Monday, March 22, 2010

Biohazard 101 and a few fossils!-Final contributions to Lisa's Pulp Redux Book

Lesson number one in how to avoid becoming a biohazard...





Don't include natural stuff!!!



Sigh!



Okay so it sounds like common sense doesn't it.
Don't put any items that were once alive in anything you want to post to New Zealand!
Apparently I wasn't listening.

After finishing the pages for Lisa's Pulp Redux book I thought I had the customs guy beat. Surely imbedding everything in resin was going to beat the biohazard importation rules! Maybe not! Sad to say, I chickened out.
After a little more research into New Zealand customs do's and don'ts I was pretty sure I was going to challenge almost every rule they had on importing anything prohibited into the country, (short of trying to bring in a dead body and maybe that would have been easier)!

In short I decided to rehash the pages rather than risk Lisa's book and run the risk of it becoming the latest addition to a Guy Falkes night bonfire! (Does anyone else still do this or is it only me??? I love a good burning, LOL!)


But... I'm stubborn!!!
(Stop it, I can hear you all snickering away!)



So I flatly decided I was going to stick to my theme and keep to my idea of reflecting on labyrinths in nature... or nothing!

and so...




Tada!

Here 'tis!


When last I left you we had pondered the idea that man is constantly finding inspiration in nature. We mulled over one or two ways of reproducing nature's labyrinths in a man made form, then...
boom! In comes the resin encased natural items I decided to include to represent natually occuring labyrinths in nature.

So now to carry on...


Heres the latest on natural labyrinths.


Leaves and trees!

Oh yes you say, wonderful Kim, but aren't they also natural items and therefore their inclusion is banned by every law pertaining to the customs importation of a certain country.

Well yes, but I didn't put in any real ones!


So here's the page as it now stands.

The cabinet is still there, more on that later.

On the left, a leaf.
Well my leaf!

Enter the labyrinth of the trees.
(You know the deal, click on the pictures to see the details if you like).



The background structure for the page is created from burned book pages (yes, yes, more burning, LOL), acrylic washes, and inks.
The leaf is made from leather and embroidery thread. The page is a reflection on Spring. The world turning new again with the unfolding of Spring's new leaves on the trees. The colours here a reflection of brown wood and the bright green of new growth.

The page is hinged and opens to reveal the contrast between Spring and Autumn. From the green of spring to the decay and golden colours of autumn, the leaf's structure is revealed.



The leaf here is one of those skeleton leaves in glorious autumn colours of gold and rust. See no real biological hazards in sight!


Of course since that page flips out another is revealed.


The trees.



Here's how the page looks opened out at this stage.





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Lift the flap and the tree is revealed...


as a living thing.


Here I have created a little pocket for Lisa to put in feathers, twigs, leaves, real ones of course, and any other items that remind her of trees. I have been very good and only included a few artificial ones here for reflection.





And below...

Winter lays bare the beauty of summers dress to reveal the bare bones reaching towards the heavens.




I have kept the page free of overdressing, trying to imply the bareness of winter in the trees.




The view unfolded.




But then, there's the cabinet door...



and what lies behind...

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Of course last time we had a page of natural items embedded in resin inviting you to touch.


Now I was still determined to keep with the touching idea, I rather liked it!


And so, how to continue without compromising the original idea?


By creating fossils!


Yes, it was nature again to the rescue!


Fossils, natures fabulous means of showing off her former accomplishments even though they haven't existed for millions of years!

I decide to create fossils of my own, taking negative copies of the natural itmes I wanted to include in my piece using Fimo clay.


After a little pressing, baking and paint splashing...
Tada!


Fossils, well sort of!




You can still touch!

I knew you would be soooo excited!
The pieces retain all the texture of the original items in negative and feel wonderful to the touch!


Here's the pages spread out from the book.

Excuse my photography skills or lack of them, it was a real challenge to take pics of the entire opened structure!




So there you have it, finis, complete!
Lisa's book will be away this week to the next person.
(My humble apologies for the starburst that used to be a book that will arrive on someones doorstep!)


And as for that customs man...

Haha! I won! LOL!
I'm such a child!
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18 comments:

Caterina Giglio said...

oh my Goddess!!!!
where do I start!!! this is a stunner of texture and life woven throughout the pages all connecting and yet separate, a true labyrinth of artistic experience!
your stitching is incredible and the leave on the burned page is exquisite... the tree with shut your eyes, is yummy.. and are they transfers? the trees?
adore the bare naked tree and the poem.
and the fossils are the icing on the cake! you outdid yourself!!
and no moping around the house, I am sending you a present! xoxox

rivergardenstudio said...

Oh Kim, these pages are exquisite. I had your blog up so I could look at it yesterday, but I am so glad I waited until today! Thank you, too for your wonderful comment, such a nice treat to wake up to this morning, that and your new post. I love the story too... roxanne

Lucky Dip Lisa said...

OMG...yes you DID win!! I just commented on the pulp blog about the perfect leaves and the perfect tree...but I am definately not forgetting those perfect fossils! I am dying to touch them! You have really made my day with your FANASTIC MAGNIFICENT AMAZING work!
Oh... and did I mention PERFECT?

Thankyou, Thankyou, Thankyou!!!

Anonymous said...

i am so very loving this! it's a magnificent masterpiece! i LOVE the fossils! omg -- those are just tres cool, lady! and all of the stages of leaves and trees. the winter tree is gorgeous. i just adore that! it's all incredibly magnificent! i lovelovelove it!

i hope you put the "old" lisa pages into your book. ;)

~*~Patty S said...

WOW absolutely brilliant, Love how it kept unfolding just when I thought I'd seen the best ... there was more to come!
What a fabulous book this will be to receive!
oxo

Unknown said...

This is just amazing (I want one) You have done some amazing work here and to keep the texture etc I can imagine what you was going to send now and I think you have a fantastic artistic imagination to come up with this it is WONDERFUL! and a very lucky recipient just wish it was me!

This is my first visit to your blog loving it so far!

Love Dawn xx

Unknown said...

...but why couldn't you have inquired whether or not your resin sealed pages were still alive to biohazard?
In any case, your alternative creation is clever and creative beyond measure. I love the way the pages open and am really feeling envious and like I could never do anything as wonderful as this! I just love the fossils!

Jill Zaheer said...

A Creative and brilliant masterpiece of bookart! What a tour you've taken us on- through the autumn and winter of the lives of treasured trees and nature. Love your variation on trees and their leaves and those wonderful fossils. Just saw how to attempt to cover an item in resin in Keith Lo Bue's class. Wow- and to see it here! Just love how the book opens side to side and top to bottom. A tour de force for sure!

Debrina said...

Kim, this is just magical stuff. I love the final spread - with all the pages laid out like that. They are a beautiful "whole" and everything compliments every thing else. You have made me terribly excited about getting Lisa's book next!!!

Seth said...

This is really spectacular. It is definitely a book that calls out to be seen in person. I love the lay out and of course all that texture and those layers!

Gaby Bee said...

OMG, these pages are awesome, so textural that my hands want to touch every detail! A feast for the eyes. You have outdone yourself!

rivergardenstudio said...

Dear Kim, I just had to soak up all your beautiful pages here again. I love it all, the ttree, the butterfly, the fossils... I am excited to see what you are working on now. Have a beautiful weekend. Here is white and cloudy. Perfect for making art! roxanne

Gaby Bee said...

Wishing you a Happy Easter!
Gaby

Anonymous said...

Fantastic! Lost for words.

Anonymous said...

Hi Kim, I've just awarded you the Circle of Friends Award :) see my blog for details.

Four Seasons in a Life said...

Dear Kim

I am sorry I have not been around for a while.

Your work as always is beautiful and I love how you solved the problems with Australia and their import laws.

Wishing you all the very best,
Egmont

Unknown said...

wowowowwow! just too yummy for words! sorry I haven't stopped by in awhile to see what you've been up to, but maybe I needed to see your glorious work today, my spirits have now been lifted. Way to go with customs!

WendyK said...

Another fantastic piece of work, love it