Toward a Sense of Place

Part of life's journey for many of us seems to be about finding a sense of place. Whether it is a physical place or a symbological one that we seek, the call to find a place where we feel just right is strong. I have always been a Goldilocks, my life littered with chairs both too big and too small. It is the search for that sense of just-right space that propels a great deal of my work. Certainly this is true of my latest altered book project, which I call The Spectator. What follows are seven photos of two spreads from that book. Both are interactive spreads, containing  moving elements. In designing these pages, I was expressing what my sense of place might look like; in creating the interactive elements, my aim was to pull in the reader and have him or her stay awhile...in my space.

This is an overview of the sixth spread.
 (Xylene transfer/acetate, papers old and new, ribbon, Japanese masking tape,
 dye inks, acrylics, markers, button, metal tape, paper mesh)

Lifting the paper mesh reveals the door.
 (Xylene transfer/acetate, text snips, markers, baker's string, ribbon, Japanese masking
 tape, hardware, dye inks, acrylics, clock, charm, fabric, old nail for door bolt)

After opening the doors there is a tip-in page.
 (Tip-in page made from old postcard. Old paper, acetate, baker's
string, dye inks, acrylics, metal tape, nail)

After turning the tip-in page.
(Fancy paper, Japanese masking tape, gel transfer image, dye inks, acrylics, baker's string, papers,
 text snip: "no matter how thin you slice it, it's always baloney.")

The tenth spread contains a tip-in page and a flap. This is the tip-in.
(Papers from old books and magazines, acetate, dye inks, acrylics, masking tape, cardboard tip-in page)

After turning the tip-in page.
(Old postcards, playing card, dye inks, acrylics, various papers, baker's string, acetate) 

After lifting up the flap.
(New and old papers, masking tape, photo prints, dye ink, resin, sheet music) 

In my travels both near and far, I have come to find myself seeking out places that seem to have within them a sacred grounding. This may be something as casual as a well-pruned apple orchard against an agrarian skyline or something as magnificent as the environmental sculpture Opus 40, in Saugerties, NY. Built by sculptor Harvey Fite with hand tools and local bluestone, Opus 40 took 37 years to complete. If you are anywhere near the Saugerties area, this landmark is well worth a visit.

Approaching Opus 40.

Inside the sculpture 

As always, thanks for listening.