Tunnel Books
Tunneling Through: Tunnel Bookmaking with the Panorama City Branch Library!
Through my Artist Residency with the Los Angles Department of Cultural Affairs Artist in Residence I had the opportunity to offer an online program/workshop via the Panorama Branch Library of the Los Angeles Public Library in which participants learned how to make “Tunnel Books“, and thus how to create their own three-dimensional stories!
Participants learned the accordion fold technique, and how to attach a background/backdrop sheet, and connective strips to create their books, reminiscent of a diorama, or stage. They then went to down developing their stories or scenes, learning a bit of pop-up magic in the process.
One motivated participant motivated by opera remade her book after the program, and emailed these images to share with us!
We look forward to more inspiring, educational, creative and FUN online bookmaking programs presented through the Panorama City Branch Library!
All workshops, programs, classes and events will be listed HERE!
Stay tuned, and join us!
Tunnel Vision
It was fantastic to teach a workshop on Tunnel Books for families, at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art.
The Tunnel Book is comprised of two accordion spines, or “sides”, connected by a “backdrop” and “cross pieces” or frames attached to the accordion folds working from the back fold and moving forward in space.
The mise-en-scène is then created through the addition of images/shapes/materials attached to the crosspieces and creating actual depth of space between them.
Students of all ages employed tremendous imagination and creativity as they “tunneled through” the process of making, adding pop-ups, folds, “doors” and even a “floor” to their works.
The work of our hands…
Tunnel Book “doors” employ illusionistic effects as the image transforms when they are opened.
Heart “balloons” floating up into the “sky”…
A work depicting the perfect day…with drawings of the Calder works in the Directors Roundtable Garden in front…
The artist wants the viewer to finish the sentence!
Happiness, happiness…
One really feels like one is entering a theatrical space here…
This young maker worked very hard to design this piece so that the images moving back in space made sense on all fronts…BRAVO!
And what is inside this book? The structure in front of it is a home for the five-year-old maker’s new pet ladybug!
ROAR!
Art, Theatre, Life and Literature… come together, at our beloved LACMA!
Tunneling Through (2) Too
Tunneling Through (2) Too
It was fantastic to teach a workshop on Tunnel Books for families, at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art. The Tunnel Book is comprised of two accordion spines, or “sides”, connected by a “backdrop” and “cross pieces” or frames attached to the accordion folds moving “forward” in space.
The images below may explain the process more clearly, because, as we know, a picture is worth…how many words?
Two friends work intently, side by side, cutting shapes and image to add to their theater-like books.
Mother and Daughter attach pink and yellow backdrops to black accordion folded spines…
and add to their stories through color, shapes and texture.
The one half of this Mom and Daughter team sports a Princess Leia hairstyle from the original Star Wars movie! She and her Mom are working in related colors.
A talented and happy Mother and Daughter build out their books.
An imaginative young biy cuts concentric circles to give his book and even greater feeling of depth.
Backed by his supportive Mom, he took it upon himself to take the Tunnel Book project one step further.
Happy mom, and our beautiful art class assistant, Lady, a young Mom herself!
Little hands create big projects..
adding layers of color and shape, creating scenes and stories.
This young artist blew me away with her dedication, commitment and persistence…cutting out all the little yellow windows for her building…a real “mise en scène“…
Speaking of mise en scène…BEHOLD!
The work of this maker looks like she was influenced by the Alexander Calder “stabile” sculptures we looked at outside in the Directors Roundtable Garden as inspiration for our project….
A love of green…
Love Live Life
and…SMILE!
Just the right decorative paper for the waterfall down the mountains…
This young artist took the Degas image of The Little Dancer, and made her into a magical winged creature (fairy?) in what looks to be an enchanted place…the theme of flying is echoed in the large yellow butterfly attached to the upper left of the piece.
Adding layers to the piece…
and completing it…
Concentric circles surrounded by a delightful dash of “Ziegfield Follies‘ esque gold fringe!
A pièce de résistance indeed! This is a Masterwork if I ever saw one…blooming out in every direction!
Our fabled family makers….together
In Resonant Residence (3)
In Resonant Residence (3)
I formally began Studio Residency at the Camera Obscura Art Lab
in Santa Monica Wednesday January 10th. I share the sunlit space, located within the beautiful Mid-century building overlooking Palisades Park, Santa Monica Beach and the blue Pacific with textile artist and fellow Studio Artist-in-Residence Huong Nguyen.
Second Workshop, January 20, 2018:
Making the Tunnel Book
Hey there! Creating together….
Our Tunnel Books were comprised of two accordion sides/spines, a back “drop” (background sheet attached to both spines), and cross pieces or frames attached to each fold of the spines and moving back in space. The ‘scene” is developed by attaching imagery, shapes, designs, patterns and textures to the cross pieces. Sound confusing? Just look at what these talented, creative and best of all, open to adventure participants made!
Pacific Northwest?
Terrific trio…bey of beauties. Each created a jewel of a piece.
Above the orange background piece is attached to the pink and red accordion spines, and a patterned blue strip of paper ois being glues to the fold closest to the backdrop in both spines.
This maker brought in a piece of her own embroidery, and used vintage Victorian style cutout to create her scene. i happen to know this piece was gifted to someone after the workshop!
Contemplating an underwater dive (scene). Seriously!
The work of our hands….this maker taught jewelry making for many years at Santa Monica College.
With the “doors” shut, this piece looks like a castle…
This maker imaginatively used dullard cut-outs to create a surf-themed piece for her neice.
This maker has a very distinct sensibility, and often chooses earth tones, punctuated by color, adding a strong design sense to her work.
This maker is one creative soul…she works with textiles and has done theatrical design, and it shows. She also supported and cheered on her fellow makers.
“It’s time”…says it all….is there a trip in store?
It is magical to create by the sand, by the sea, by the blue Pacific, and share this experience with these makers. Picturing your dreams can be the first step to bringing them to life and making them come true.
Gratitudes.
“We Right The Book” VI
“We Right The Book” VI
I was honored to serve as Artist in Residence at Verdugo Hill High School in Tujunga, CA (Los Angeles) for a group of 41 Senior English class Visual and Performing Arts (VAPA) students.
Our project , “We Right the Book” was supported by an Artist in Residence grant from the City of Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs. I worked with the students on a series of bookmaking projects during weekly workshops held right in the classroom from September – December, 2017.
The students’ completed book works were exhibited at the Sunland-Tujunga Branch Library on December 13, 2017.
Accordion fold books, flag books, tunnel books, scrolls, and side bound books…the results were stunning.
Below is a digital tour through the show.
Each student’s works were displayed together, except the scrolls, which were hung on the walls.
Students created extraordinary Tunnel Books with whimsical, innovative and imaginative use of materials.
They made Flag Books…with “Found” (collected from existing print media) Writing.
and Accordion Fold Books…
with elaborate pop-ups.
The students completed their final projects for the class in their side bound books…the theme: IDENTITY…Who they are…Where they want to go…How they see themselves.
A Junior VAPA English student peruses the side bound books. She looked at each and every one.
I would love to work with her next year!
Fingers Crossed for next year’s Residency!
Thank you, LA DCA.