing of each other’s books, and finally sitting down with coffee and cake to talk about how we might collaborate or at least stay in touch. It was a wonderful ending to a week of non-stop conversation and contemplation on the medium of artist books.

The San Francisco Center for the Book is currently hosting the Nordic letterpress collaboration exhibition, Posted/Unposted. The exhibition opened before Codex and will run to April 29th.

I have been invited to present a talk during this exhibition on Book Iceland, a class I taught last summer at Gullkistan Center For Creativity in Laugarvatn to artists from the United States, England, Germany and Iceland. I will report back on my experiences there in the talk I have titled, Land & Texture: Exploring Iceland For Content in Artist Books. Inspired by the natural energies which shape Iceland’s landscape, the participating artists explored materials, tools, and processes, forming the content for their artist book projects.

The talk is scheduled for Tuesday, April 2, 6–8 pm at the San Francisco Center For The Book on 375 Rhode Island Street in
San Francisco, CA sfcb.org

Mark your calendars.

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HOLIDAY OPEN HOUSE

I continue to work at this press on Thursdays, making artist books and broadsides under the
imprint of ath’wart press. Each year I reflect on how fortunate I am to have discovered this
place and the printers who work here. Come by on Sunday and help us celebrate all that is offered!

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Holiday Open House

Sunday, December 9th
1:00 PM - 4:00 PM

Free! Donations encouraged.

North Bay Letterpress Arts
925d Gravenstein Hwy SO
Sebastopol, CA 95472

Join us at the print shop for our annual open house! Festivities include: handmade
books and cards, printed artwork, food & drink, delightful conversations, shop tours,
and printing demos. See you there!