Make a small book. Start with the cover, taking a drawing or painting or photograph for your visual material. For the words on the first page, use a grocery list fron the last time you went to the market. Let that book grow--one thing leading to another--until the last page, which will contain a few lines of poetic insight (from an anthology of poetry, or song lyrics). See how the cover photo (or other graphics evolved to the final words. Just let it happen.
As you make the book, keep a list of the relationships and connections that happen. Things will come together that you never planned. There will be connections between paper and thread, glue and poetry. Keep lists of things that strike you as funny, improbable, or downright silly. Respect details. Make and move on. Don't wait for inspiration. Just do it.
from Learning by Heart, by Corita Kent
(click cover to see rest of book)
Posted by kerismith at July 08, 2005 01:34 PMlovely idea. can't wait to see where it leads me.
Posted by: andrea j on July 13, 2005 10:15 PMThis sounds like an interesting project. I am going to try it out.
Posted by: Lu on July 11, 2005 10:33 AMhello! very pretty book. all of your collages are inspiring. you have a interesting way of developing something extremely creative from sources that i wouldn't expect to be attention-grabbing. i smiled as i saw some lyrics to "such great heights," particularly because at the moment i was listening to an iron and wine song.
by the way, kind of off-topic, but i'm curious: do you like the postal service version or the iron and wine version better?
i wish you a relaxing weekend and i hope that when you next visit the post-office you've got a letter from a friend (which i think is one of the best gifts in the world).
Posted by: lyns on July 8, 2005 08:44 PMbeautiful, inspiring. i find your collages to be brimming with life. i love to look at them. and i love the idea of this project, of trusting process to reveal something true that we might otherwise have missed. thank you for sharing this.
Posted by: tracy on July 8, 2005 07:49 PMLovely book...I needed that bit of inspiration to work on mine today. :)
Posted by: Swirly on July 8, 2005 06:47 PM