Puget Sound Book Artists 2nd Annual Members' Exhibition at UPS/Collins Memorial Libray

Artist Book by Randi Kander. All rights reserved.

Second Annual Members’ Exhibition of Puget Sound Book Artists Brings Book Arts to Life in the Collins Memorial Library at the University of Puget Sound

The exhibition, curated by MalPina Chan, Lucia Harrison, Debbi Commodore and Randi Parkhurst, showcases the work of members of the Puget Sound Book Artists organization.  The exhibition opens on Thursday, June 7 and runs through July 31, 2012. The opening reception will be on June 7 from 4:30 to 6:30. On June 20th, meet the artists and their work from 5:00 to 8:00.

“The interdisciplinary art form of the book as art has always intrigued us and we are delighted to bring this 2nd annual exhibition to Tacoma.  Books by nature are intimate, interactive and engage the reader.  The exhibition features over 30 artists, some well known and others emerging.  The artists have used a variety of structures and moveable elements with an array of materials ranging from handmade papers, photographs, fabric, thread, wire, decorated paper, and found materials.  Themes include nature, literature, politics, social issues, family and personal history. “Once again, we are delighted by the number of talented artists who entered the exhibition.”  Lucia Harrison, MalPina Chan, Debbi Commodore and Randi Parkhurst, curators.

Contemporary artist books are noteworthy for the multiplicity of forms.  Techniques are varied from traditional to experimental.  Some works are hand painted and one of a kind.  For editioned work, small presses and individuals continue to promote the art of letterpress printing and the handcrafted book.  Some artists use computer-generated images and photocopiers to reproduce their work.  Many have taken up the challenge to experiment with content and physical structure of the traditional book form.

Puget Sound Book Artists (PSBA) is a nonprofit organization comprised of both amateurs and professionals from all quarters of the book arts field for the purpose of creating a spirit of community surround the books arts and those who love books. This new organization strives to increase educational opportunities for individuals as well as institutions and other organizations, fostering excellence through exhibitions, workshops, lectures and publications related to various aspects of book arts throughout the year. The group meets monthly for play days which are designed to be brainstorming opportunities” for beginning and experienced book artists. There is time to discuss the lectures, work on a personal project, ask questions about formats, surface design, and the latest products as well as view samples of handmade and published books.  

The organization also has an ambitious agenda for the rest of the year. Workshops and guest speakers are planned-another way PSBA supports its members.   

Interested in Membership?  Learn more by visiting the organization’s
Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Puget-Sound-Book-Artists

Tacoma Wayzgoose, April 22, 2012

Join Puget Sound Book Artists at King's Books in Tacoma, April 22nd, 11am - 4pm. Come see a steamroller make 3' x 3'  prints! Make a Waterfall Card and impress your friends!
What's a "wayzgoose"? See this link for more info: http://www.kingsbookstore.com/wayzgoose

Star Book Structure Class at Letters of Joy 2012

I'm teaching the star book structure at this calligraphy conference in May. Hope to see you there!

Saturday, May 5th, 12:30 - 2:30pm, and again at 3pm - 5pm  
Letters of Joy Calligraphy Conference
Edmonds Community College, WA
For more info:  http://writeoncalligraphers.homestead.com/LOJ2012.html

Date Change: Beginning Bookbinding Workshop in Olympia, WA

I'll be teaching Beginning Bookbinding on May 19th, in Olympia, WA at Olyphant Art Supply. Join us for a fun afternoon of art play and learn about the fascinating art form of Book Arts.
More details:  http://www.theolyphant.com/classes/

Gallery: Randi Parkhurst's Artwork

This Gallery represents my work since the 1990s.
It is mostly book arts but also features watercolors, 3-d collages and more. Enjoy!

Painted and sanded book
approx. 2" tall x 2" wide x 1" wide spine
Book board, acrylic paint, black gesso, paste paper,
handmade cotton and leaves paper, linen thread, bookcloth, PVA
Private collection.

Triangle book
approx. 2" tall x 1 1/2" wide x 3" wide spine
Mat board, watercolor, ink, linen thread, book cloth, magnet, braided pulls

Triangle book, open with attic tray.
 Book, fully opened: 4" wide. Tray: 3 3/16" wide x 3 3/16" long x 1 11/16" tall
Attic tray materials:  mat board, watercolor, hand painted papers, PVA

Triangle book w/attic tray, roof, and 4 trays.
Trays: 3 1/16" wide x 3 1/8" long x 1 1/4" deep.
Roof: 4 1/8" long x 4 1/8" wide
Mat board, watercolor, hand painted papers, PVA, linen thread

Triangle book in its attic tray on top of 4 trays with roof removed

Triangle book with roof lid and 4 trays with flanges
7" tall x 4 1/8" wide x 4 1/8" deep 

Miniature green book
2" square with 3/4" wide spine
Mat board, watercolor, hand painted paper, hand made cotton and leaves paper, linen thread, PVA, book cloth

Star Book, closed: 3 3/4" wide x 1 3/4" tall with 3/4" wide spine.
Open: 22" long. As a star: 7 1/2" across
Book board, acrylic, watercolor, ink, Japanese hole-punched, pamphlet stitch, PVA, linen thread, book cloth, magnet

Star Book, side view

Words of Love, Limited Edition of 12
Heart-shaped book inside a box, containing words about love, like: devotion, amour, mad for and cherish, among others. Inside the box is a curved piece that accommodates the unusual shape of the book.
Mat board, watercolor paper, book cloth, linen thread, hand made paper button and braid closure.
Available on Etsy: http://www.etsy.com/people/randiparkhurst

Round Words, in its box

Round Words, sphere book, approx. 3"
Watercolor paper, ink, watercolor, mat board, magnet, button and braid closure on box,
inside box is a curved piece to accommodate the round shape of the book.
This book is available on Etsy: http://www.etsy.com/people/randiparkhurst 

Jewel, approx. 4 feet wide
Hand painted watercolor paper, ink, PVA
This piece took over 200 hours to complete and used more than 2000 folded and painted circles 

Jewel, detail

Jewel, detail

Watercolor paper sphere, Approximately 2 1/2" tall x 3" wide
Watercolor, ink, PVA, hand painted paper, magnet
This piece is part of a permanent collection of miniature objects at the Penland School of Crafts

Paper scraps on a sheet of hand painted leather-like paper

Untitled photo taken in Olympia, WA, 2009

My thread and needle box runneth over!
Photo taken at the Instructor Retreat at the Penland School of Crafts, NC, Sept. 2011

Various small books, 1/2" tall x 10"wide and 1" tall x 3/4" wide
Watercolor, acrylic, ink, Japanese hole-punched hand painted watercolor paper,
braided linen thread, pva, mat board, paper bead, accordion binding

There's so many wonderful textures in this image.
Photo taken in Hawaii, 2009

Behold, Limited Edition of 22
Star book, ink, hand cut, hand stamped words, Japanese hole-punched, Mohawk Superfine, linen thread, mat board,
A battery-powered tea light illuminates the structure so the stars and moon glow as a cat looks at the night sky.
It reads, "Behold the stars...and dream."
This book is available on Etsy: http://www.etsy.com/people/randiparkhurst

Peep Show
Flag, long-stitch-over-book-cloth-tapes, sphere, pamphlet, scroll and accordion bindings,
Watercolor, acrylic, ink, book board, book cloth, hand painted papers, hand made cotton and flower petal paper, found papers, linen thread, bamboo skewers, acrylic medium, jute twine, clear plastic sheeting and tube, olive wood beads, cardboard inner roll from packing tape, paper and colored plastic confetti,  slide mounts, PVA
This interactive piece has many "toys" to play with. The flag book and the sphere book at the top swivel on their dowels. The blue box at the lower right side is removeable and contains 40 words that are synonyms for "container". They include cubbyhole, niche, carton, box and more. In the center of the piece you can see a round object in front of green paper with threads in it. This is a rolling kaleidoscope containing paper scraps from past projects. In this photo, a handmade paper door has been opened and it reveals 3 petite collages.
Private collection. 

Peep Show, detail

Peep Show, various components before complete assembly of the piece

Sadie, our beloved chihuahua, enjoying the sun

Isis, our beloved chihuahua "no. 2", also loving the sun

From lower left: Butterflies In My Stomach, Patience and Colony 45, in the Penland School of Crafts gallery, 2009, for the exhibit: Dolph Smith and Friends

Colony 45, 
Mat board, acrylic, watercolor, ink, found papers, hand made cotton and leaves paper,  all papers hand painted, book cloth, linen thread, 45 book in all-most are removeable
This piece fetched $3500.00 at the Penland School of Crafts 2011summer auction.

Colony 45, detail

Colony 45, detail

Watercolor pages with ink around the edges of the pages.
This is a quick, fool-proof way to decorate your pages:
 Pick 3 watercolor colors that go well together and just paint a straight and/or curvy line across each page (before folding) with each color. Then edge your pages with an ink color of your choice. I use felt tip pens.
 Then fold and sew your pages, etc.

12 cubes in box made in Barbara Mariello's workshop at PBI 2009
Silk book cloth, book board, PVA, acrylic medium, card stock, found papers, papers printed with maps and images from an old, illustrated French dictionary on my HP printer, colored pencil, 3-d collage on each box's lid.

Cubes and box from Barbara Mariello's workshop at PBI 2009
Boxes are 2" x 2" x 2" and have a hinged lid.

2 cubes from Cubes and Box Workshop with Barbara Mauriello, PBI 2009, 2" x 2" x 2" each

Photo taken in Hawaii, 2009

My tootsies in Hawaii, 2009

Sphere beads, assorted, 1" and smaller
Found papers, clear colored plastic, PVA

Patience's smallest book, 1/2" tall x 1/2"wide x 3/8" thick

Patience, detail

Patience, stacked, approx. 14" high
Mat board, hand painted papers, hand made cotton papers, found papers,
hand carved stamp images, book cloth, linen thread, long stitch over tapes binding,
 PVA, metal and acrylic beads, watercolor, ink, acrylic, ribbon, braided linen thread
Private collection

Ocean Passport, approx. 8" long x 3" tall x 3" deep
Found bait box, cotton gauze sandwiched between semi-transparent paper, pages sanded and painted with acrylic and ink, hand carved stamp images of fish, accordion binding
Private collection

Ocean Passport, box closed

Tree T, approx. 7" tall x 7" wide x 3" deep 
Found wood box, wood dowel, jute twine, semi-transparent paper, watercolor, acrylic, cotton twine, PVA, flag binding

5 Little Darlings, approx. 10" wide x 5" tall and 1" deep 
Found box, hand painted paper, hand made cotton paper,
 Chinese character stamps, acrylic, ink, hand made enamel bead,
sand paper, cotton gauze, hand marbled paper, linen thread,
flag, accordion, venetian blind and pop-up structures, four of the books are removeable.

Butterflies In My Stomach
Wood, mat board, found papers, hand painted papers, map accordion, copper butterfly
book cloth, linen thread, PVA, butterflies made from photographs of patterns, ink, some words printed from my Mac using Zapfino font.

Feathered Field, approx. 12" x 12"
Dry brush acrylic on board, paper collage trees
Private collection

Dry brush acrylic on board with paper collage trees, approx. 12" x 12"
Private collection

Morning Sun
Dry brush acrylic on board with paper collage trees, approx. 12" x 12"
Private collection

Hand made cotton paper with plant materials
8" x 11"

Hand marbled papers, various sizes
Acrylic

Notecards with color reproductions of an original collage, hand drawn and lettered,
approx. 4" x 6" each

Pockets of Posies, out of its box
Wood, sand paper, mat board, hand inked and painted papers, found objects
In the Rare Books Room collection at The Evergreen State College

Pockets of Posies, in its box
Box: approx. 3" tall x 3" wide x 1" deep
Book: approx. 2 3/4" tall x 2 3/4" wide with 3/4" wide spine

Rusty Flags 
Found wood box, ink, sand paper, cotton twine, Chinese characters stamp image, hand painted paper, acrylic

Winds of Change, approx. 8" wide x 3" tall x 2" deep
Found box, Arabic newspaper, hand painted paper, acrylic, ink
In the Rare Books Room collection at The Evergreen State College library.

Daisies, approx. 20" x 18"
Watercolor

Leaves watercolor, approx. 4" x 4"

Your Secret Number Is...", approx. 8" x 8"
Box art/mixed media
Found curio box, metal, glass, wood, horn, bone, brass, feathers, macrame,
paper, copper, staple,  semi-precious stones, horse hair, plastic hand, found objects
This piece is filled with some of my favorite things, including the secret code for my bike lock when I was a child.
Private collection.