Furled - map-fold booklet

Finally after many false starts and unrelenting cold it seems the Spring really is beginning the process of unfurling despite a lack of any significant sunshine here in the South Pennines.  It will probably end up being one of those don't blink or you'll miss it kind of Springs.

Last Spring I made a one-off book form based on what seems to be generally know as the Turkish map fold structure, as part of the 28 Drawings Later project. After much favourable comment I've made a saleable version which is now available to buy on-line at my Big Cartel shop:

angierogers.bigcartel.com

I like the simplicity of the map fold form and enjoy the challenge of creating content that relates conceptually and/or visually to the folding and unfolding action that the viewer participates in.

The idea of folding something to make it fit in a smaller space does relate neatly to the reality of leaves curled up tight in their buds, waiting for the unfurling of Spring as well as the concept of holding someone close in our hearts. Hence 'Furled' where the text reads 'You are furled in my heart like a leaf within it's bud'.

Furled comes in a translucent paper origami fold pocket, has a cover made of 300 gsm Snow White Canford card and is ink-jet printed on acid free cartridge paper, follow this link for more details.

My original interest in the artistic possibilities of the map fold was facilitated by google images so it seems only fair to include the following pictures documenting the making process. Apologies for the not brilliant photography, there's just not enough light in my studio to make life easy.

Poisoned Seabirds

A recent holiday in South Cornwall was slightly overshadowed by the discovery of a beach full of dead seabirds, poisoned by pollution believed to be PIB, legally discharged from boats into the sea.

All the birds on Lansallos beach near Fowey were heavily coated in the Polyisobutene which looks like PVA glue clotted in their feathers.

There seemed to be about 150 birds on the beach and I was very sad to see many beautiful gannets which are a particular favourite of mine for their incredible acrobatic diving and purposeful flying.

Britain is the lucky custodian of some of the worlds greatest seabird colonies and we need to protect them so I urge you to sign the on-line petition to control the dumping of PIB at sea:
https://secure.38degrees.org.uk/page/signup/save-our-seabirds#petition

A living charcoal drawing

I do so love it when the snow turns our landscape into a giant charcoal drawing and this very recent photograph shows the same hillside that features in my charcoal drawing of the previous post. The scoured fields look just like the grainy texture of charcoal on rough watercolour paper.

Once I had some wonderful Winsor & Newton paper with a really crisp, rough surface that was perfect for this kind of thing but I think it is now discontinued.  Its  frustrating when a good material becomes  unobtainable, and it seems to happen a lot these days.  If you find a paper you especially like, its a good idea to investigate alternatives from the start so you are less dependent on the whims of the manufacturers.

This dry stone wall at Old Town (a hill top settlement above Hebden Bridge) had developed such an intriguing geometric pattern.

Even yesterday it was still possible to make snowballs up on the hills but finally the cold white stuff is disappearing fast.