Thursday, March 5, 2009

Contexture


2009 is turning into the year of the collaboration. In addition to several collabs that I began in 2008, I have started quite a few more in the first three months of this new year. One project that has recently begun is a collaboration with Bridgette Guerzon Mills and Jen Worden. We each created our own individual handmade book structure and chose our own theme. My chosen theme is Contexture. We will each be working in all three books multiple times over the course of the next year. Here are images of my cover and the pages that I have completed in my own book to start this project off. Click pictures to enlarge.

CONTEXTURE:
1. The act of weaving or assembling parts into a whole.
2. An arrangement of interconnected parts; a structure.
3. Interconnecting text and texture.

Book Cover
Details


Inside Front Cover
Detail
Sign In Page
Detail - and no...that is not me!
Back Cover
Detail
Book Pages - not yet altered

53 comments:

Anonymous said...

seth, you do undertake many interesting adventures.I just enjoy watching it all unfold. thank you for sharing your pleasure with all of us! your adventures make the cold snowy windy days pass more quickly! lyle

Bumble Belly Designs said...

Oh, I can't wait to see how this project develops! I already follow Bridgette and will add Jen to my list so I can watch the book travel and grow throughout the year.

Anonymous said...

this looks like another interesting collaboration seth! you sure know how to keep yourself occupied ;)

~*~Patty S said...

WOW Seth ~ you are off to a grand start. Such great pics of the cover, along with your pages! I am headed back for more clicking! Another thing to stay tuned for :)

Anonymous said...

This will be amazing..I am sure. My mouth stuck open when I saw your pictures...a sure sign of greatness on the way....or...as IS it is already amazing.

Mary said...

Oh wow!! It looks so cool already.
I love all the texture - your work is fabulous Seth!

Sharon said...

Hi Seth, I would love to own a book like that. How do you make a book cover so distressed that it looks like it was found that way instead of being new. WOW!! Sharon

Bridgette Guerzon Mills said...

i have to say that my jaw dropped open when i had first opened up your package. I was just amazed by all the texture and detail. Just fantastic. I am so honored to be able to have some of my work in this book.

Did you know that I am a small person?! I laughed when i saw my pocket with the small photo. I thought to myself, "Perfect!" :)

azirca said...

Oh Wow Seth, this is so cool! I love the colours that you have used for the cover. The pale turquoise and sepia hues look fantastic together, really striking.
Your sign in page is fabulous...love the old photos.
Your photos show the all of the details really well too but I bet that it looks even more spectacular in person.

femminismo said...

I hear ancient librarian bones turning over in their graves! Listen, can you hear them? Crrreeeeakaakkkkk. Look out, Seth! Behind you!

lynne h said...

aw, c'mon seth, you sure that's not you?! ; )

this is awesome... everything about the covers, and the sign in page (who thought that up?! that's one cool idea).

this is gonna be one gorgeous book by the time the three of you get done with it.

Barb Smith said...

YUM! This is beautiful and I can't wait to see the wonderful art that takes place between its covers...oh the places it will take you (and me. lol)
Peace & Love,
~Barb~

Lynn Cohen said...

Following your lines, placements, pieces, textures, embellishments...all lend to inspiration for fabric pieces in my head. Beautiful book pages...wonderful use of old photos...exciting to watch it grow...over time.

rscoach said...

Seth - your work is amazing! Once again I'm drooling over your creative style and this book cover - can't wait to see what transpires between the collaboration - wondering what material you used for the pages - beautiful! Reva (Los Angeles)

Dale said...

This does seem to be so fascinating. Your creating of the book cover is so rugged... i love the lines and x's on it, with the frayed materials and such. It adds such interest to the work! Great sign in page too. I look forward to seeing more about how this book turns out between you three uber-talented artists.

Anonymous said...

Fabulous. The texture part of the work is a knockout.

Laura said...

This is so great!
~v~

Gillian McMurray said...

I LOVE this book! The front cover alone is a work of art - all those touchy, feely textures. And I learned a new word - Contexture.

Jill Zaheer said...

Contexture? Looks like a great confection to me!
con·fec·tion (kn-fkshn)n.
1. The act or process of confecting or the result of it:
2. A sweet preparation, such as candy.
3. A sweetened medicinal compound; an electuary.
4. A piece displaying splendid craft, skill, and work: tr.v. con·fec·tioned, con·fec·tion·ing, con·fec·tions

Maybe it's a collaborative confectionary contexture! Love your textured layers upon layers upon layers. Looks like when it's all unwrapped, there are unending stunningly beautiful confectionary layers!

Emily Coker said...

ooooh.. this is awesome!

Shayla said...

Love those textures. Wonderful!

Karen Cole said...

How wonderful to be involved in so many shared projects. You are going to need a manager soon, Seth.

Your book looks amazing. The colors and textures are perfect.

I finally have entered the disintegration arena!!!!!! woo hoo

Angela Wales Rockett said...

Oh Wow! So beautiful, such depth and great texture. And I love that word. And having your work and Bridgette's in the same book!!! Can't wait to see how it all develops.

Now I gotta go check out Jen's work.

Anonymous said...

Okay just to add to all the comments? It's SO much better in person. I'm having a really hard time not licking it. ;)

Anonymous said...

Wonderful! Wonderful word "contexture" and great book. Those pages are enticing!

Anonymous said...

I too love following all of your collaborations! And I love all of the detailed pics you posted - are you sure that's not you in the photo you used??

bockel24 said...

love especially the back cover - great words and design

jo horswill said...

Collaborations are fun...
This book is looking good Seth. I love all your altered book elements...you certainly must love what you do, because it radiates in your work!

deb said...

thanks for the compliment on my book, yours is stunning!

Jeane Myers said...

I love how complex this work is!

Judy said...

just brilliant

Unknown said...

What a book, your collaborations are inspiring...

studioJudith said...

Incredible work, Seth!
If nothing happened beyond the cover, it would stand alone as very special.
JJJj

reagan said...

This is fabulous! I love the texture, the colors, everything! Can't wait to see where this leads.

Chris said...

WOWIE, Seth!! This book is incredible-looking. I love all your energy and imagination. These surfaces rock. What a great idea to have the pocket tags. yum.

Anonymous said...

I love your work,Seth!It has something very unique...This book looks so promising!

Anonymous said...

You're in great company with those two!

ute said...

what a wonderful design, color and words, all pages are great

Leslie said...

Such a fantastic book and them, Seth. I love that you are going to pass the books around more than once.

Anonymous said...

Love your artwork!

RosieK said...

So wonderfully textural! I will have my bundle very soon!!

ArtPropelled said...

Another feast for the eyes! The first cover photographs and the back cover are sooooo awesome! Love your colours!

Anonymous said...

Seth I hardly have any words....awesome is the best I can come up with. Absolutely breathtaking!

Carmen said...

This is fantastic. I love it and I love the collaborations you are doing with such incredible artists!!!

Gaby Bee said...

This looks like another fabulous collaboration :-) Everything you create is unique and interesting. Your work is just so inspirational.

Gaby xo

Supria Karmakar said...

AS usual absolutely STUNNING...I love it so much...I can just imagine what it feels like to hold this precious creation...I received your distressed elements the other day from Veronica and it is so wondefully tantalizing is all of its distressed elements.
Supria

*jean* said...

amazing!!!

.Trudi Sissons said...

Beautiful Book Seth in true SETHIAN style!

Anonymous said...

Dear Seth.... I loved this so much. I blogged about it:
http://eachdazzlingmoment.typepad.com/weblog/

Thanks for sharing the project with us!
Melissa

laurel said...

What awesome texture and details!

mansuetude said...

wow .

love the concept ,
and the sign in page esp...

katie said...

what a wonderful project, each of you such intriguing artists, can't wait to see what you all come up with. i love LOVE the cover of your journal seth.

layers said...

I love the word Contexture-- and how you wove it in with texture and rhyme and text and layers