Preparations!

The week flew by with residency and exhibition preparations. Lots of details to iron out as the days are short and timing is everything. City Shields will be part of the show, but not the focus. The attention will be on the idea behind my work, my obsessions, my collecting and my archiving. City Shields is the most obsessive and most popular project of my career, so it is a major component of the exhibition.

Time was spent choosing between all my published books—the ones that best describe my artist statement. Equinox was the first to make the list, but since I found a new home for the books at the beginning of the year, the books won't be present at the gallery—with imagination you might see nine years of my life. Other books in line are: A Day Filled with Onomatopoeias, Traverse, Parade, Perception, and Ambivalence.

© 2017 Louise Levergneux, spread of Ambivalence artists' book

© 2017 Louise Levergneux, spread of Ambivalence artists' book

WhiteWall Photo Lab will print large prints of certain pages of books, these will adorn the walls. I’m anxious about the proofing—there goes that obsession again! Kristen Cooper the Program Director at Ming Studios is overseeing the printing in Berlin, Germany, where she lives and works. Cooper is a conceptual artist, her work is exhibited internationally, Kristen must know about the printing process. I hope the surprise will be good.

© 2017 Louise Levergneux, spread of A Day Filled with Onomatopoeias artists' book

Set-up of pedestals begins next week—a good start to figuring out the gallery space. I am contemplating on the look of the show, the books, the prints... Stay tuned, here I go!

The Beginning!

I’ve met with the executive director and the program director of Ming Studios to prepare for my residency starting February 6th. 

MING Studios is an international contemporary art center and residency program in Boise, Idaho. The gallery brings international artists to Idaho and introduces new opportunities for regional artists. Ming serves the community by hosting innovative programs including workshops and cultural activities, performances, screenings, readings and artist talks.

Keeping active between meetings and emails, I’ve verified files, edited text, printed and cut the last eleven volumes of City Shields. 

© 2017 Louise Levergneux

Through the conversations, the scope of the exhibition has changed. Subsequently, we wanted the viewers to capture the nature of artists’ books. The spotlight is no longer on City Shields but the idea behind my work.  

I appreciate simple moments characterizing our lives, building our history, whether sensational or monotonous. Fascinated by memory and identity, the day-to-day events entertain me. 

I want to familiarize the readers with mundane activities that link us together to regain our childhood innocence. Autobiographical references are characteristic of my work, which centers on the act of collecting and storing my memories, my self-identity, and my environment. I study my surroundings with camera in hand and accumulate memories. My process of investigation continues as I manipulate images in Photoshop and iMovie, re-organize, write and plan my artists’ books. I finish a book when my conceptual framework reads as a physical object.  

A digital method of reproduction gives my books a contemporary look. I work with different binding structures that respond to the book in question. The final product is a limited edition book representing the mundane in a unique, imaginative, and dynamic way for the reader to experience. 

This video is my interpretation of the game Decision of the Flower: She loves me, she loves me not, originally Effeuiller la marguerite. I present this game in the French style making the potential outcomes more numerous. "Il/Elle aime un peu, beaucoup, passionnément, à la folie, pas du tout" (translates to "He/She loves me a little, a lot, passionately, madly, not at all"). I created four small flip books that demonstrate these outcomes: m'aime pas du tout (loves me not), m'aime un peu (loves me a little), m'aime (loves me), and m'aime à la folie (loves me madly).

The exhibition represents how I collect, document and archive using my complex, French Canadian culture.

Grain Direction

This week was busy, especially in my mind, (or should I say on the phone)!

I had an incredible amount of difficulty ordering a box of Moab Lasal Photo by Legion; I wanted to make sure I received the correct paper size and grain. As you know if you are folding paper, then it has to be in the correct grain direction or it’s a mess.

The book’s finished size will be 8.5 x 5.5”. With folds, I need 8.5 x 11” grain short paper for printing with a bleed or 11 x 17” with grain short with lots of white space. Larger size sheets have waste, but I could fold the paper with no breakage. On 13 x 19” with grain long I had the possibility of printing 2 up. The order appeared straightforward, once I figured how to use each size sheet depending on inventory.

I placed my order with a friendly customer service representative. Five days later, the package arrived with incorrect grain direction.

A phone call to IT Supplies elicited a fast apology and a re-order with my instructions on grain direction.

After another five days, the package arrived and my hopes faded when I realized the same paper was shipped. Back on the phone, I find out they had no grain long paper in stock!

I took matters into my own hands and called Moab papers. Seventy-six boxes of grain long were available at the New Jersey warehouse, I was told. Direct shipping from Moab adds $8 to $10 more. No thanks, I will try IT Supplies again!

I tried to explain my dilemma going back and forth with customer service. I need small-sized papers in grain short and larger sheets in grain long. But the smaller sheets were available in grain long and the large sheets were now being cut with grain short! Are you hearing the Twilight Zone theme song yet?

While I spoke with three other distributors, I heard the strangest ideas on how to go about getting the paper I needed. One guy even suggested I purchase several boxes in the hope that one of the packages shipped MIGHT BE with correct grain. Is the paper returnable, I asked. “Yes for a 10% restocking fee.” WHAT! No one in their right mind would do something so stupid. I hoped he never suggested such a solution to another customer!

I searched the internet for different possibilities in the Moab Lasal Photo paper. I discovered that Legion cuts 12 x 13” sheets, not a special order--I hoped. “What grain direction would you like this paper?” was the next interaction. I explained the process of producing books, paper, folding and grain direction.

Another 5 days.

Alleluia! I received my paper, it’s 12 x 13” GRAIN LONG!! Bookmakers know in the situation outlined above that the grain direction does not matter since I can print from either side. ^%$&%$#^%$!

© 2017 Louise Levergneux

ITSupplies dropped the shipping charges for my troubles (living in hope!). Innocence is bliss, I get what that means. I can start my book now.

Farewell Equinox

I studied the responses of emails to my inquiry about a donation to Special Collection Libraries. I finally made a decision and I’m delighted to announce that I found the perfect home for Equinox. Equinox will be part of the other 65,000 books housed in the Golda Meir Library. The library is part of the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Libraries, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

After speaking with Max Yela, the Head of Special Collections, I relinquished all of my stress. I can now breath easy and able to let go of my project. The UWM Book Arts Collection endeavors to document and show the use of the book form as an art medium and has a world-wide reputation. With its active exhibitions, the Golda Meir Library will bring Equinox to the public and make them aware of my work.

The Golda Meir Library already holds 3 of my artists’ books: City Shields, Outside the Studio (AIR.10, copy #4), and 26NOV2006. 

The most important criteria on my list were that Equinox would find a home in a Canadian Collection. When that turned out negative because of budget restraints my thoughts went to other important criteria, the library receiving Equinox as a gift had 

1. acquired my artists’ books in the past, and

2. understood my work.

© 2007 Louise Levergneux, Equinox 2006-2007

© 2006 Louise Levergneux, Equinox 2005-2006

© 2005 Louise Levergneux, Equinox 2004-2005

© 2004 Louise Levergneux, Equinox 2003-2004

© 2003 Louise Levergneux, Equinox 2002-2003

© 2002 Louise Levergneux, Equinox 2001-2002

© 2001 Louise Levergneux, Equinox 2000-2001

© 2000 Louise Levergneux, Equinox 1999-2000

© 1999 Louise Levergneux, Equinox 1998-1999

Finding A Good Home

While I wait for my Lasal Paper to arrive. I squeezed onto my studio floor my project Equinox, a nine-year project comprising 9 books filled with daily memories and activities. It felt necessary last October to find a good home for Equinox. After exhibiting Equinox a few times and with many moves since 2007, I felt the books would be better in a controlled environment. 

There is a limited time our artists’ books should stay on the shelves of our studios. What's your opinion on this subject? 

© 2017 Louise Levergneux, preparing and verifying all the books of my project Equinox for packing and shipping to their new home

In 1998, while mourning my father’s passing, time became important and archiving seconds an obsession. As I archived the seconds of my life, I realized that these seconds would change, they would get distorted and disappear. It takes another major event for our mind's eye to bring back a memory of a particular moment in our lives but as stated, that second will be forever changed by the days, months, and years. 

While illustrating this photographic archive, I transformed the mundane into a visual history by juxtaposing photographic evidence of my individuality. 

The first book, 1998-1999, I archived my journey with a self-portrait, the time of day I photographed myself, and people I interacted with during each day. 

For 1999 to 2000, I represented my life with a self-portrait and a list of daily activities, a meteorological report, and a receipt (proof of my existence) from an item purchased. 

In the new millennium (2000-2001), I celebrated with a self-portrait, paper dolls—my daily muse, and a list of what my five senses gleaned on each day. 

© 2001 Louise Levergneux, Equinox 2000-2001 page for January 8th.

During 2001-2002, I remembered my father with flowers received, picked or visualized, my self-portrait, and the time of day I received insight. 

© 2003 Louise Levergneux, Equinox 2001-2002 page for January 8th.

A celebration was in the air in 2002-2003 with a new Sheltie puppy, and a quote from the Book of Psalms accompanied my portrait. 

© 2003 Louise Levergneux, Equinox 2002-2003 page for January 8th.

Locations frequented during 2003 accompanied by a self-portrait, an emotive description, not of my own feelings of the day. 

My daily TV viewing next to my self-portrait throughout 2004-2005, credits a friend who sees life through the media. 

© 2005 Louise Levergneux, Equinox 2004-2005 page for January 8th.

I celebrated the birthdays of family, friends, Co-workers, and associates by writing their names next to my portrait as I give a hand to those listed in 2005-2006. 

© 2006 Louise Levergneux, Equinox 2005-2006 page for January 8th.

The last year of Equinox came to fruition by saluting the four cardinal directions throughout the year 2006-2007. 

© 2007 Louise Levergneux, Equinox 2006-2007 page for January 8th.

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I enjoyed working on Equinox, now it is time to make new memories and new moments in my life. The studio is very busy with preparations for my show at Ming Studios in February-March. I'm working in Photoshop, printing and cutting more manhole covers. I'm cleaning old files, this month is all about new beginnings.

New Year, New beginnings!

Celebrating one year of blogging! It’s been a pleasure getting to know all of you through my posts. Thank you for the support.

Major changes are in the air for my 1/2 Measure Studio this year. The reasoning behind my books is on my mind these days. I’m questioning the trajectory of my work. Changing paths is a big moment and one I want to see bring forward movement to my work. 

For now, confusion! Why do this? Why do that? Why be an artist? 

Do you have questions that haunt you as an artist? 

In the last month, I have been working on a new artists’ book—a sequel to my book entitled Beside Me. Beside Me was a wonderful book on teams published in 2005.

How do your books come to life?

Mine usually start with a trip, a thought, an experience... This one started with an emotion.

Completely filled with emotion, my mind started to think of how to create this book and in what format. Thoughts raced through my mind.

Think, re-think, plan, images, dream, re-think, write, view it in my mind’s eye, dream of it, camera in hand, photograph, template, re-think, write, play in Photoshop, design pages, dream, cover? Binding! Think! Choose fonts, discussion, re-think, compose photographs, relate to book Beside Me, write, edit, paper size, size of book, re-design, Edit...

Ideas have gelled, cover and binding chosen. The real work starts and frustrations follow!

I had difficulties in ordering paper with the proper grain direction needed for printing the pages of my book. Was everyone in the companies I called asleep at the switch? After many phone calls, I’m hoping to receive the correct paper. 

Particular companies understand book publishing and grain directions. One of those companies is Moab papers by Legion. They are always happy to talk about the needs of their customers.

What type of difficulties do you run into with paper? Size, grain direction, thickness, durability...

This waiting period is giving me time to conceive the cover and how the new book will flow with the first book Beside Me.

© 2016 Louise Levergneux, cover of Standing Alone

I continue working on my files of manhole covers to create eleven new volumes of different cities across the Canadian provinces.

©2016 Louise Levergneux, Saskatchewan manhole covers in Bridge ready to action in Photoshop

© 2013 Louise Leverghneux, Hotel Aloft, Minneapolis, MN, April 30, 2013

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I hope happiness and prosperity comes your way in 2017!