Because We Care

Oh Boy, what a week we have for you. Let's get started with the next installment of what we here at P.I.T. like to call...


Artist of the Week


Julie Chen


<------ I think this is her preparing for an odd masonic ritual.

Unlike last weeks artist, Julie Chen is still alive and kicking. She is the proprieter of Flying Fish Press http://www.flyingfishpress.com/ and an active instructor at Mills College in sunny Oakland, California as well as a teacher of workshops around the nation. (Maybe even the world!!! Also maybe not. I really don't know.)

Flying Fish Press was started in 1987 and while it currently is used solely as an imprint for her own work has, in the past, been known to publish collaborations with artists such as Nance O’Banion, Lois Morrison, and Barb Tetenbaum. That means 20 years as a successful Artist's Books Publisher. (Perhaps supplemented slightly by teaching.)

Chen is known for her high regard to craft, typography, and the book as a three dimensional object that is meant to be viewed sculpturally as well as being handled. (The way any naughty book should be) My understanding (potentially made up) is that she produces approximately one-two books a year in an edition of anywhere from 10 to 150. (Although it appears to have a pretty hefty average of 100.)

The "Spark" (don't ask) has this to say about her "Chen works like a conceptual artist, allowing an idea to determine its form and content. Her book forms reflect the variety of concepts that fascinate her, including language, history, memory and time. Every element -- structure, shape, color, material -- is in symbiotic relationship with the concept. To read one of Chen's books is to engage with a complete, discrete experience that is simultaneously literary and sculptural."

Like before here are some images of her books.

The Veil (2001)

Personal Paradigm (2004)

Leavings (1997)

Full Circle (2006)

For a detailed description of the content of these and most of her other books please check out the website link above and head to the Gallery page.

*note* despite popular belief this is not the host of the popular "Big Brother" series. Sorry everybody.




Hey Have You Heard This?

Young Master Meador doing what he does best.
http://www.bookarts.ua.edu/podcast/011406meador.mp3


P.I.T. Won Some Awards

Seriously, we just found out that we won "Best New Student Organization" and "Most Productive Organization" It was a surprise and we are really honored. It is great to be recognized by others for our hard work. So good job every last one of you. Without everybody's support this would not have happened.

So now you may be asking yourself "Self? What did we win?" Ooooooooohhhhh let me show you the prizes.

Award for Most Active Student Organization (Leadership is usually in brilliant gold - i guess gold does not translate on my scanner)

Award for Most Outstanding New Student Organization (again with the lack of gold flavor)

Young Captain Tommy models our awarding winning size small Columbia College Chicago T-Shirt and psychodelic senior year picture background

Spaghetti shows what's it like to be so write and so wrong with our fancy Student Leadership Recognition Pen

Spaghetti reading our prize book - Mitch Albom's The Five People You Meet In Heaven - (first off this is a weird prize, secondly there is no mention of Natalie Portman in the book so it is false advertising, and thirdly Spaghetti looooooooooooooooved it!)

Congratulations again to everyone for this unexpected and fairly exciting achievement.

(additional note) I've been thinking about this and I think the shirt represents pulp, the pen represents ink, and the book stands for thread. how about that, huh? how about that?

Other TidBits

- This weekend Liz Wolf and Jill Lanza will have their editions showcased at the Powell's booth at Art Chicago in the Merchandise Mart.

- Joseph Lappie has a suite of prints and a book represented at the AI gallery (booth 8) and Alumna Aimee Lee has work on display at the Orleans Street Gallery (unknown booth #) at the Bridge Art Fair in the building directly next door to the Merchandise Mart.

- Thesis Opening is this Friday. Pictures to follow.

- We are trying to compile a list of Grad, Alum, Faculty, Staff Websites. If you have one send it to us at pulpinkthread@yahoo.com

Until next time, sleep well little kiddies.