all things bookart
Feb 23rd, 2013 by Bettina
From 1996 to 1998 I studied at Fritz-Gabler Hotel Management School in Heidelberg, Germany. During those years I had no idea what a Heidelberg windmill is. And I would not have dreamed of ever even printing on one of those machines, which are made in Heidelberg, Germany. 11 years later – in 2009 – I started to learn printing on the windmill at Painted Tongue Press in Oakland where I am still working as one of their letterpress printers.
Tags: Printing
Feb 19th, 2013 by Bettina
Today – Monday – I finished the tunnel book I started in class at the SF Center for the Book on Saturday. It has two layers and the background. I tried to capture everything in the pictures – which is quite a challenge. These three dimensional stages are so complex that it is way more fun when you can hold the book in your hands and look at it.
Feb 17th, 2013 by Bettina
I made the sample yesterday, posted a picture of it and went to bed. Couldn’t stop thinking about it and felt it needed some ‘pep’. This morning before class I added a little something. I leave it to you to find the difference …
Feb 16th, 2013 by Bettina
I am teaching the ‘tunnel book workshop’ at the SF Center for the Book tomorrow, Saturday, February 16th 2013. To have a new show-and-tell I just made this little book. This is a sample of what we will be finishing in the one day class. I am really looking forward to it. The last time I taught this workshop the finished books were just awesome! In this sample I am using three postcards and collaged some cut-outs from a magazine into the scenery.
Feb 15th, 2013 by Bettina
Codex was a great experience. More than 180 exhibitors from all over the world. The new venue, the Craneway Pavilion in Richmond, is a beautiful spot, right at the waterfront. I was quite nervous – the first time exhibiting my work at this international show. Thank you to everyone who encouraged me, who helped and who came by to say hello and even bought my art work!!
First a rainbow roll in blue as a background – it’s the year of the ‘water snake’ this year – and then the snake in black.
Feb 2nd, 2013 by Bettina
I just come back from the opening exhibition at the San Francisco Center for the Book. Great turn out. If you can make it, you should try to see it. It’s worth it! They also show a couple of broadsides – including mine!
Tags: Bookart, Letterpress, Printing, Sewing
Jan 30th, 2013 by Bettina
According to the Chinese Zodiac calendar, the Year of the Dragon will run from January 23, 2012 to February 9, 2013.
I made this linoleum block print for last year’s Chinese New Year.
The dimension of the print is (H) 6″ x (L) 18″, it is printed on Thai Mulberry paper.
Jan 30th, 2013 by Bettina
This is the text I used in the book ‘A sun that rises’
These are the words by Abdul Satar (Abu Ali), taken from the documentary:
A Candle for the Shabandar Cafe
Emad Ali, Director, Baghdad Film School, 2007
“The explosion in Mutanabbi Street didn’t just target people…but also language and thought itself — Iraqi culture, really. This street, which the suicide bomber blew up, this unknown man, but we all know what sort of a person he was, his identity, his culture, history, background, his origins….this bomber knew exactly what this street means to the Iraqi people, and, how important it is to Iraqi culture. Neither development nor civilization is posssible in Iraq if we don’t preserve this street and its shopkeepers, booksellers, its porters and poor people….
If we don’t care for all of them, I don’t think there is a future for Iraq. Because without culture, there is no development and no civilization. This place is the stream which feeds Iraqi culture. And, we belong to it — body and soul…..
Here I learned the meaning of legends, of language, of God…a God of good and justice—not the God of the extremists. They are against everything which is life. This is not just a place to buy books, it is redolent of history. The body of Hallaj, the Sufi, was buried only steps from here. Thousands of Iraqis were killed in this street. It reminds us of the Ottoman state and of its cruelty. Here, we remember the Tigris River flooding and the diseases which decimated Baghdad. But life goes on. It’s an illusion to think that people can be completely defeated. The earth keeps turning, life continues…..there is still a sun that rises, and there is hope, despite all the destruction.”
Jan 27th, 2013 by Bettina
Delivered three books to Beau Beausoleil on Saturday, January 26th, 2013!