Handwritten: The Writing Project

I’d like to invite you to collaborate with me in a handwriting project.

As you know by now, I collect, create and use handwritten ephemera from a variety of sources in my work.

Each person’s handwriting is unique- and incorporating them onto my layered surfaces has depths of meaning for me as an artist that are slowly beginning to reveal themselves.

If you are willing to lend a pen and a few minutes of your time to assist me, just follow these simple directions.

Preparations: Tear several sheets of copy paper in half so they look about the size of a paperback book page. Choose a favorite pen with black ink (bold or fine line, your choice). Write in whatever is your native language.

Warm up a bit by writing on a piece of scrap paper. As you write, leave a margin around the outsides of the page. Please just write on one side.

Let go of any and all worries or concerns about content, grammar, spelling or anything but letting your hand move and the ideas flow. Write with feeling and sincerity. Ignore any mistakes, just keep writing. Try to fill the page.

Want to keep writing? Grab a new piece of paper and keep going.

Ready to try this?  Start with the phrase,

“ Wouldn’t it be wonderful if….” and write for two minutes without stopping. Write anything and everything that pops into your head. It isn’t important where that first phrase leads you or what you write about as long as your hand keeps moving.

Then please mail the originals in a handwritten envelope to 2480 Cooley Road, Canandaigua, NY 14424.

Please share this invitation with everyone you know – I’d love to be flooded with handwritten mail from all over the globe.

First at the Finish Line

I finally decided how to resolve and complete this work that will be part of my “Entwining Alphabets” exhibition in the Adirondacks this summer. The photograph below is by Tim Fuss at Pixelwave in Rochester. This is the first time I’ve worked with him; he did a fantastic job and captured the details with crystal clear resolution.

Letter Rhythms 2, 2010, 42” x 48”

My husband and I spent this past weekend attending the opening of Fiberart International 2010 in Pittsburgh. There are two venues for the work juried into this exhibition. My piece is part of the works on display at Society for Contemporary Craft; the Pittsburgh Center for the Arts is displaying another portion.

Here’s me talking about my work at the opening during the Saturday program. The day started with a talk by juror Rebecca Stevens, then offered participants and artists the opportunity to walk through both venues and converse with many of the participating artists attending. I had a great time talking with people about the ideas behind my work.

Now that I’m home, the next priority is my upcoming exhibition in the Adirondacks this summer.  I worked through the design process for the postcard and this is what it will look like:

Now, back to work!