Thursday 13 March 2014

Bait and Switch at the Italian Cultural Centre

I have to review a show that I was so, so SO excited to see at the Italian Cultural Centre here in Vancouver. Unfortunately I have to give it a no-so-positive review. I rate this about 1 or 2 out of 5 stars.

First of all, the very promising title is "The Bookbinder's Art", leading me to believe that this show was, you know, about bookbinding. As in featuring books, or bookbinding equipment, or something along those lines.

See The False Promises HERE

I also read the following review that reinforced my high expectations:

You make it sound SO GOOD, Shane

However, what was in store was not what I expected. The content of the show was literally 5 books. FIVE, goddammit!

Two of which were Japanese stab bind, AKA my most hated bind. My bind nemesis, if you will.
The work was primarily handmade and hand marbled papers, which I must say were very well done and exquisitely beautiful. If the show had been titled "The Paper Marbler's Art" this thing would be getting a 5 out of 5 stars review. The artist who made these papers is Candace Thayer-Coe, a Vancouver based paper guru. Candace earned my respect for her technical skills in papermaking (learned in the Philippines using local plant fibres) as well as two styles of paper marbling.

Learn More About Candace HERE

One way that Candace gets her marble-on is by using the Japanese technique of Suminagashi, which she explains as follows in her show didactic:

"The earliest form of marbling is Japanese Suminagashi. Suminagashi literally means ink floating. According to folklore, Suminagashi on paper was discovered in 1151 near the end of the Heian Era. This was a period when Japan was emerging from the influence of China and developing a national character of its own. The law restricted Suminagashi paper to the royal household for Tanka poetry and other documents for over four hundred years. Tradition identifies three sources from nature for the themes which early Suminagashi artists sought to represent in their work: the movement of clouds in the sky, the flowing motion of wind-blown white cloth and slowly running streams coursing through fields. Suminagashi encourages cooperation with the elements of the medium. The artist is but one of many natural forces determining the final marbled piece. Suminagashi is created by laying Boku-undo inks, made in Japan exclusively for Suminagashi, on tap water in a vat with pointed oriental brushes. Designs are motivated by gently blowing or fanning the ink on the water. Rice paper or handmade paper is carefully laid on the surface of the water capturing the image on the paper."

Here is some suminagashi in action:



Candace also makes a huge variety of Turkish marbled papers, in the tradition of Ebru. 
In Turkish, Ebru apparently means 'cloud', leading Candace to name her own business "Cloud Art". 
Ebru is awesome. Check it out: 



Ebru is also the source of the kind of marbled papers that are usually used as endpapers in many old books, particularly fine Italian and French binds. The technique also uses many tools to create the patterns that you may find familiar. 
The next video shows Paper Marbler Curtis Finley of Pacific, Missouri (USA) working on his craft. 



For more extensive info on Suminagashi, Ebru or other paper marbling, get Googling. YouTube is always a treasure trove of videos on every subject, so that is a good place to start. 

In cone-clusion, paper marbling is pretty cool, but it is not "The Bookbinder's Art". Maybe you can title your exhibitions in  a more accurate way in the future, Italian Cultural Centre. It would greatly increase my positivity in reviewing your shows. 

PS: Where did I get the term "in cone-clusion"? Right here. At 13:50 to be exact. 


Well that is all for now, hope you enjoy this rant. Please note I am trying to tone down the smut talk before my blog's tag line becomes "Laura Carey Books: Sexual Innuendos, All The Time". 

Until next time, 
Laura 



Tuesday 11 March 2014

Master Binder is Possibly the Best Job Title in the World

Hey Vancouverites,
Did you know we have a Master Binder in our midst? I was only aware of Rasmussen Bindery in
North Van until recently.

Apparently there is a true Master Binder located right here. Richard Smart is a 3rd generation Master Binder and he is on a mission to make you insanely jealous of his work.

Prepare to see some high quality book smut.

FOR YOUR VIEWING PLEASURE

Enjoy!
Laura

Sunday 9 March 2014

What The Hell Does That Word Mean?

As I try to learn more about bookbinding I often come across terms that I do not understand.
I have found the following resource very helpful -  an extensive list of bookbinding terminology.

RIGHT HERE

Till next time!
Kerfs,
Laura

Tuesday 4 March 2014

Listen Up, Latvia...

I just want you to know that I know you are reading this. I thank you very much!
It turns out that Latvians (or one very persistent Latvian) make up my #3 source of readers.
In other news,  Riga is mother lovin' beautiful. See?





I hope to keep seeing you here.
xo,
Laura

Thursday 17 January 2013

A Tall Glass of Hell Yeah

 Dear human or bot reading this,

I apologize for the lengthy absence. I am apparently falling into the habit of neglecting my blog. Like a sweet garden, this blog needs love and attention. I am here to water and love up the blog.On that note, here are some loverly books. 

These babies are meeting with your eyeballs courtesy of the Designer Bookbinders International Competition (2009).  The theme here is water. How apt for this occasion.


Bookbinder: George Kirkpatrick. Photo Courtesy of Bodleian Library.
Bookbinder: Yukiko Uchida. Photo Courtesy of Bodleian Library.

Bookbinder: Alain Taral. Photo Courtesy of Bodleian Library.

Bookbinder: Jenni Grey. Photo Courtesy of Bodleian Library.




Click Here For All The Sweet Deets.

Until next time,

xo
Laura

When you are out of paper...

...just find an abandoned house and write on the walls.

Sunday 25 November 2012

Major Thanks, Major Tom

Thank you so much to all the lovely people who came to visit me at the Roundhouse show this weekend. Such a pleasure!

Also, I think I was blushing for the past two days as you all have been so extraordinarily kind and complimentary! I really am so so so grateful.

Here are some book shots as thanks. All of these books are made by hand by yours truly.

Leather and Japanese Chiyogami paper and real endbands:


Detail of the book on the far left:



Leather and brass findings (hardware) with latch closure:


Inlayed leather hardcover :


Scale shot of inlayed leather hardcover: 



PS The Roundhouse has the BEST STAFF EVER. You know I am talking to you, CC.


Sweet bibliophilic dreams,
xo
Laura