Book Arts: Finished Projects

In my book arts class we have learned about seven different styles of constructing books from accordion style to softcover to linen tape hard bound (western bound). The western bound book is technique from the 16th century. In addition to mastering the actual technique of constructing the book we have to have a solid concept for the inside of the book. As my professor says, "This isn't a class about making cute little journals that you can give away as gifts. This is a university and there must be thought and concept in the construction..." It's a very challenging class on many levels, but the skills I'm learning are incredibly valuable and most people don't know how to make books.

One of my altered books. I set out to soak the hardbound book and then let it dry, but the whole book fell apart and I had to rethink my project. So I took the pages and folded them into triangles and then sewed them with red string to the spine of the book. I used the spin of the book as my base because it had such a great texture from the glue and end tape still attached.

This photo reveals what book I used for the above book! Hence why I chose red thread to tie it together.

My first linen tape hard bound book. It's a bit wonky in some parts, but I'm pretty proud of it. It was my practice book so it is pretty basic. The inside pages are watercolor so I can use it to practice sketching and painting.

Photo Exploration: PSU NASCC

I spend a lot of time at PSU's Native American Student and Community Center (NASCC) so I thought I would take some photos around the center. They building is beautiful inside and out with artwork everywhere you look. The inside of the center has a large gathering room with a professional kitchen to the side. In the other parts of the building there is a reception area with several offices, a computer lab with several computers for students and community to use, three classrooms/meeting rooms, a sunken children's play area, and a lobby area with art, comfortable chairs and tables surrounding a fireplace. Then outside there are two gardens on the first floor and a gorgeous roof stop garden area that is breath taking. Here are a few places around the building.

Click on any image to see it larger.

The large gathering room where lectures, dinners, and other gatherings are held.

Window seats in the drumming area in the gathering room.

One of four or five fused art glass panels way up in the vaulted ceiling. I've never noticed them before because you really have to stop and look up.

Now we go outside and up to the roof top garden space. Oh, another awesome thing about the NASCC is that all gardens and the roof are fully and completely wheelchair accessible.

This is a wood and mental sculpture piece in the west garden of the NASCC.

I really like the different natural and man-made materials they put together in the architecture of the building. Here we see the rough stone wall juxtaposed against the smooth metal sided roof peak.

This is the part of the roof that is right over the gathering area and the wooden poles of the gathering room are continued through the roof as metal poles. You can see the prism shaped ceiling "window" that throws light into the very center of the gathering room.

More of the roof top metal poles and glass prism.

A garden metal sculpture on the roof. I'm pretty sure the artist is Lillian Pitt (Warm Springs), but I will make sure.

UISHE Naimuma PowWow Spring 2011

William and Chenoa (center) with a friend

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Powwow volunteers having fun.

Detailed abstraction of grass dancer regalia

Powwow Traditions and Ceremony Students and Professor Cornel Pewewardy (holding the drum) and two dancers in their regalia.

Traditional dancer abstracted

I was having major problems with my camera both days of the powwow and it was so very frustrating. Then a week later my memory card broke and I had to purchase a new one. The new memory card works wonders and my camera is so much faster. Lesson Learned.