Two Books

I made two new books for the Artist Book fair at Limerick School of Art and Design.

I'm not entirely happy with either of them for the reason that I don't think there is a complete synergy between the idea, the form and the execution.

You can't really just decide to make a book without thinking everything through and then thinking it all through again, then starting and always being willing to abandon an idea if it isn't working.  I think artist books teach you to have a very elastically creative mind but then giving up on an idea, especially when hours of work are there in front of you, is very difficult.  I gave up some ideas but never really started again from scratch and I think these books aren't 100% because of that.

Book 1:  Irish Bus
A set of 11 postcards detailing a bus journey from Hospital, Co. Limerick to Oranmore in Co. Galway wrapped in a hand-reproduced bus timetable for route 51.  I love travelling by bus and kept a diary, recording conversations, things overheard on the radio, and things I saw.  I also took photos and made 11 little scenarios out of my notes.  Currently Bus Eireann is in severe financial difficulty and may not survive for too much longer so these anachronistic postcards my turn out to be a record of an anachronistic journey.

Book2: To See Your Own Light
I often listen to Hildegard von Bingen while drawing and made a drawing into a single page book, housed in a folder.  The outside of the drawing has one of her pieces of writing that I thought especially pertinent written on it;

We cannot live in a world that is interpreted for us by others.  An interpreted world is not a hope.  Part of the terror is take back our own listening.  To use own our voice.  To see our own light.

Maggie's Moustache Entertains

In November Maggie's Moustache 4 came into being.  It is called Maggie's Moustache Entertains and is one of the best ones yet, being an uplifting tale of country and western music, attempted suicide and glitter.  I know I would say that but it was about a year in the making and I think it really captures the surrealness of a moustache that goes about in the world as a separate entity to it's 'host' and also the feeling of that particular part of K where I live and where time seems to have stood still since about 1982.

It was the same fantastically low production values as all the other, ie printed at the local library and I sold it at the Yulefest open studio in Kilkenny and gave a couple away to friends and edition one is all gone.  I am already writing Maggie's Moustache 5 which is going to be feature length - whatever that means for zines.  What I mean is is that it's going to be a long story and they are sometimes the best of all ...

Panic Mode Initiated

I got a part-time job one week before I went on holiday.  The holiday took up the best part of two weeks and since I got back I have had one day off from my so-called part-time job.  I have a solo show coming up in December in Limerick and although I have been thinking about it all year, very little actual work has been done.  And now I wake up every night and lie there lamenting the lost time in a print panic, wondering what I will have to sacrifice to keep the job and produce a good show.  Because I need to keep the job for the money and I need to produce a good show for myself.

Somewhat ironically, the show is going to be based on some of the writings of the Upanishads, ancient Sanskrit texts which form the core of the philosophy of the Hindu religion, so my sleepless worryings over time and attachment to money seem even more pathetic. 

Nevertheless, here are some ideas so far.  I am currently obsessed with my hands.  Tomorrow is a rare day off from breakfast rolls and americanos so I'm off into the print studio with rice and stencils.

Idea for artist book

drawing/rubbing

rubbing

digital photo

Making Books for the Dublin Zine Fair

I am drinking tea and writing this post.  And after I have finished writing this post, I will go and put together some more books for the Dublin Zine Fair, where I have a half table next Sunday.