Bites

I have no idea what bit my back, but it's a huge welt. Strangely with no itchiness or pain or anything. A mosquito got me late in the day, though, while I gave Katie (big sister of friend of Ben) a tour. Here I am after the final coat of polyurethane. I was happy to see how it dried when I came in today, except for a few little spots, but I think that is inevitable, esp when you work w/o enough light to be able to see anything. It's so beautiful that I am loath to flip it over to reveal the part we will actually see since it's not as gorgeous. I'm also a little bummed about the drain hole location. But I have to let go of these things b/c all I can do now is move forward. Nothing will ever be perfect enough for me.

This morning I indulged myself in a drive back to Chagrin Falls to get two things I coveted: a ring and a necklace. I stopped in their lovely book store and got three books, too. This is unheard of b/c I never acquire books on the road unless they are to use as teaching and reference tools if absolutely necessary, but I was getting desperate. I haven't read since I got here, and it makes me feel the same way I feel if I don't eat enough fresh fruit and veggies (maybe these things always happen simultaneously b/c I need more fruit right now...). I was able to have a nice talk with Ben and talk about differences b/t the American camps vs. the German one, and then rushed into work to find no one at all. Which makes sense, since it's closed on Mondays. I got a bunch of work done and then noticed two young men walking around barefoot. Apparently they were former interns. One was picking up paper and the other said he was back to work! So it will be good to have another young person on board to finish this vat.

Katie came by later and after the tour, she took me to Koko Bakery, which was super. The owner was so nice and gave us free things to eat to accompany our bubble tea, and we had a good conversation before we left. It's nice finding all the little gems around here.

To fiberglass tape or not?

I never thought that would be a question I'd be asking myself. This vat business is serious stuff! Here's Susan, the office manager, helping her husband Kevin (the hand with the ring on it), turn the vat around to re-right so he can make the drain hole. I did three tours today, one for a stranger and two for old friends and new friends. Gaelyn and Gustavo came up from Akron to visit the Morgan and catch up over dinner (we met in 2007 at our Guapa residency). Funny timing, since Treva had invited me to see GroundWorks DanceTheater tonight. The coincidence? Gustavo is their music director. Treva had been invited by Pam, who also turns out to be good friends w/my hosts here.

I made two books today from the paper I made yesterday, which is still quite stinky. I am keeping the cheesy starred one (that I sewed all wrong, but only realized after it was done) and gave the papyrus one to Susan. She's going to call it "Aimee's stinky book." It's so great to have the chance to teach the interns over time--I have to brush up on my own skills and jog my memory, as well as have fun coming up with good things to teach them given their skill sets and how much time we all have. The vat is looking good, but unfortunately I will have to come in one more time tomorrow myself and do another sand and polyurethane job. I didn't want to (I thought 2 coats would be enough) but even w/o help I'm hoping I can get it done in a few hours and get out of there. Unless the whole vat is still right side up. Then I can't do anything since it would be way too heavy for me to flip over by myself.

Tonight's show was gorgeous. Treva and I were sitting there missing dancing (her more so, since she actually was a professional dancer with Urban Bush Women). The first piece had music composed by a guy I went to Oberlin with. The second piece, about Virginia Woolf, totally made me cry. It was stunning. A group of eight of us ended up going out afterwards to eat and drink and it was great to chill out and talk to new and old friends. Yay.

"Fume box"

That's what Eleanor called the Morgan today. Which was entirely accurate, given the closed space, polyurethane, and turpentine. The last, AWFUL! I don't know how oil painters deal w/that. We put her on "save the ink" detail today, which will be great, b/c then people can see, identify, and use the printing inks, instead of trying to pry open old rusty cans full of ink trapped in thick layers of dried-up wrinkles. I taught her and Jim a new structure today: single-sheet, double-needle coptic. Next week we'll brave adhesives and start cased bindings. Susan also gave me a crocheting crash intro b/c I forgot how to do it since learning a couple years ago at Haystack. She also brought in samples of her work, one of which I sent immediately to Ben in Afghanistan. Then Jim and I finished the topcoat and stumbled back to the office to de-fume. He cut down 270 steel rods to sew into a test screen. I felt so full of toxins that I was compelled to make us both toast with melted cheese.

Today I also met: 1. Yuko Kimura, whose show I hope to see while I am here, since she made much of the paper at the Morgan, 2. A grad student from my old program in Chicago, and 3. a friend of Janice, who was the interim director at my residency last summer at Weir Farm Arts Center, and Janice's friend's sister and brother-in-law: the three came expressly to visit me, so I gave a tour of the Morgan, the hanji vat and screen/mould, and my suitcase full of hanji goodies.

This morning, I was alone at work and in a funky mood, so I strapped on my boots, donned an apron, and made some big, messy sheets out of a stinky vat (I added OxiClean to reduce the worst of the smell). I'm coming out of an unwise series of decisions that I made about sharing my work, research, and personal life with someone who has taken it for less-than-noble uses. I'm divorced from the whole encounter but occasionally there are kickbacks. Making paper helps a lot in moving through the negativity. And so does being here, which is exactly where I need to be right now. I haven't felt that way since I was in Korea on my Fulbright. Yesterday, after dinner with two board members where we talked about Korea b/c one has visited several times and the other will visit for the first time this fall, I mentioned to one of them how amazing it was that at least six people from my past have all converged here, from all different walks of my life. Marjorie said, "you're supposed to be here." I am.

The fumes begin

After being the graduate assistant in the paper studio in Chicago, years ago, I have developed a huge fear of polyurethane and all other related things (like Bondo) that smell horrid and don't wash up with water. But here I am, sanding yesterday's spackling and getting ready for the first coat of varnish. This is the "before" picture, before I get polyurethane on my new shirt. Of course this happened as I was talking to an intern about how all of my clothes slowly become studio clothes. I still haven't learned the art of having trashy work clothes.

I love having Jim help me out on this project: he's patient, focused, polite, never complains, and isn't afraid to do new things. I wish more kids turned out this way. He was a huge help while prepping the area to varnish, since it was crazy dusty, and we were able to do the first coat pretty quickly. After so many years of doing things by myself, I love being here b/c I get so much help and it makes the job doable.

I also started Jim on the task of trimming the stainless steel rods from Jon to test for screens.

These are the teaching samples from yesterday's lunchtime tutorial and my next batch of hanji yarn to knit. I have about five or six panels ready to print on and started to rifle through wood type cabinets today. The narrow fan-like book is from when I did a demo of a single-sheet book and Eleanor asked if you could make more pages. It had never crossed my mind, but when I tried it out in front of them, it worked!

That, and THIS zine are two things I love about teaching and sharing in healthy environments: Eleanor came in today and got to work immediately assembling a whole edition in different colors of a zine she came up with this morning before work b/c she was so excited by yesterday's lesson. So this was a gift from her. How fabulous is that?

Steady

I felt more on top of things today, trying to accept that nothing is going to go at lightning speed on this project. But I did get a shipment of stainless steel rods today, so that means we can get started on making screens. Though I don't think I will do this until I get further along with the vat.

I had great interns today: Eleanor and Jim. I started her on papermaking and she and John got through most of yesterday's pulp so I beat another load today while teaching all three of them a folded book, a non-adhesive tip in, and some tricks like saliva tests for grain direction. That was fun. Jim and I spackled the rest of the trim and bottom of the vat after we flipped it. I had a long talk w/the technical specialist at West System and also talked to Tom so I can get the info I need to get started on varnish and epoxy jobs (my least favorite b/c of the fumes). Jim and I cleaned up the workspace and tomorrow will be routing and sanding and hopefully the first coat of varnish on the outside.

Slowing down

90% humidity?! Brutal. But I rushed to work early today to soak fiber, beat fiber, and prep. I was alarmed by all the water on the floor but then found out it was from roof leaks (we got lots of rain last night). I got one of my interns to pick up OxiClean for the stinky pulp that's been around forever and Susan took me to one hardware store and two marine supply stores to get more supplies to finish up the vat.

There's still a LONG way to go; we're getting into the harder parts. Harder since it's all about fixing whatever was inaccurate on the say to this point, and since it's slower going and less exciting than hacking wood and piecing it together.

But I had my fantastic Kent State interns today. Here is Stephanie putting epoxy into the corners. She was a big trooper today and stayed super late.

Emma was my savior today with wood filler. I'm bummed they only come in one day a week, b/c they're great to work with and also work really well together. But that's life. Tomorrow I'll have to do more work on the top so that we can turn it over and fill gaps and sand the bottom.

The day off

For a workaholic, six-day work weeks are great: enough to feel like I'm always working, but with a day off so that it looks like I take weekends. Today I took two intense morning naps, talked with Ben for a while, and then went to the Cain Park Arts Festival with Treva and her girls.

We did lots of swinging in the playground there, and saw tons of work. Trinity was particularly drawn to the felting work of Miriam Carter, and tried on a bunch of things, which were all gorgeous. I'm amazed at her boldness: when she sees something she likes, she walks right up to the owner of the booth and says hello. I love spending time with her.

After the festival, we got much-needed ice cream and then shopped. I got flip flops and a new dress and then we headed home for dinner, the old version of the Little Rascals, and more hanging out. I'm as tired as I would be after a work day, but at least I'm not covered in sawdust.

"When you find your place"

I saw this today while working on the vat. I had not seen it until now and found it totally hilarious and appropriate.

I took a slow morning b/c I didn't sleep much but got to work still very tired. Tom and Tony moved the vat from its upright position to upside down for us to work on the bottom: we had to drill, countersink, and put in screws. Then we added long 1x3 boards along the length and then smaller ones to complete a grid of extra support that will protect the bottom.

Isn't she gorgeous? Too bad no one will see the bottom once this thing is done and in use. But I am very happy with how it is coming along. It felt really good to just work hard today, use tools, and be in a more spacious space than the wood shop. Plus we had lots of music going and no one was underfoot b/c no one was at work besides a couple of volunteers making paper.

This is probably the only power tool that I am okay using. There is no other tool you'll ever see me using in a picture. Oh, wait, maybe a drill press. But I have pictures of me and a chop saw from Chicago, Nebraska, and now Cleveland.

But even then, I didn't do a good job b/c I cut lots of pieces too short. I guess that's just more work for either me or the interns, to fill the gaps. It was all worth it, the mosquito bites, breathing sawdust, and wonky pieces, to finally feel like I had learned something and was contributing positively. I hope now I'll sleep well.

Serious progress

The Morgan's kozo garden. It's looking gorgeous. The tallest trees to the right are 3rd-year growth. [okay, adding my p.s. here b/c I am too tired to properly place it: My panty book is in a Minneapolis 3D print show at MCBA that opened tonight.]

I found my camera where I had left it. Today Tom borrowed a truck to pick up a new donation of a Vandercook #4 press and

more flat files. That's Spencer (intern) and Bruce (exhibits & more guy) helping Tom w/the unload.

Yesterday when we worked on the vat, Jim (intern) came to help in the afternoon. Tom is showing us his wet sock trick to wipe up excess wood glue. I've learned a lot of woodworking things but mostly get glue all over my fingers and watch Tom use tools b/c I don't feel like shooting nails into myself or making bad cuts on long lumber. But it's truly amazing to see this vat come together after just a few days, all thanks to Tom's push to get it done before he takes off this weekend for PBI.

Today after a phone interview, I headed over with Tom to the shop to add top, bottom, and corner pieces to the outside of the vat. He cut 2x4s for the bottom and then we hauled the whole thing into the truck (thank goodness we had it--no other vehicle would be able to cart it around safely). Bruce dropped me downtown to take the rapid home to another neighborhood porch party, then dinner out w/my lovely hosts for sushi and amazing desserts, a short walk w/Norman (their dog), and now waiting for the laundry to dry. It'll be 1am by the time I get into bed if I'm lucky, but I am so relieved that we've gotten this far. See?

I don't know where I put my camera

But here is a piece of a piece by Brooke Inman in the Morgan show of prints. I couldn't sleep last night so I got up early and commuted to work and Tom and I finally started gluing up the big vat. He had cut all the pieces (of course last night as I tossed and turned, I realized the dimensions I gave him were INNER dims, not outer. But I think we'll be okay w/the missing few inches) so we glued and clamped and drilled and put in corner seals (I don't know what they're really called) before lunch. After lunch, we took Jim, a great intern, and glued up the walls to the bottom and sealed those (which was tricky. Not as clean a job as we'd like, but the best we were going to do in this weather and time crunch). So tomorrow afternoon, after Tom picks up yet another Vandercook press donation, we'll screw the bottom to the walls and add more reinforcements. I mentioned handles and we might try that also. He leaves Sunday so we want to get as much done before then.

In the meantime, a generous donor is going to ship me stainless steel rods to experiment with sewing metal screens for student moulds! I also did a video interview this afternoon before attending a board meeting tonight to help out with minutes (in many ways, I am a die hard arts administrator). In return, I got a lovely Thai dinner and a ride home. It's still super hot upstairs in my room but I am feeling more at ease now that the big vat is taking shape. Hopefully tomorrow I will find my camera so I can prove it!

Dirty clothes

I didn't bring enough clothing at all. I'll be lucky if I make it two more days w/o doing laundry. The letterpress class was cancelled so I have my weekend (and focus) back, though it was a real blast from the past when I started to prep for the class. I asked Eleanor to make a hell box b/c there isn't one on site, and showed her how to cut leads. I did public transport today, too, and survived, but just barely--b/c of the weather. I can't wait until this heat wave breaks.

Tom has started on the vat and I'll attend a board meeting tomorrow. I'm still on a hunt for a substitute for bamboo splints to sew screens. I'll be happy, though, if I sleep through the night. Hopefully I can also do a teaching session w/interns before the week is up. I am keen on that and remembered that years ago, I started an internship program for NYFA and loved doing it. Oh, and I also met Ahmed today--an artist who had to flee Baghdad and is now here.

Obies in the house

This morning, after the errands to send out rewards for one tier of my backers for this project, I was lucky to get a ride from my host. The whole getting to and from has been hard and stressful b/c I hate asking people for favors, even though everyone has been super nice about it. But I finally found out a better route on public transport and will attempt it tomorrow. In the meantime, I got to work to find a group of Oberlin students at the Morgan! They're all library workers and came in to do some papermaking and letterpress. They were super sweet and one even told me that he's already seen my books in special collections since he works at the art library. I also got to meet Eleanor, an intern from Colorado College, who is a printmaker.

Today I put together my Korean mould (minus the brace that goes in the middle across the long bars) and visited Tom's studio. Ridiculous: four floors of a warehouse. Multiple gallery spaces, printmaking studio, ceramics studio, paper studio, etc. I can't even begin to describe it b/c it's probably as much stuff as you would find in an entire museum. I saw some gorgeous wood panels standing upright and asked what they were: flooring from an old bowling alley. He's converted a lot of them into table tops. We talked a lot today about plywood options and timelines, since he's leaving on Sunday for PBI and will be gone for 11 days, so it's best to get as much of this done before his departure since he's the one w/the best carpentry skills. When he finally got a better sense of how Korean formation works, he said, "why do Koreans make everything so hard?" It's hilarious but also true, in this case.

I almost forgot: tomorrow is the opening of the 60th anniversary Fulbright Korea show in NYC at Gallery Korea starting at 7pm. I have a piece in it but won't be able to attend.

Also, I will be teaching a letterpress class this weekend at the Morgan. Plus, I've gotten the green light to do workshops to teach the interns new book arts skills. Party on! I love this place, despite being mauled by mosquitoes behind the paper mill area today. Let's all hope this heat wave passes SOON.

Sweating

I could say, I posted an update on Kickstarter and that's as much blogging as I can do today.

But I wanted to repeat how amazing people have been here. So generous, so ready to help out. Even in this killer summer weather. Just the fact that I'm getting rides to and from work is remarkable (though this is stressing me, b/c I can't just rely on chance and people's good nature to make this happen every day).

I especially love the interns here. Stephanie was out in this VERY HOT area of the Morgan for hours doing careful drawings of my Korean mould so that it can be replicated in the future. Emma helped measure lengths of hanji yarn. I wish both of them were around all the time but they can only work one day a week. Marcus taught bookbinding today and I helped out at the end. There is so much I want to teach them all, so I'm going to talk to higher ups to see if I can make that happen.