Retrospect

documenting life, creating art.

Tag Archives: museum


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We call ourselves “Longshadow Press”.

Monday we received our final shipment of book-making materials from Bookmakers, Inc. Once we finally determined exactly how many books we will be making, and how much of the supplies will be needed, we plunked down a hefty chunk of change to make it happen. This is a dream of ours: Micha’s beautiful photos+my handiwork= one amazing book (we hope!). We settled on 12 copies, 11 of which have been sold (possibly the twelfth, as well) before they are even made. Once we completed one copy, our first try, we were able to figure out how to improve it; now we’re using it as the “artist’s copy” to show friends what we’re doing, and that’s how we were able to sell what we intend to make.

The last weekend I was not working, we had every intention of cranking out the first complete copies that we could sell. What we turned out instead was one disaster after another. Amazing how badly things turned out, and amazing how calm we stayed! No one was hurt in the process! So, we ended up wasting some supplies, and spending more money than intended, but our goal is to get each copy right and make it as perfect as possible, as if it were professionally made. Ugh. It’s so not easy! A few days ago, however, we did it. We created the first three copies, in their entirety, without any mistakes. We were so thrilled, we treated ourselves to dinner (!!). Three down, nine more to go. Sigh. I have also come to realize that I had not yet taken a photo of the final, completed book, probably because the artist copy doesn’t really count for me. Too many flaws. So, here you go.

Not fancy, nothing award-winning. A simple way to showcase the photos my husband created that will be exhibited at the art museum beginning this August. I am one proud woman. More details on the exhibit will be coming soon; any questions about the book are welcome. Thanks for letting me share!


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A new photo-art collaboration to tell you about!

I am trying to feel better. Feeling less than normal just really sucks, and although I do not like the “H” word, when it comes to illness, I’ll just go ahead and say it. I hate it! Well, today, sitting here at the computer is not quite the torture it was yesterday, so I’ll talk a little bit about a new project Hubby and I have come up with. He has a new exhibit at our local art museum coming in August. He will be showing a large selection of his black and white photography, from his pinhole series, to Lost Lake and the surrounding foothills. It will be amazing. Then, several days ago, he approached me about an idea that I am really excited about: printing out smaller versions of his exhibit pieces, and creating a hand-made book, for sale at the museum. Since I love making journaling and notebooks, I have begun to explore hand-stitched books, particularly Japanese stab binding, and other forms of hand stitching pages into hand-sewn covers. This should turn out incredibly, if we can pull off what we imagine it to be. We will create one book for ourselves to be a sort of prototype to show, and then when we are perfectly happy with it, we will continue to go on to create maybe six more to display and sell at the museum. I am so excited! Each book will be quite an undertaking; knowing that we are both perfectionists, I’m guessing one book will take several days to complete, being that every detail will be done by hand. I know it will not be easy, but I am so happy we will not need to rely on third party red tape, or publishers. It will be a local, hand-crafted endeavor we will enjoy doing together; a collaboration of love that I know will make us feel proud and feel good! More details and progress notes when the times arise!


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Art Hop!

Our town has a local art scene not enough of the locals really know about or appreciate, except for those who create art, or are married to those who create art. I’m in the latter category, Hubby is the former. Twice a month, a group of the artists get together for what is called “Art Hop”; traveling from one gallery to the next to see what is new and happening, engage in conversations, and maybe have some wine. Hubby and I decided to have a little “art hop” of our own last Sunday (minus the wine), visiting three local galleries to see the new exhibits. We really had a good time! We took our cameras, and just like I’ve mentioned before here, it got my creative juices flowing, and I couldn’t wait to do some art work of my own once we got home. This is the art I like to create:

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Happy trails!

 


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Fun with photos

My husband is a photographer, and he’s currently preparing for an exhibit of his work to be shown at our local art museum in August. I get to reap the rewards of his “mistakes”; as he fine-tunes his images and prints them out; some he doesn’t like but instead of tossing the photos, I take them off his hands. I have made book covers with them to fold around books I have, as well as scrapbook extras and homemade notebooks out of them. He only works in black and white, and prints on matte paper, so they’re fun and easy to work with. This evening, I decided to make a scrapbook page out of a reject, just for fun. We always joke that while no one may pay attention to his work right now (save for some friends and the museum) , I say he’ll be like a Van Gogh and reap the rewards posthumously. One day, I tell him, his little “rejects” alone may be worth thousands, like the notes of Picasso discovered in an attic! Anyway, I appreciate my husband’s photographic work for more than one reason (notice my banner?), and the most important may be that I love him so darn much! Thanks for tossing your mistakes to me, honey!


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A trip to the museum…

a contraband photo...sssh!

A few times a year, my husband and I enjoy visiting our local museum on a Sunday afternoon. Here’s a shocker: I live in Fresno. Yes, Fresno does have culture; it does in fact have artists, a museum, and even an arts counsel! Who knew?! Anyway, I think there’s no better way to get my artistic juices flowing than to visit a museum. I come home feeling jazzed about creating some art (for me in the form of scrapbooking), and having an overall heightened sense of inspiration. I am motivated to get down to business in my studio, and later in the day I will blog some more with new layouts. 

But more than that, I believe visiting a local museum or art gallery is good for one’s soul. Art doesn’t just have to be a pretty picture; if you are so inclined, look a little deeper and find a message, a political commentary, a satirical pun, an expression of one’s soul. I often find myself thinking, “Man, how did they think of that?”, or sometimes, “Genius!”, and, “That took a lot of work…” My husband and I always look to each other to compare opinions. We agree, we disagree, we see different things, etc., and it’s fun and refreshing to be so honest without any hurt feelings involved whatsoever. So, on this or any other Sunday, my recommendation to anyone reading this: visit a museum. Soak in the beauty, let go of preconceived ideas, free your mind and let yourself be mesmerized by art. You won’t be sorry! 

Two links to Fresno’s cultural oasis:

http://www.fresnoartmuseum.org/

 http://www.fresnoarts.net/

Enjoy!

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