Prospectus.

Today would have been Christopher's 64th birthday! I thought I would let you know that there is a digital Prospectus about the Tribute book on the Yahoo Group site under "Files." With the invaluable help of Jake Benson the digital prospectus is online.

It can also be downloaded through the following links: Page 1 and Page 2

You can reach me at floatingcolors@att.net or amongbirds@gmail.com for a price quote or at I also have flowers available. Never forgotten and always missed.

Exhibitons and lectures

I am trying to figure out what to show and share next made me think of the lectures and exhibitions I was involved with after Christopher passed. Having been involved with designing his two books (sewing the miniature book), his lectures, slide shows etc. but not the actual marbling. That is also why I'm happy to have been able to do the Tribute book so soon after, remembering his dreams and showing his work. I felt like saying to him "See, I listened" though it would have been wonderful had he known other marblers to talk with but this didn't happen until two years before he passed.
Sometimes I try to focus just on my art work but I'm always drawn back to his work and also having made so many friends with Marblers' through the lectures the subject is often close. There have been articles (Ink & Gall) about the first Memorial exhibition in Feb. 1989. So now I want to sort my thoughts so not to repeat some things written and share with others who have not read about it. I have frustratingly reworked this entry with some exhibtion photos and the preview looked perfect, the posting didn't. I will try another time.
The above photo is from the Newsletter O.I.C.Research Centre for Islamic History, Arts and Culture
August 1998, No.46 A slide lecture I gave at the centre in Istanbul in connection to the Exhibition at Ebristan

Appreciation

I often think of what might be interesting to other marblers' about Christopher's work because so much has been shown or written about in a few books and publications. However, I can say when the mood strikes me and I look at some of the papers in my collections I always feel admiration of the beauty and remembering the years of his experimenting with the medium, the challenges with the colors, paper and size. Being in contact with quite a few marblers who have become my friends over the years is a constant joy but in my heart I am a little sad that so few had met him in person. I have friends who feel they met him but then realize they hadn't but my talking about him made them feel that way for just a moment. Sometimes I come across a piece like the one above and it's not to my taste but when I look at it again years later I can see his movement with the owl through each flower and leaves rather than the use of a comb and I see it with different eyes. It looks simple enough and yet I can imagine Chris doing it, learning.
I had a P.S. to this entry some hours later: it seems like once you post an entry your mind keeps remembering, wanting to share more. I guess this is okay with a blog, that's what it is all about, telling and sharing however much if it feels right. The paper below I immediately loved.

Greetings

Do to computer problems I'm unable to do much on the blog at this time but will return hopefully early next year. While it's functioning I want to take the opportunity to wish everyone a nice holiday and best wishes for the new year. Kind regards, Ingrid

From my personal keepsakes

These pieces are again experiments for personal use and I have to ask for his forgiveness showing them but it shows how Christopher wanted to express what he saw in nature and how it inspired him. I think the beauty, besides the hard work is that marbling has the magic of nature. Growing up near a river and seeing it flow and the constant changes reminds me of the floating colors on size.

Here on the piece to the left the leaves are incredibly delicate; clicking on an image will enlarge most of them. At first, for so many years, it was his only goal to achieve marbled papers for binders to use but as I stated before it was impossible to produce in an apartment and there was no money to rent a studio.

I think about you Marblers as I share this because you may see into the heart of Christopher's workings so very private really. Hearing from you that you appreciate my blog makes me continue with enthusiasm.

Main Ingredient

What was it I was wondering that made Chris go on for years despite so many obstacles and failures and I suddenly realized he got the wish he had expressed when we met in Munich. With as little English as I understood he had said he couldn't promise me anything, no riches, nor did he know where he was going but that he wanted to work with his hands. Now I realize that it was exactly what he enjoyed the most, the preparation of the materials for marbling. A two day process of preparing the papers, another day for mixing colors and the next for the size, most of the years it was Guar gum, not exactly an easy process. I will write about his use of the size soon. I loved watching him work. To support the cost of materials he did restoration work that he also taught himself and was very good at. So the main ingredient for all of it was learning, patience, hard work and the challenge of it. Because of his youthful looks he wasn't trusted so most of the time he had a middle man to get the work and yet his workmanship was known.

People would bring pieces as you can see in the upper photo and the repaired piece below:Mayan from the May Collection of St.Louis, Terra Cotta, under 2 feet. I just wanted to share another part of Christopher aside from marbling.

A Marbler's quest

Christopher tried to understand all aspects of the use of marbling in the past and present. Having done several books and one by me, the Tribute to his work and life as well as some articles I do not want to repeat myself with this blog. Perhaps I might write about what I remember of the size he used most of his marbling years: guar gum. It was mainly cost that made him find the size for the many years of experimenting, not to mention the cost of paper, color and water. Above a piece of calligraphy by Christopher.

And here to the left a stenciled piece by him and on the right a stenciled rose, as always just experimenting, not meant for sale or showing really.

So that you know I'm still thinking of adding more I wanted to share a few pieces.