Week 1 of the Buried/Decayed Book Project on the patio outside Studio 5.

 

My biblionautic chums and friends.

Buried/Decayed book project. Week one of the buried books on the patio outside Studio 5.

Now, please forgive, there really is not much to see. Yes the grass is greener and is growing. Ants have visited, I think there may be a small colony taking up residence along with numerous other wee beasties.

But what about the books? I hear you ask... To be honest I have no idea what is happening with /to them. And that is the rub my chums, if I want to see what is happening I may well disturb what is happening.... It is just a waiting game.

I have included a few images of a previously buried book... just to add a little colour and drama.

Please note.... there are other studios/binderies/ doing stuff, spelling and grammar. Please further note, the opinion of the author may change at any moment. This is due to having an open mind of sorts.

 

Planting Books.

 

My biblionautic chums and friends.

A short film about why I bury books. There will be follow-up videos, going through the various processes. Nothing is guaranteed, the final results are always unpredictable. Believe it or not, the curious passerby section is totally unscripted, perfect timing with the passerby asking astute questions on what must appear to be a rather odd thing to be doing. I thank the Red Lion Pub (my local) in Barnes, SW13, for the huge gherkin cans. Film and audio - Nikon Coolpix A1000.

Please note.... there are other studios/binderies/ doing stuff, spelling and grammar. Please further note, the opinion of the author may change at any moment. This is due to having an open mind of sorts.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jmvoxqR5Law&t=1s 

Last Nights' Mertz

My biblionautic chums and friends.

Last evening was the first evening of the Printwurk Club. An introduction to type and block printing on the Adana 8x5. A free form evening, just have a go, the rule book left on the shelf. Two color printing with the idea of Mertz in the background.

Now, I have to be honest, I had every intention of taking images, work in progress, finished work and the like. Perhaps a short film. But, as it happened, we were so busy doing stuff and having a fun time that I completely forgot. Concentrating on the students, ensuring that what they had in mind would end up on the paper, I suppose that is what the tutor should be doing... not concentrating on taking images to boost their amour propre.

This morning I raided the bins in the studio to see what was left, the first pulls etc. What struck me was how little material had found its' way into the bins. I am sure we did far more. Then I remembered that the students wanted to take everything with them, the first pulls, the mistakes (is there such a thing as a mistake when one is free form learning?) etc etc as they are akin to the preliminary sketches that any artist makes.

So, the image below is the rather poor collection of the residue of the evening. However, looking at the residue, I am quite pleased with the Man in the Moon and Charles Atlas.... "Charles Atlas?" I hear you ask... Yes, Charles Atlas.... it is a long story, perhaps another time.

Please note.... there are other studios/binderies/ doing stuff, spelling and grammar. Please further note, the opinion of the author may change at any moment. This is due to having an open mind of sorts.

 

 

Homage to Mertz tonight....

My biblionautic chums and friends.

All set for this evening's ... well.....evening class... Introduction to print and stuff.

Just the waiting..... for the 18.30 kick off!

Please note.... there are other studios/binderies/ doing stuff, spelling and grammar. Please further note, the opinion of the author may change at any moment. This is due to having an open mind of sorts.

 

Homage to MERTZ

 

My biblionautic chums and friends.Tomorrow evening (6th May 2024) will be the first (of many I hope) evening of the Printwurk Club. So a little prep work is required. Make sure the Adana's are oiled and ready to go, type suused out, blocks waiting etc etc etc.

The evening is intended to introduce students to typeset printing using the fantastic Adana 8x5.... to maximise the printing potential of the Adana. In addition we explore the fluidity of type.

Now it just so happens that a certain Kurt Schwitters lived a stones throw away from Studio 5 while he was in London.... Yes, he of MERTZ. So in a humble sort of way the theme of the evening will look towards MERTZ for initial inspiration.... and why not.

A few practise prints to get me in the mood....

Please note.... there are other studios/binderies/ doing stuff, spelling and grammar. Please further note, the opinion of the author may change at any moment. This is due to having an open mind of sorts.

 

On Edge.

My biblionautic chums and friends.

Yesterday was been cool. Teaching on the Studio 5 'Introduction to Bookbinding and Book Arts' - The Bradel Binding module. Today we did edge ploughing with a touch of decoration. Great fun and a little messy... and why not.

 

Please note.... there are other studios/binderies/ doing stuff, spelling and grammar. Please further note, the opinion of the author may change at any moment. This is due to having an open mind of sorts.

 

A little gold goes a long way.

 

My biblionautic chums and friends.

Yesterday was one of those days in Studio 5 when stuff of a creative nature was being done.

Little Gems. A mini workshop in one aspect of 'Cold Gold' decorative techniques. A technique that can be both directional in the finished product and as spontaneous as anything and any degree between the two, if you get my meaning.

Please note.... there are other studios/binderies/ doing stuff, spelling and grammar. Please further note, the opinion of the author may change at any moment. This is due to having an open mind of sorts.