An Alternative Page Structure for a Japanese Stab Binding

This looks like a normal 4-hole Japanese Stab Binding, but it has a secret.

Friday Night Flicks: Utamaro’s Studies From Nature

The Folio Society regularly produces special limited edition books. Tonight’s flick is about the production of something a bit out of their usual style: a five-volume facsimile edition of Kitagawa Utamaro’s Studies From Nature.

 

 

After watching the video, you might want to spend a little time this weekend drooling over the images on The Folio Society webpage for the edition.

I’ve Looked At Clouds

I have a number of cloud-related memories. Here are a couple.

When I was seven or eight I discovered that rain clouds have edges. (I grew up in urban environments where one only sees a small bit of the sky at a time.) I was sitting on the front steps of our duplex in N.D.G., Montréal, and watching it rain across the street while I sat in sunshine.

In 1966 I saw Joni Mitchell perform Both Sides Now at The Fourth Dimension in Winnipeg. (I thought at the time that she was amazing but should probably ditch Chuck if she wanted to succeed.)

This summer has been a remarkable one for clouds so, beginning almost a month ago, I have been photographing the northern sky every day. It is the section of sky I see from the kitchen window, but I go outside and stand in the same spot to take the picture. All the photos are taken between noon and 2 PM so that the lighting is relatively consistent.

Some sample images:

Friday Night Flicks: Stephen Fry Kinetic Typography – Language

Tonight’s flick by Matthew Rogers is longer than the usual kinetic typography videos I post, but worth it. The text, being by Stephen Fry, is clear and eloquent. Since the narration is also by Fry it is, of course, excellent.

 

 

Perhaps we can all spend a little time this weekend just enjoying the language we share.

July Was Map Month

On June 16 Dinahmow posted a call for people to post maps on their blog in July and leave a link in her comments. Somehow I missed the fact that last Sunday was the last Sunday in July (too busy? getting old and forgetful?), so I am posting about my map a little late.

I have loved maps since I was a child when I spent many hours pouring over the family atlas. My father taught me to read road maps, and I was ‘navigator’ on road trips from about the age of seven. That interest has continued, as evidenced by a picture of one of our bookshelves.

Friday Night Flicks: The Redness of Red

Today’s flick was directed and animated by Emily Downe. From the accompanying text on Vimeo:

What does it mean to be conscious in a world that is becoming increasingly artificially intelligent? Can machines really see? Based on an interview with a professor in artificial intelligence, this short documentary uses analog techniques to explore the human tendency to anthropomorphise simple drawings, and how we might do the same to machines.

 

 

Perhaps you can spend a few minutes this weekend watching more of Ms. Downe’s animations here.

Many Menko

Some of you may have been wondering what I was planning to do with all the backed and paste-decorated dictionary pages. I have started making two-piece menko.

Friday Night Flicks: If You Can

Tonight’s flick is a simple animated short. It was made as a graduation film by Hanna Rybak, and the text is an up-dated version of a quotation from Winston Churchill.

 

 

Perhaps we should all try being more like dogs this weekend.

A Little Bit Fluxus

I spent a good part of the week completing all the layouts for the as-yet-unnamed collaborative project with @aestusbookarts. The project was inspired by the 1964 Fluxkit made by George Maciunas: the theme is “being busy, overwhelmed, and trying to find work/school/family/life balance”.

My contribution will be The Decision Maker. Here’s the cover/label design.

Friday Night Flicks: Kalaam/Abu Dhabi Performance

I have posted a Julien Breton (aka Kalaam) video previously. That one featured the making of a still photograph with time lapse photography. Breton is now working with some sort of photo-sensitive scrim which permits him to retain the strokes he makes with light.

 

 

You could spend a few minutes this weekend looking at more of his videos.