TMQ at Spring Writes Literary Festival in Ithaca, NY

The Metamer Quarterly is on the road again, headed to Ithaca, NY, on Sunday, May 5th, to lead a workshop with Kate Blackwood, frequent contributor and collaborator.

11:00am - 12:00pm @ Tompkins Center for History & Culture, 2nd Floor Conference Room **

Workshop: Book + Art: Make a book and write a poem to go inside

A workshop for those who love to write and make things. Write an original poem or flash story following an in-workshop prompt, or revise a piece of writing you've already started. Then make a book using one of three simple techniques. Formats will be appropriate for beginners, but interesting enough for pros! The final step is to place your writing in your book and take it with you: a new, complete piece of literary art. It's a done-in-a-day version of the artist's book project The Metamer Quarterly lead by the Metamer's founder, artist Lara Scott, and a frequent contributor, writer Kate Blackwood. All book-making materials will be provided. You just bring the words. (**For workshops in the 2nd floor conference room, we ask that you arrive a few minutes early to ensure we have enough seating for all participants!)


More information here:
http://artspartner.org/content/view/spring-writes

a note about our location:
Tompkins Center for History and Culture, 110 N. Tioga Street. This is on the Commons, to the left of M&T Bank. There will be signs as you enter the building pointing you to the Gallery/Program Room and the elevator to the 2nd Floor Conference Room. 

Metamer Years Three and Four

Buffalo, NY

The zoetrope was, hands down, the biggest hit of Tour Stop #1, The Buffalo Bookfest at the Western New York Book Arts Center in Buffalo, NY. Someone wanted me to make them one, but I am still thinking through how to make one that isn't a book.

https://www.facebook.com/WNYBookArtsCenter/

I also sold a copy of the basic No Subject, Issue #6. Contributors, someone is reading and seeing your work and perhaps sharing it with their friends. I sold some cards as well, but selling a copy of the Metamer made my day.

Watch this space for news of the next stop on the tour, and additional information on the next two years of the Metamer.

The Metamer Quarterly goes on tour

Well, The Metamer, as friends have taken to calling it, hopes to tour. This weekend I am heading to a fair sponsored by the Western New York Book Arts Center (WNYBAC) in Buffalo. It will be the first art book fair for the Quarterly, as I usually call it.

Here's the postcard I am taking with me.















And here is some of the information on the back. Yes, there will be a Year Three.

No Subject, printed 2018

Printed copies of Issue #6 just arrived. Adding covers. Will ship in the next week.

Shibugami, star maps, continuous improvement

Earlier this year I purchased some shibugami, because it was described as the stencil paper used to make Katazome-shi, the beautiful stencil dyed papers:

http://www.japanesepaperplace.com/images/products/katazomeshi/bigkatazomeshi/124w.jpg

https://www.washiarts.com/katazome-shi/katazome-shi-152-hand-stenciled-japanese-paper

It is a stiff, slightly leathery paper, that the store in Toronto made sure to interleave with protective paper, to guard my other papers. I tucked it away, and just fantasized about the fabulous designs I would one day carve into it.

And then, contemplating the seven gold leaf star maps I needed to make, I remembered it. And putting it together with my Japanese hole punch...

https://www.hollanders.com/index.php/bookbinding-supplies/small-tools/hole-punches/japanese-hole-punch.html

...I realized I could stencil my gold leaf size right onto the metallic blue background! Combining three arduous steps into one easy step! I danced a little jig! I punched the air repeatedly, and did another little jig!

And here is the result:

I will be putting a couple versions into the Earlville Opera House sale in the next week. And, feel free to contact me if you would like to order one. 

Happy Holidays.

everyday i write the book

Really, Elvis Costello writes the book every day.

Every day I waste some time.
Every day I sit in my studio and look out of the window.
Every day I look around the studio and think, I need to get more organized.
Every day I glue some things together.

Today I went to a presentation given by John Freeman.
(Every Thursday I go to the Living Writers series at Colgate University.
I sell books. I listen to the lecture. I sit next to the author and sell more books.)

And, luckiest of all, I get to chat with the authors. They are a lovely bunch.
John Freeman is a poet, critic, and editor of Freeman's, a biannual fiction anthology.
So that was a treat -- to meet someone else who felt strongly enough about something
to publish it, to find the things, some excellent things, and publish them.

He talked about subscriptions. Which he does not take. And I understand why.

But, every week I am reminded that making and sharing are important disciplines.

So thank you, Living Writers.

time it was and what a time it was it was

photograph by Ralph Eugene Meatyard (1925-1972), an optician and photographer, who lived and worked in Northern Kentucky.  He is a hero of mine.

Time has a deadline

October 16, 2017

Issue #5, Time, has a deadline.

The Metamer Quarterly's New Year has begun. Time is the first issue of Year #2, and will ship on Dec 22.

If you would like a copy, please send your check for $95 by October 30th.

For Year Two, if you would like 2 of the 4 issues, the cost is $ 170. For three issues, the cost is $ 255. For all four, it is $ 340. Please do tell me which issues you want!

Please send checks to PO Box 725, Sherburne, NY 13460

Perks are still shipping; I will just keep plugging away until everyone has gotten their items. Thank you again for your patience.

As I did in Year One, I will post images of the process, and of the final issues. I plan to make several extra copies of each issue, and those will be available, first come, first served, after the ship date of each issue.

string, shells, ribbon, and rocks

Except for a book that is going abroad, and a book who keeps crossing paths with its recipient, the Book of Love is now in the hands of all subscribers. 

And, for the next issue, if you would like to add something to The Sea, it needs to be in multiples of 15, sent to the address below. Meaning, I will add it by literally adding it. 

TMQ
P.O. Box 725
Sherburne NY 13460

I tell you, the relationship is its own reward

More pages from The Book of Love.

Various front and back covers, and first pages

I've capped the edition at 35. Fourteen are out in the world, either waiting patiently on the living room coffee table, or already winging their way to their proper owners. If you would like one of your own, there are 21 available. The cost is $110; international orders are $150. For a custom made box to store it in, add $45. Please write to me (Lara Scott) at The Metamer Quarterly, P.O. Box 725, Sherburne, NY, 13460.

The Book of Love Comes Together, Right Now

I am back from an amazing bookbinding class with Erin Fletcher, who runs Herringbone Bindery, and is a graduate of The North Bennet St School in Boston. She's amazing, my classmates were lovely, and I learned a ton! And, got some advice on how to get out of the sticky corner I created for myself. So, Issue #3 is late, but moving!

Here are two versions of two spreads: