Sleeping the Whole Time, a Mummy May awake

And Wish to be Surrounded by That Which is Familiar

you are the faint smell of thistle and shade; i will wash your skin in the unrecorded depths of the sinkhole beside the asylum

i always thought something without a heart was living there, beating the other species at their own game

last night i dreamed of you in the seat next to me

and it wasn't relief or shame that i felt, giving you a second chance

Meandering Impulses:

Efforts not worth detailing

Specimen for Errol

If I could make a place
Where the wonder of what's inside





Made everyone want to take a look
I'd give it to you inside a book





That you can open from time to time
To redefine the things inside







As creatures: friend or foe
Or as captive audience for your next show









To take along or leave behind
Or to be replaced with new things you find.

Organisms in Their Environments: The Documentation of Existence

Here is the story I wanted to tell, pictures and all.

This book is made from an old book, kraft paper, tracing paper, ink drawings, and collage. The illustrations are primarily from four books (Le Petit Buffon Illustre, Backyard Flowers, A Golden Guide: Ecology, and A Flower Book for the Pocket), collaged to create a place with which to identify the words (which may be taken as advice).

The quote from Richard Lewontin is taken out of its context, to kaleidoscope its possible meaning. It speaks of a thermometer which we can apply to our lives. If you are unhappy in your work, that must not be the work for you. Or if you're not very good at what you're working on, it's okay to move on. We've made it this far, we can't be doing so much wrong. But we've made it this far, because we've evolved. Why stop now?

The individual contains his personal evolution. And in order to thrive, must make his space personal. (Above page's text from Ecology.)









Applied to making this book for a new baby, it's a reminder to parents and child, alike. It's okay to let go, because although we inhabit each other's space at times, the line must be drawn at inhibiting another's space. Boundaries, too, are a part of space building, and I am not, by any means, saying we can do without them.









I am only trying to explain how ephemeral this concept, these walls, can and should be. How much of ourselves to implement, without imposing.










But my words are grains of salt. I've never been a parent. I've only had them. And they taught me these things; I don't know where else I could've gotten them.










I am not saying leave a space when it's uncomfortable. But know the capacity of your lungs for water and air.

A Golden Guide: Ecology lists the types of species interactions as follows: shade, fungi, growth inhibitors, predator and prey, competition, in symbiotic relationships, a give-and-take relationship, protective, and dependency

Those are classifications to keep in mind.

give-and-take
















fashion as space








shade
















A look at the full spread, with page number.






This page's text is a quote taken from A Golden Guide: Ecology. Although the rest of the text is my own (except page two, also from Ecology), the sentiment that spoke to me from this statement is too honest to neglect. There are many things it makes me think, so I will edit. At first, I hear something about being safe, and the dangers in remaining covered. Because I have negative connotations to the words persisted and isolation. At first, I feel a mediocre excuse coming on because persistence speaks of trying, failing, middle of the road to stay on course, safe. But I am wrong in my assumptions. Then I realize how beautiful the structure and concept of fossils are. This species, around for hundreds of thousands of years, could be mistaken for anachronisms in their isolation, their subtle existence, but they are role models of evolutionary excellence. What great advice I bet they have. For preservation is a creation...






I moved a year ago, and am about to move again. I am skeptical of myself. Because truly, if you are happy, shouldn't you be able to stay put, and regenerate yourself? Motion is inspiring, but is it cheating? People close to me questioned my motives for my last move, and the move I am about to make. The impression I get, is that they assume I am unhappy, and want to go get happy. I admit, there are times I feel stifled by places, and it may seem to correlate with longevity. I felt like I HAD to get out of Orlando, FL. So I came to Portland, because the 'stars' aligned, and I had a room in which to move. Things seemed to work out, but I don't believe in fate, so I must be self-directed, and looking for these 'opportunities'. I give great consideration to these matters, because I hate excuses. In truth, I see the pros and cons of a place after about eight months of living in it, but I don't consider objective critique adverse to loving and staying. When it comes down to it, I do what I feel I want. And I want, "to go do and see as many things as I possibly can in this life," as my grandfather once said of his life experiences. I can't dissect it more than to say, opportunity and experiences are the manifestations of our desires. (If you know what to do, then go do that). Ultimately, it is as I wrote. If motion is your happiness, make motion your home. An important footnote is to do it with care and consideration for those who love you.

The End, indeed. index.

Before It Is Bound: The Progress and Many Layers of the Baby Book

It started with an image for an invitation, turned into a collage, and an attempt at screen-printing...

The baby shower was fun, but my lack of organization as far as theme and lesson plan didn't turn out any prints.




In the process of learning image transfer methods, I decided to use my research and experiments, (in the vein of science), as the backdrops to the story. I started with one experimental page, and when it worked, went on to do the rest all at once.
I layered in the same manner. One experiment page, then the rest all at once. The transfers were made in the same fashion as the planner post, but there are three layers. All made on fabric, the first layer is an environment, and the transfer is made with gesso. The next two layers, starting with an animal, ending with a plant(hybrid/collage from A Flower Book For the Pocket and flowers from a children's gardening book), both made with Gel Gloss Medium (as pictured in the planner post). And a final layer of gel gloss medium to seal the page.


The final pieces to the book production were the cover and the text. I worked on the cover in and out of making transfers. The shell for the cover comes from a magical book I found a few years ago in Asheville, North Carolina, and held onto. I think I always pictured it for a child, because of its whimsy, but it had to contain a story, and the story had to correlate with the cover, without trying too hard.


The title and spine letters are partly from the insides of the original book and the rest of the letters from a typewriter. The title (Organisms in Their Environments) is inspired by an evolutionist, Richard Lewontin, who Richard Dawkins quotes in his book The God Delusion. In turn, I quote him, coming to many conclusions for myself, and hopefully giving some insight, open to much interpretation, by any individual who comes across it. Broadly, it comes to mean where you are when you read it. In the right place, at the right time, we are receptive to the most magic, with the most meaning.

On the final day, I sat down with the cover and pages, to write the text. The story is for August William Doe, as my advice on existing, inspired by the books I've recently read, and my own experience in being.