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We are presently making plans and preparing a group show to be held at Gallery 70, in March. It is good to be involved with the Essex Book Festival again, and be able to bring Artists Books to the festival proceedings. Lola Swain and Sally Chinea will also be offering a book making workshop at Firstsite on Saturday 23rd March. (details here) In keeping with festival theme Secret Waters, we are each creating an artist book inspired by Jeanette Wintersons novel Lighthousekeeping. We haven't revealed our ideas to each other, so it will be interesting to see the various interpretations once they go on display. Details for the show can be found on the poster below. 
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Gwen Simpson is underway with a 100 day challenge which involves making something each day over the next three months.. Having been thinking about the idea of a "museum to self", this challenge has provided an opportunity to get started by using a dress template. Her aim is to create a 100 pages where each image reflects a significant memory /moment of her life. The development of the project can be viewed here - Gwensimpson.com  Day 4 "Paper dress patterns were an important part of my life, from my early teens I made most of my clothes including my school uniforms".  Day 5 "1965 Kansenji High School, Ndola, Zambia. I am made prefect and no one is more surprised than I am! The prefects wore a different uniform to the rest of the school.Here Nisan actual swatch of fabric that has been preserved in a patchwork quilt I made."  Day 7
"My mother was a talented needle woman who made clothes for the whole family. To supplement the family income she also did dressmaking and alterations. Fabric swatches from one of her dresses". A few samples of what a day marbling can produce! and then to use the papers with a Japanese Stab Binding structure and not forgetting a traditional box  Images by Chris Ruston
An exciting new workshop space is about to open in Leigh on Sea. Christine Wyatt is the studio director and brainchild behind the venture. Create98 will be offering a range of events suitable for all ages and abilities - .from bookmaking drawing, printmaking, pottery, photography, textiles, and lots more. create98 opens on 8th October and for the first two weeks will offer a range of free taster sessions. Lola, Karen and Sally will all be offering their skills in various workshops. To keep up todate with what is happening check out their Create98 facebook page.  The next month or two is a busy one as all of us will be involved with a variety of exhibitions, and events - some of it is book related and some more general. There will be a chance to see work by Gwen Simpson in the Leigh Art Trail Group Exhibition in the Leigh Community Centre, Elm Road, Leigh. The show will feature work around the theme of Painting with Light. and opens from 10th August until 21st September.  Gwen Simpson - Iron Bars Do Not a Prisoner Make. A homage to all prisoners of conscience. Altered Book with LED lights. Chris Ruston will be showing two artist books in a group exhibition 200 Fish, at the North Sea Observatory, Chapel Point Lincolnshire.. The show opens on 23rd August until 3rd September.   Chris Ruston The Thornback Ray, Unique Artist Book Pen and Ink. Karen Apps has been involved in a residency and Southend Art Trail. The work is ongoing.  Karen Apps A Gateway to Limbo, Altered and redacted book Not forgetting Lola Swain is taking part in the East Anglian Potters Summer exhibition in the Old Library, Emmanuel College, Cambridge. The show continues until 26th August.  Jane Woollatt will be convening a conferance Reinventing, Rethinking, and Representing Menopause : Beyond the Interdisciplinary Paradigm. it will take place in Cambridge on 29th September. This a call out to interested artists to submit work in response to this theme to be included in an on line exhibition open to all artists. More information can be found here.  Jane Woollatt Tomb Plaster. And finally Chris Ruston, Karen Apps and Sally Chinea will be participating in Essex Summer of Art Open Studios at HOFS (Hadleigh Old Fire Station) over the Bank Holiday weekend.  This months gathering included some practical art making alongside planning future events. We will post more as these plans develop. Sometimes there Is a simple joy to be gained making artwork, or in this instance refreshing skills, in the company of other artists. It is a way of counterbalancing the stressful moments of life, and a good reminder of the importance of connecting with each other in healthy creative ways. An added bonus - everyone left with a sketchbook!  While each of us make artists books, we also have other areas of work. Here we are able to share Lola's up coming show in which she joins 60 other potters in a group exhibition in Cambridge.  As part of Essex summer of Art, Sally Chinea, Karen Apps, and Chris Ruston will be taking part in Open studios at Hadleigh Old Fire Station over the Bank Holiday weekend. Come and join them and 16 + artist studios. Something for everyone! http://www.hofs.org.uk  Chris has contributed two artists books to this community project, co ordinated by Biff Vernon. It's aim has been to raise awareness of the issues regarding biodiversity of the North Sea. It is an inclusive on going project, encouraging people from all areas of life to take part. An exhibition of some of the work can be seen at the newly opened North Sea Observatory at Chapel Point, Lincolnshire. The show opens on Thursday 23rd August until Monday 3rd September. The artwork is also available to view online at #200 Fish  The new North Sea Observatory, Chapel Point, Lincolnshire  Thornback Ray Artist Book by Chris Ruston  |
ABAWe are a small group of contemporary artists in Essex (UK) who share a passion for art and books. 
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