Wk. 30: MOVED!

Dear Followers & Visitors,

I have moved my weekly blog to my website and invite you to join me there at

partlowart.com

I'll hold this blog site open as I figure out how the heck to upload all my previous blog posts to the website. If you know how to do this, PLEASE HOLLA AT A SISTA at nefnx@gmail.com. 

Thanks for your support and patronage over the years!!!

Wks. 16 - 29: 2018 Calendar Cards

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Scandalous! Maybe that's a bit dramatic. Being a busy, working, exhibiting artist is the better description and reason why it's been 14 weeks since I last posted in this blog. Still, I've been about my business of making art books: 146 total to date, of which 144 are calendar bards (book-cards). I've been seriously busy.

It's kind of magical how this simple idea has turned into a burgeoning little art product business. The real magic is that I have managed to push through all my resistances and self talk about doing all those business-related things that drain me as an artist and zap all my creative energies. The key has been working with a team of people who are committed to supporting me and my work. What a blessing.

Rather than give you all the details about the 2018 calendar cards, I invite you to check them out and buy a few on my website at partlowart.com.

Thanks!

Wk. 15, Book 15: Lotus's Gratitude Book

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Lotus saw Book 11, titled "The Women's Series Part III," and as is her way with my favorite keepsakes, including evening gowns, certain pieces of jewelry and purses, she wanted that book, too. However, because I'm not quite ready to hand it over to anyone, I proposed making a special keepsake just for her. 

Like Book 11, this was also a small spiral notepad, @ 4.50" x 3". I covered the front and back covers with a textured deco paper in one of her favorite colors, pink, and added sequence and cloth flowers. I also suggested that since she's moving back to Baltimore later this spring after living in southern California for a year, she could use

this little journal to record all the things she likes about her current community, which she claims she doesn't like so much. The idea is to get her to shift her internal conversation to a focus of gratitude, hence the title of this book.

For the inside covers, I used an embossed card stock with a floral pattern and added stick-on hearts, one of Lotus's favorite symbols. It was her idea to add the little applique at the bottom of each page in the book, which adds volume to the signatures. 

So now I'm thinking about buying a bunch of these little spiral note pads and redesigning them for various purposes. I'll let you know when they are available for sale via my website at partlowart.com. 

Wk. 14, Book 14: April Fool's Baby

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This is a way-overdue, drive by post dedicated to my granddaughter Lotus Marie Partlow on the occasion of her 9th birthday. 

I've had this little 2.80" x 2.80" tin box since February; it came filled with candy hearts. Once empty, I could see its potential as a mini box book. After Lotus's big birthday bash last Friday at the American Visionary Art Museum, I figured she should have a book chronicling her annual progression to the auspicious 9th cycle here on earth. That's when the content was born.

I created a 1.50" wide accordion signature beginning with a pic of a lotus flower and the

text, "the day you were born the angels laughed and sang," followed by  my favorite pics of her up to the party last week. The signature is made of postcard stock, and the tin box top opens, the signature pops out. Lotus got a kick out of that and a good laugh at her pics from age 1 to the present. 

Once again, it goes to show you can make a book out of almost anything.

Wk. 13, Book 13: The Women's Series, Part V

During my first book-a-week challenge in 2015, I converted a canvas index card carrier into a reframed photo book (Wk. 27, Book 27: Funky Little Photo Album). I’ve taken it a step further this week and re-reframed it into a 5.75” x 4” keepsake photo book of all the sheroes in my family for my granddaughter, Lotus. 

In place of index cards, I created photo cards with little stories about our ancestors on one side and their pictures on the other. I started with four—my mother Lucy, her mother Blanche, her sister Cynthia, and my great-grandmother Charlottie. And because the book expands, we can continue to add pictures and stories as Lotus grows up. 

What better way to conclude the Women’s Herstory Month series than by honoring the women in my life who made such unforgettable contributions to their family, friends, neighbors, and the planet, in their own special way.

Wk. 12, Book 12: The Women's Series Part IV

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I'm on a roll. After last week's  blog, I found yet another old calendar - a classic. Anyone out there remember this remarkable keepsake featuring photos of outstanding African American sheroes? I took out the photos of my favorite writers, singers and poets, and created what i'm calling an "inspiration journal." 

The finished size is 12" x 12". I stapled the calendar pages together, covered the seam with linen ribbon, and added class bubbles on the seam, front and back covers for accent. Lastly, I wrote bios and quotes from the calendar in silver ink on each sheroe's page. This journal works very well as a coffee table book, too.

Okay, your turn. 

Wk. 11, Book 11: The Women's Series Part III

Last week's book had a baby. 

If you have wondered what to do with all those old favorite postcards, calendars, magazine images, and pieces of text you've collected over the years—you know, those boxes of stuff that keep multiplying like Star Trek tribbles—here's your solution:

Create journals for personal use and gifts.  

For example, you can make journals with images from old calendars, similar to the one I made last week. Staple the pages together, cover the seam with ribbons or deco paper, and add embellishments (stones, appliques, etc.) wherever you like. If the opposite sides of your pages are blank, write or affix text. You can also add blank pages in the journal if pages have front/back images.

You can do the same with all those little give-away notepads we've amassed from banks, conferences, and promotional campaigns. For example, I've turned this week's 5" x 3" notepad into a repository of notable quotes from historic female figures. (As a teacher and lecturer, I like to have good quotes within easy, immediate reach.) The photos by Carol Beckwith and Angela Fisher are from one of my favorite calendars on African women. And as usual, I've added a little bling on the front cover. It's a nifty little piece of utilitarian art that you can make, too. Try it. 

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Wk. 10, Book 10: The Women's Series Part II

This second book in observance of Women's History Month is an answer to the question of what to do with all those calendars and postcards and posters I've collected over the years. Create personal journals out of those treasures--why in the world didn't I think of that before?! Of course, I can't sell these journals, as I don't own the copyrights to the images, but I can certainly recycle the art for personal use.

I first saw the images included in this week's journal in a calendar featuring illustrations of women, which a friend had received for a Christmas gift in 2016. The way the artist weaves tones, textures, pen, ink, gold embossing, watercolors, and lettering into compositions is utterly compelling. I couldn't put the thing down. My friend noticed and sent me the calendar for my birthday earlier this year. How thoughtful. Thanks, Pat.

I chose my favorite illustrations from the calendar, trimmed and stapled the pages together, covered the stapled seam with glitter and lace ribbons, and applied glass beads to the cover. Fortunately, there's no text on the back of the illustrated pages, which allows ample space to write or affix pages of writings, and the heavy weight card stock pages give the journal a certain weight. The finished size is @ 8 1/2" x 10." Another piece for keepsake collection.

Wk. 9, Book 9: The Women's Series Part I

On March 2nd I met 24 delightful fifth grade ladies at the Robert W. Coleman elementary school here in Baltimore. And for a sweet period of time, we created little accordion books of poetry and short-short stories about being queens. We made crowns, too, to celebrate ourselves. 

Actually, they created; I facilitated the experience and made my book later, at home, while still awash with all that love and youthful joy. The folded size is 4 1/4" x 2 7/8" and when opened it's 4 1/4" x 11" with 8 front/back panels. I used the same papers, feathers, appliques, and "jewels" as the girls, plus some additional deco papers and photos of  to make this accordion pop-up book. 

This is the first in a series of books to be made in observance of Women's History Month. What better way to begin than with a group of queens making herstories out of the substance of their young, precious lives. What a keepsake!

Wk. 8, Book 8: Black History Month Box Book Part IV

Here's the final book in the Black History Month series, which I've titled simply "Black."  It is a tribute to the Black Arts era, the Black Power Movement, and all fabulous artists and leaders whose contributions to humankind and all posterity are as legendary as they are eternal. 

This box book is 4" x 4" x 4" and is made with poster board, paper, ribbon, beads, and metal. The crow card is from the Animal Medicine card deck by Jamie Sams. It was totally magical how the pieces of this box book came together in such a way to define the thematic focus. The silver ribbon handle makes it easy to carry the history, literally and figuratively. The black beads, brown paper and ribbon are affirmations that black is indeed beautiful in all its tones and hues. The silver metal pieces, silver paper strips, and beads all represent strength.  

I liked last week's accordion signature pages so much, that I used it again for this box book. But instead of adding text on each page, I left the pages blank to symbolize the history that is yet to be made and ending with the statement, "To be continued into infinity and beyond . . ."

This series was fun and challenging to create. I think Part II and Part IV will be in my upcoming show for sure. Maybe. I'm beginning to learn something about editing my selections. I'm beginning to learn. Thanks for your interest, and please FOLLOW this blog!

Wk. 7, Book 7: Black History Month Box Book Part III

My apologies for this late, drive-by post. I'm still getting caught up after the vow renewal ceremony. Anyway, here are the details.

This one is titled "Royalty: When We Were Kings, Queens, Emperors & Dukes" to pay homage to the African American greats of all ilks, professions, and expressions. The book is 4" H x 4" W x 3.90" D and is made of poster board and paper. The pics around the outside (covers) are postcards and original photos.

I created a long accordion fold signature to hold the text, that is, all the names of the "Royalty" I could think of.

Someone asked me if I make the boxes from scratch. Yes, I do. Now, on to the final book in this series.

Wk., 6, Book 6: Black History Month Box Book, Part II

i'm getting this book out late this week on account of my ongoing vow renewal ceremony, which the husband and i began on Sunday, Feb. 12th. so, this will be brief.

the second box book in the 2017 black history month series, titled "The Nadir," is 3 7/8" h x 4 1/4" w x 4 1/4"d. this book represents what many black historians refer to as the lowest point of the African American experience from approximately 1877 (after the reconstruction era) through the early 1900s--although that's arguable when we consider the last 17 years of the twenty-first century. the book is made of poster board, paper, leather, cowry shell, and bells. the bells are symbols of alarm and as well as reminders of what black people endured, experienced and embraced after enslavement. Those reminders are written around the outside covers of the book, including the Emancipation Proclamation; the 13th, 14th and 15th amendments; the rise of the KKK and other white supremacy organizations; lynchings; Jim Crow;  Plessy vs. Ferguson; Booker T. Washington; W. E. B. DuBois; Ida B. Wells; Madam C. J. Walker; the Great Migration; Marcus Garvey; race riots; and the 1919 Red Summer of Hate. When you lift the lid on this book, the text inside says it all.     

till next week, much love.

Wk. 5, Book 5: Black History Month Box Book, Part I

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My wise, old grandfather once said, "If they were teaching the truth in schools, we wouldn't need a Black History Month." True that, but until the history books are totally changed, it is up to parents, grandparents, guardians, conscious teachers, et al. to teach truth to the youth--and each other. 

For us Native, African, Latino, Asian, and European descendant citizens, this means we must go back to the genesis of this experiment called America and not only retell those stories we know so well, but do the work of uncovering stories and truths we have not wanted to face/know/explore for fear of the pain they hold. The Sankofa wisdom teaching tells us, however, that we MUST go back and reclaim our past so that we can consciously go forward. We must find the emotional courage to step into the fire of all that trauma and heal individually and collectively. Or, we will be destined to live "the fire next time" again and again.


This week's book provides a vehicle for us to reclaim bits and pieces of our homeland, the Middle Passage experience, and the inception of the transatlantic slave trade aka the African holocaust. It is the first in a series titled Black History Month Box Books.
The Part I box book is 4.25" x 3.90" x 4" and is made of poster board, paper, fabric, original photos, and an illustrated Raven from Medicine Cards by Jamie Sams and David Carson. 

I found an old prayer card from the OT book of Ecclesiastes 3:1. As hard as it may be to accept, perhaps there is a divine purpose to the season of enslavement our ancestors endured.



I remember standing at the threshold of a door of no return in a slave dungeon in Ghana and realizing our ancestors had not a clue of what they were coming to. Some of them had no concept of an ocean and certainly no concept of slavery as was practiced throughout the Caribbean and the antebellum south. There I stood, returned home after centuries of displacement, descendant of an ancestor who survived the Middle Passage, whose name I do not know but whose blood runs through my veins. That's a lot to reclaim--and forgive.

This is why I chose to place Raven atop the box, on its lid, because she is a messenger from the Spirit world; she brings healing energy, the "medicine of magic," and takes our prayers up on high. According to Jamie Sams and David Carson, ". . . realize that you will fear Raven only if you need to learn about your inner fears . . .". Her medicine is so necessary now for the healing of America. It is the key to the door of a room where all must come together, speak truth, cry, rage, accept our parts in the story, and gain the integrity required to move us all forward.

So what else do we need to reclaim? I put some prayer cards into this box as a reminder of how essential prayer was to the ancestors and how central prayer is to our healing process. I will continue to add those reclaimed pieces of our his/herstory to this box, for, like our individual and collective healing, this is a work in progress. I'd love to hear what you think/feel we need to add to his box.

Wk. 4, Book 4: Girls, Women, Ladies & Queens

This week's book is inspired by the Women's March of January 21, when a record number (est. @ 5 million) of women gathered around the world in protest of that which threatens to destroy our rights, our dignity, our planet, and the greater good of all peoples. 

I am reminded of the power I hold in my DNA as an African descendant woman. I am a descendant of angles and queens, the manifest vision of the 13 grandmothers of humanity. 

The book began with a 7 1/4" x 15 1/2" heavy glossy paper taken from a large magazine and folded in half, lengthwise, and then quarter-folded, which gave me 16 panels. I cut the middle fold along the lengthwise seam down to the last two panels and accordion folded the panels so that the center panel sticks out. 

Finally, I used  heavy weight poster boards for the covers, and to each of the 14 panels I added photos from an old calendar featuring women of Africa taken by photographers Carol Beckwith and Angela Lewis. The finished, folded size of the book is 3 3/4" x 4".

This book may be in my upcoming show, although it won't be for sale. I'm using it as a rich jewel for inspiration. I'm also inspired by the Stand Up/Stand N Rock official created by Hip Hop Caucus, Taboo, members of Black Eyed Peas, and other hip hop artists "in support of the Standing Rock Reservation and the Sioux Tribe, as they lead a peaceful, powerful, and diverse movement to stop the Dakota Access Pipeline." Check it out.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=292&v=Onyk7guvHK8

Wk. 3, Book 3: At The Ancestor Altar

This week's book was inspired by my initial reaction to the 2016 election results. I was depressed. Shortly thereafter, I posted on Facebook a "download" received while meditating on the future of America. This week's book is a postscript to that message.

"At the Ancestor Altar" is a 30 3/4" x 3 5/8", 8-panel accordion fold made with poster board, deco papers, beads, and natural fibers. Following is a pic of the first four panels.

I took these pics with my phone camera, so pardon the glare. My professional photographer will retake all pics of books to be included in my upcoming show, "33 Bookz Part II." Here are the last four panels:

I won't tell you what the text says in the book--you'll have to come to the show for that. I'll keep you posted on dates, location, etc.

This bookmaking process was a meditation that forced me to still my mind while my fingers worked and listen. Really listen. Are you listening?

America is on the precipice of something utterly extraordinary . . .

THE 2017 ART CHALLENGE

Well hello there bloggers, and happy belated New Year! Or "New You" depending on what you celebrate. It's been a while since my last post, and after considerable thought, I've decided to re-take the weekly bookmaking challenge. I have to admit, that 2015 challenge almost wore me out, although it was quite invigorating on many artistic levels. That's why I'm taking myself on (again).

Technically, since the new year began two weeks ago, I'm already two weeks behind. To rectify this situation, I'd like to submit a new memorabilia album completed during the first week of the year and my 2017 journal, which aren't originally made books, in that I didn't make the covers, bindings and pages, but rather re-purposed books. 

After 14 years of sorting and categorizing 2,000+ photographs inherited from my mother and taken over the years, I finally completed during the first week of January a massive 7-volume photo album project. But I didn't account for that one box of certificates, newspaper articles, wedding and retirement announcements--stuff that we tend to save along with pictures and family relics. And since all the other volumes were full, I created a special memorabilia album using a 3-ring binder and sheet protectors. A simple, functional, expandable re-purposed book to hold past and future relics that have no meaning to anyone except maybe moms and grandmothers. Like this certificate my eldest son, Yale, earned at age 5:

As for my 2017 journal, I stepped out of my 14" x 17" computation book comfort zone and decided to use an 8" x 6" spiral bound book that came with its own cover of yellow and pink roses (courtesy of my dear friend Miriam J.). My intention is to turn this simple, lined-page journal into an artbook with all kinds of interesting folds and pop-ups and redesigns. Re-purposed. 

Until next week, much love & ART!