We are a non-profit Organization dedicated to promoting altered books as an art form and to provide
a Forum for the exchange of skills, experiences, and ideas through education, exhibits, and events.
 
 
Inspiration in the Rubbish
 
Rejectamenta & Altered Books
 
Featuring: Emma Powell, ISABA Member
 
All my work revolves around ‘rejectamenta’ (anything that has been discarded). I am attracted to objects that most people walk all over or turn their noses up at! I am drawn to items because of their colour, patterning, texture or patina. My interest started in 1997 whilst studying for an MA when I collected items from skips, on the street, at work, at home, from a local recycling centre and washed up on the beach. My studio soon became full of boxes of odd objects – needless to say my interest was not shared by my other family members!
One day I came across some books, thrown out by a library, in a skip. They were covered in builders’ rubbish and had been heavily rained on. They were sad and dejected. My passion for altered books started right there whilst I climbed into the skip to rescue the books. I started with 3 parts of books using themes that related to the content of the initial book and its location – ‘Decay’, ‘Trapped’ and ‘Vandalised’. These 3 books are featured on my ISABA Member’s Page.

From these books I developed close-up imagery that I then took into printmaking and onto papermaking. I made the paper from pages of more discarded books and other found items - such as Monopoly money, map pages and chad (hole-punched paper). The substrate for the print then related directly to the content of the image. I played around with the imagery for years creating flat pieces, textured assemblages and more books.

 
 
I created a huge volume of work from just these 3 tiny books - producing something substantial from something discarded and worthless. This became my mission for my future work and the basis for my current PhD research. This research is investigating the use of rejectamenta by practising artists. In fact many members of ISABA have helped me with this research by filling in my on-line questionnaire.
In my present teaching job I teach bookmaking to degree level students and intercept discarded books before they reach the skip! I also co-curate a yearly bookmaking exhibition that is open to all to enter. Our previous themes have been ‘Meeting in the Middle’ and ‘Full Circle/Random Journey’ and I suspect that some of you have probably submitted books for these previous exhibitions. A huge range of books is submitted varying from altered ‘one-offs to published editions.
 
 
 
 
 
If you would like to enter the 2007 experimental book exhibition the theme is ‘A (is for add), B (is for book) and C (is for collaborate)’. This can be interpreted in anyway that you like. More information about the exhibitions can be found at the website www.weloveyourbooks.com and more information about my research can be found at www.rejectamenta.com.
I am currently a full-time Senior Lecturer in Graphic Design at DeMontfort University, Leicester, UK and a part-time PhD student at Kingston University, UK.
 
Translations!  
 
Skip = dumpster 
Rubbish = trash
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
EMPHATICALLY NATURAL! by Sandy Brown       = technique alert, NEW!
 
Nature inspires and conspires aiding our creativity as we search for the right color combination, composition or illustration. Natural objects abound and the woods, shoreline, or lawn offer up delicious design elements if only we would look down and around. I would never suggest that I am the authority on this subject, just reminding you that it is a topic to revisit from time-to-time. Many altered arts and scrapbooking publications you may have on the shelf frequently feature natural objects and design uses for these elements. Perhaps it is time to bookmark those pages.
 
A pile of stuff on your worktable? Begin to arrange your nature collection on a canvas, page or handmade paper. Set things in harmonizing colors or patterns. Did you notice that some pine needles became the rays of light, or the bark became a texture tool, or the design kind of evolved into something eye catching? 
 
 
Some really interesting page layouts may be created by cutting deep holes and windows into a thick book. The illustration to the right shows a partially finished 1" thick book with ever smaller concentric circles cut into the pages, eventually containing the collage materials. This book is to be embellished by students attending a weekly altered art workshop I teach each winter. The final results will be featured in a Spring newsletter. We hold a drawing at our last workshop among the participating artists and the lucky winner keeps the whole book!
 
Many themed scans stitched together could serve as a layout on a food or recipe topic altered book. This is a scan of thinly sliced apples. I will add zucchini, radish, and many more scans to make a digital page for journaling or embellishments. I plan on adding dried apple slices to the scan above when I use it on my page.
 
A scanner is useful in the creative process. As I write this (it's July) I am sitting at a picnic table in the Western Sierras with my scanner plugged into our RV and having so much recording nature collages such as these branches. If objects are too thick for your scanner lid to close, drape a black plastic trash bag over the object to be scanned. Smooth down a layer of plastic wrap directly onto the scanner bed to avoid scratches. 
 
Most herb and specialty shops carry a vast assortment of potpourri and bark materials. The "world market and pier" shops carry lovely mixtures in many themes. The grocery spice department is a wonderful resource.
 
Paper toweling dipped or sprayed with heavy starch with some dried flowers or herbs sandwiched between layers gives another dimensional technique.
 
Spray starch  several toilet tissue layers and some dried peppercorns sandwiched between layser, when this dries texturize with stamp pads. 
 
I love to alter my photographs as you see in the leaf to the left. I Print on textured or handmade papers. Digital assistance in altered book construction is very creative because a surprise always rolls out of the printer.  Please utilize any of the scans in this column by performing a mouse "right click" and choose "save as" to your computer. I am happy to share.
 
 
September ISABA altered photo banner is from my recent pass through Monument Valley, AZ, Sandy Brown, ISABA Newsletter Editor.
 
 
 
 
 
 
CALL FOR YOUR  PHOTOS for NEWSLETTER, email your topic .jpeg anytime!
ISABANews@alteredbookartists.com
 

OCTOBER, deadline 9/20/06

  • Book bindings that are very unconventional, unique, and basically the "finishing touch" shown in examples by altered book artists; hoping one of your examples will come to your editor anytime soon 
  • Mechanical ways to bind a book and resources; do you bind books as a business - send your link!
  • 4" x 4" popular book sizes; many pages featured

NOVEMBER, deadline 10/20/06

  • BROWN as a much used color in ABs, illustrations of sepia, walnut and many brown color combinations
  • More 4" x 4" layouts, mostly utilizing brown tones
  • Your mood is may dictate the AB you create

DECEMBER, deadline 11/20/06

  • WHITE as a useful color in ABs. White gesso, overpainting, washes, flocking, materials, all used in artist illustrations and comments regarding the use of the many tones of white. Does white open space, accent space or offer optical challenges; a study of effect
  • Gift books; creating an AB for a gift
  • Words of cheer; examples of quotations to use in books from some antique sources such as autograph books and antiquarian volumes  

JANUARY, deadline 12/20/06

  • Wire wrapping words and designs to embellish a page or journal
  • Rust and faux rust  
 
TALKBACK, and you sure did, we loved it!
Collectively you sent in nearly 700 useful comments that are compiled here for review. Many comments were in multiple forms and this narrative summarizes the success of TALKBACK!
  • The membership seems to be split in three mostly equal ways of beginner, intermediate and advanced. As a point of interest, the folks who listed beginner level had the most to say...they are eager.
  • In the newsletter and website comments we found that you want more techniques, how-to's, artist bio's, many samples, how artists make their living, historical info on altered books, product reviews, featured artist and photos. Well, that's a tall order, but, we have got plans (as you see from this improved newsletter) to give you more. We always need your feedback and contributions though, so partner up with us and send us a class or some photos. Some current interests mentioned were fabric, photography, inks, bindings, marketing, happenings, international events, gallery expansion, and workshop set ups.
  • As far as having a Yahoo chat group, well that was split one-third pro and two-thirds con. Many worried about security, never having time to chat, and preference to use non-work time in the studio. Those who would use the Yahoo chat would like to see techniques and book trading, several already belong to an altered book web chat.
  • Classes requested most were binding techniques, inks, transfer methods, how-to earn from one's artwork, new products, faux rust, color, fonts, plus general request for ongoing techniques.
  • Sales of artist artwork is something many are contemplating, and as it is an ongoing concern of many of you, it would be good if we addressed this issue.
  • Many of you teach in the commuinity either for a fee or volunteer. We look forward to snippetts of your classroom projects sent to us for our website.
  • As far as ISABA helping you professionally, you agree that it is good to have a recognized organization to bind our art form. Some folks would like to hear from ISABA members who greatly benefit from the association as there may be some undiscovered avenues for ISABA to assist in the art of professionalism.
  • The newsletter is read in html the most. Comments regarding downloading were positive but some wished for a simpler format. Many favorable comments came in citing the use of more photographs and examples. Someone wished to know about others in their geographical area and for that we recommend looking at the database of members and contacting your nearest ISABA member for a meet-up. Your editor hopes this format is something more pleasing to you and that your newsletter experience is a positive one now.
  • So very many of you visit the website often and enjoy the gallery. The forum is at the bottom of the list of frequently visited. The request for a beginner section and an advanced class section was voiced somewhat. You have no issues navigating the website and praises were noted for anything new.
  • The comments regarding ISABA as it pertains to you revealed some good praise and generally 90% outright friendly! Keeping focused on the subject of altered book arts is appreciated. ISABA is a way to keep in touch with the art form and many of you wish that more members would display the ISABA membership title in your websites. Since the membership is international, more members would like a broader coverage. You feel that no matter how busy you are or just how much you wish to delve into altered book arts, the organization is there for you. Some entirely new concepts and ideas came individually and contact will be made soon to explore those possibilities.
Thank you for your hefty responses. The ISABA Board appreciates your time, comments and assistance. It proves that you are ready to make more of a commitment and you will see our response in action in the coming months!
 
 

Pres Ponderings

    I can’t believe that it is already time for the colors to change.  Summer took so long to arrive and it seems it came and went so quickly.  I attended Altercations www.altercations.org in Ann Arbor , MI in July.  I only took one class – Taming the Tyvek Tiger with our own, Cindy May, instructing.  We learned how to color the Tyvek and used that for book covers.  We stitched signatures into our book.  Cindy provided signature pages (all just wonderful papers) and quotes to use on the pages.  I, of course, did not get to the sewing, but I sewed at home and   the book is ready for the quotes to be added.  We sold one Altered Words and added one renewed member to ISABA at the retreat and the re may have been more.

    Nancy Curry, Cindy May, Donna Brackel, Char Jacobsen, and Barb Glasier were some members who attended that I made contact.  This was a ga the ring of 100 including instructors and the classes were all varied and everyone attending learned so much.  The Best Western hotel was not my favorite for the rooms, but the hot breakfast served was good and having the classrooms and lodging in the same building was very convenient.  Some of the rooms were small for the number of students in the class. 
     The dog days of Summer seem to have come early, stayed long and are now gone, I hope.  We spent many days at the beach and many hours in the water.  Lake Michigan was warm enough to swim in, but cool enough to be refreshing. I managed to get my studio in some semblance of order with the arrival of my metal flat file drawers.  I still have some purging to do, but that will be when I spend more time indoors.
    We enjoyed our second annual film festival and I took part as a movie buff and as a volunteer selling merchandise, working in a concession stand and checking in guests at the closing party.  I know you’re thinking “so what has THAT got to do with altered books?”  I bought a crew baseball cap and immediately altered it – I know, it’s not a book, but altered is altered.  I added images of the films I was ticketed to see on foam core and added eyelets and fish line.  I attached the se to brads inserted into holes in the cap.  The hat was admired by artists and film goers including the founders of the festival who signed my cap. 
     I was on a tour of the Village Commons in Traverse City .  This is a development altering the old state hospital grounds into mixed use space – retail, restaurants and condos.  We saw the old building with peeling lead paint, broken windows and dust and dirt from old age.  Then we toured Gallery 50 and a new condo in Building 50.  What a transformation!!  I hope to get on a tour of the construction zone soon.  I found some old broken glass from the windows (found objects) and picked up a couple shards for use in a book.  Hmmm… are the shards “natural” materials or recycled?  I guess the y will be recycled once in an art project.
    A fellow artist passed away recently and at an art retreat, we painted shoes bright yellow.  Sheila had holes cut out in a box that we put old tennis shoe toes in to be sprayed.  I forgot my shoes so we sprayed an old pop-up book that I am giving to his widow.  I’m using photos and paint to commemorate Charly, a very colorful character in more ways than one.
    I hope that the transition of seasons will find you transitioning right along.  Take walks now that it is cooler and look down for found objects for your art.  Leaves,
acorns, twigs, and stones are all natural objects that you could use.  Maybe you will find broken lenses, barrettes, pieces of tires, or o the r objects someone dropped and use the m as recycled pieces in your art.
    Whatever you’re doing, do it creatively!!! Pa m Yee in Michigan USA
 
CHECK OUT THIS MONTH'S ISABA WEB CLASS: http://alteredbookartists.com/members/classes.html 
 
ALTERED WORDS: an ISABA publication, has a metals and digital issue in the works.
 
ALERT! If you, as an ISABA member, will display at any art show, event or exhibition, then email the date to ISABANews@alteredbookartists.com by the 28th of the previous month...you will be listed here! Send the usual dates, times, place and event title, your name and what you will feature. "After the event" photos are welcomed also. Members often requested this information in TALKBACK. Share, share, share!
  
 TECHNIQUE OF THE MONTH!
Ordinary WHITE press-on alphabet letter sheets may be turned into stylish and easy to use embellishments! If, you first stamp, colorize, paint or otherwise redefine the whole sheet with your special touch. This full sheet of press-on letters then becomes a coordinated alpha letter set to use in titles and exclamations!
 
ISABA BOARD
2004-2007
President, Pam Yee
Executive VP, Meredyth Parrish, PHD
Treasurer, Mary Foreman
VP Communication, Chelise Stroud-Hery
VP Membership, Barb Glasier
VP Operations, Diana Vargas
VP Education, Sandy Brown
Librarian, Josette Marcellino
Webmaster, Maria Sawczuk
Editor, Altered Words, Mary Foreman, Meredyth Parrish PhD
Altered Words Staff, Denice O'Heron - Copy Editor, Ellen Grey -  Layout, Barb Johnson - Distribution