A Tiny Grain of Dust

....work still in progress....

Hi Everyone...just a bit late with this post and still, I'm giving you the piece in an unfinished state...at least the text is there.  This little work came about through an attempt at following, what turned out to be, kind of complicated instructions (at least for a person so heavily 2-D oriented as I am!) for making an origami folded house from 21 pieces of  2 1/2" x 4" cut text pages.  Everything was going along fine...I got all the little pages cut, I folded the first bunch according to directions, but when it came to putting it together and inserting this flap into that flap, while holding it just so, in a feeble attempt to keep the whole thing from falling apart....well, I stuck it out as long as I could.  I pretty much had something resembling a house, but it kept falling apart and I think I had extra pieces left, which probably explains why it was falling apart.  I realized that my idea of building this little house as the basis for a found text piece was just not going to work, so then I started putting together some of the folded pages in a way that gave me a 2-d house structure and that works just fine...now it's a tiny little altarpiece. I've painted out the original words and added my new found text, which I believe you can read easily enough.  More will added...stamping, perhaps some sewing, who knows?!?!?

Here's the other thing I've come to know...it's now time to merge my two blogs.  This blog was started nearly a year and half ago as a daily posting of found text poems, but as some of the early followers will understand, it's been evolving and morphing since its one year anniversary back in January.  My other blog, MissouriBendStudio, is involved more with my creative practice, inspirations and new work.  Since the found text pieces have ceased to be cut words and phrases laid out on the desk and photographed and each is now an integral part of my creative practice and its own work of art, I think there is no longer a need to keep these two bodies of work separate.  Before they were two important, but different, threads in my work, but now it's all one. So, if there are no huge outcries, this will be the last post on this blog and I'll ask those of you who don't already follow it, to head over to MissouriBendStudio to become a follower, so you can continue to see the found text pieces and any guest posts. The bonus, I hope, is that there will be other posts that give you a fuller picture of what happens with my work.  This little altarpiece will appear there, perhaps tomorrow, in its finished state!

I'm so thankful for the support of all the readers and followers of this blog...MissouriBendPaperWorks opened the door for a new chapter in my life as I transitioned into having an online shop on Etsy and making very meaningful connections across the globe through the blog world.  I hope that, if you're not already, you'll become a follower of my other blog...see you there tomorrow!!

Cheers!

Gathered Wisdom

The Scroll of Pertinent Questions

This week's found text piece is another scroll on Japanese paper...the outside is a patterned lace paper and the inside has various questions taken from a number of "vintage" books in my studio embedded in teabag paper.  I've been collecting these questions as I come across them...some are quite hilarious and when put together create quite a scroll of very important questions...I'm sure we've all asked them...see what you think!  The text reads as follows:

Odd looking, isn't it?

Do you admire the view?

How--how long have I been this way?

Do you know its nature?

Have you been asleep all these years?

What harm could there be?

What is behind that door?

Naturally--but how will you accomplish it?

Can I make it an object to you to alter your mind?

Wouldn't it be fun if you could have a nice, gentle ostrich to ride?

Have you the pluck to follow me right now?

Have you lost your senses?

Chocolates? What chocolates?

Tell me, where have you been?

You are fixed with wireless?

Couldn't we just go back to town and celebrate properly?

I'll finish this scroll up with a closure in the morning and list it in my Etsy shop...love to have you stop by Missouri Bend Studio to view all the found text pieces listed there!

Cheers!

Untitled (April 13, 2011)

Still Untitled....A Found Text Set of Instructions for Life

This found text came from a children's book from the 1950's, I believe, that is filled with short stories and plays meant to be acted out.  I found a series of commands that, when strung together, give a pretty good set of instructions for life....if taken with a grain of sand!!!  See what you think!  The found text is arranged on a 2-inch wide Japanese paper scroll adhered with teabags, still untitled and not quite finished.  Should be ready to go and available in my etsy shop tomorrow.  The entire text reads:

watch your thoughts.

write your name a thousand times.

wait there for instructions.

turn the bowl upside down.

stop rubbing your eyes.

get a box of creamy chocolates.

choose the best title.

mark your own script legibly and never trust to your memory for     anything.

rehearse until there is little chance of a mistake.

whittle, whittle, whittle.

don't cry.

up to full and fade for finish.

Found Poetry Scroll no.1

I'm experimenting with yet another method for presenting the found text poems as objects and will finish this little scroll up properly and have it for sale in my shop in the next day or so.  It's made with cut words sandwiched with bits of teabag on a 2" wide length of Japanese paper adhered with teabags.  The poem came from a children's book from many decades ago that is filled with a variety of stories that include multiple choice vocabulary reviews throughout.  I selected the words from one of these reviews...it creates quite the whimsical poem!  Enjoy!

To investigate is to 

search

depart 

wonder 

run frantically

excited

solemn 

exploring

saunter     backward    forward

scamper    walk     run

climb

stop.

To wallow means

to wail.

Calico is a kind of

mirror.

The Years

Guest Feature: Scott Mulcahey and Circa Chairs

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Scott Mulcahey is a furniture maker and designer of one-of-a-kind chairs made from reclaimed lumber. The chairs pictured here, titled "Chaotic Poetry", took Scoot five years of scouring through 50,000 board feet of lumber to find just the right text.  I was very excited to see these, not only because of their beautiful forms, but because I find these pieces display an amazing use of found text!

You can learn more about Scott on facebook, as well as through his website and blog by following the links below!

http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000473872461&ref=sgm

artfulchairs.com

http://www.circachairs.blogspot.com

See you tomorrow for the weekly installment of a new found text poem from my studio!  Cheers!

Furniture Maker/ Designer... I started my woodworking career in 1984 at Brummitt Woodworking Co. Manchester, Massachussetts. It was a three man shop that fabricated custom furnishings for the hospitality industry. In 2005 I began making solid wood "one of a kind" chairs under the brand name Circa. All Circa Chairs are made from reclaimed lumber from renovation projects to sea salvage woods and also exotic scraps from past projects. I strive to interpret the history, the forms and intrinsic qualities of the materials I choose, to produce a sculpted chair that evolves naturally, encourages conversation, demands to be touched, sat on and will be proudly displayed throughout your lifetime.

The Pole (January 26, 2011)

Mock (January 12, 2011)

Guest Poet: Brooke Schmidt

HAPPY NEW YEAR...WELCOME TO 2011!!!  


Not only is it the first day of a new year, but it is the first of the month and time for a featured poem from a guest poet.  Brooke Schmidt is a wonderful mixed media artist whose work includes found text poems.  I was most delighted to discover her on Etsy and continue to get to know her through her blog and flickr.  All the relevant links are listed below. 
I love this piece and am so happy to be able to share it here!  Thanks so much, Brooke!


http://www.etsy.com/shop/brookeschmidt
http://www.alwaystimefortea-brooke.blogspot.com
http://www.flickr.com/photos/brookeschmidt 

The Same Dark Blood Stirring (December 31, 2010)

the same
dark blood stirring
the rage of the wounded,
we murmured the grace
like an old song,
and slipped through
the stream of the last
fast-going days.

A Wild Shriek Of Musketry (December 20, 2010)

a wild shriek of musketry
into the pines,
knocking over an empty
dream.
try to persuade patience
I will see about
Fortifications

A Sidewise Glancing (December 29, 2010)

a sidewise, glancing
eyes like lightning
At last they rose,
and sailed
into the air beautifully
half drowned with
gladness

In A Sudden (December 28, 2010)

In a sudden
desperate bravado
he turned away to hide
into a new day

Hands Clutching A White Envelope (December 27, 2010)

hands clutching
a white envelope
The man paused again.
But wait.
plans have changed
Into the kitchen for
some old burgundy.

I Fear For What Is Remembered (December 26 2010)

I fear for
What is remembered
what it has to say.
already running on hibernation
deep in shadowy
here until sunset

If I Have Made You Love Me (December 25, 2010)

if I have made you love me
with no pretty speeches
Could it mean
you are with fever.
and all too happy
whistling Besides,
No room there for a mare.

Are We Not? (December 24, 2010)

are we not?
a shallow shuddering
A hint of
sparkled jest

The Evening Fire of Late (December 23, 2010)

the evening fire of late,
dances crimson and gold
back into childhood
suddenly set free