True Colors - The Giveaway

I hope you have enjoyed seeing True Colors through the eyes of the creators. I have never dedicated so many posts on so many days to a single topic before. But to me, True Colors is worthy of the stage. The project, the book, and the participants all represent a moment in time that was original, unique, and endlessly inspiring. I thank all the artists for trusting me and allowing me to share with you all their personal thoughts and reflections.

Before The Altered Page moves on however, I would like to give you the opportunity to experience True Colors first hand. And that means a giveaway! I have one copy of the book to offer to one lucky reader. All you have to do is leave a comment on this post by the end of day on Saturday May 22. I will announce the winner Sunday May 23, when The Book Guild returns to its regularly scheduled programming. And make sure to stop by next Sunday for the opportunity to win one of two books in a whole new Book Guild giveaway.  See you there!

True Colors - Linn Jacobs

TRUE COLORS

Linn Jacobs

Yellowgreen & Copper

Of the fifteen original participants in True Colors, it is with sadness that I need to say that one of these gifted artists, Linn Jacobs, is no longer with us. Two of her friends from the project generously shared some thoughts about Linn.

_______________
Lynne Perrella
A Remembrance of Linn Jacobs

When it comes to Mail Art and Collaborations, I feel like one of the dinosaurs. When I recently looked through a big trunk in our guest room, full-to-brimming with Mail Art, it was like time travel at its best. Imagine? – a whole community of artists exchanging Artwork through the Mail…..before computers!

Linn and I knew a lot of the same people in Correspondence and Book Arts but had never actually connected. It was like being part of the same solar system, but spinning in different orbits. Luckily, I ended up being in an art exchange with Linn’s daughter Lesley, and that opened the door to all of us getting acquainted – not only through sharing art, but also meeting at Artfest for a few memorable years. One of my favorite remembrances is having both mother and daughter in my classes, on different days, and seeing their strong shared affinity for lavish crisp color. Hand either of them a checkerboard stencil, or a piece of sequin scrim, and just stand back!

Linn was a masterful quote wrangler, as well as an inveterate list-maker. Many-if-not-all of her True Colors pages included long slender tags of hand-made or specialized papers, inscribed with her distinctive rounded hand-writing. The tags listed……things that are White, the colors of Fall, the shades of a sunset. Always with graceful strands of silky threads and fibers to hold them in place…..Very Linn. I always featured her, sitting at her art table writing out each tag, working fast to keep up with her quick playful mind – and then looking up and finding dozens of tags – and then turning those over to use the backs, too.

More, more, and more. Always more. I wish we had more time with Linn – more time to enjoy her warm generous spirit, her kind heart, her huge talent, and her way with words. She contributed so much to our group, and we’ll remember her always.

_______________
Marylinn Kelly
For Linn Jacobs

Not trusting my memory, I did a bit research in the TC text to be certain: yes, Linn Jacobs' Yellowgreen and Copper journal was the first one I received. My paragraph there tells how I began to feel my way into our exchange and, toward the end of the project, with the experience of many contributions achieved, eventually asked for the opportunity to rework my pages in her book.

Throughout the process, Linn and I emailed each other frequently and had a few chances to speak on the phone. Linn was generously open to my recounting of family lore, particularly as it involved my artist mother and her influence on my eccentric passions. We had a connection that touched lightly on challenges we both faced, yet the volume, the real substance, of our traded stories was optimism, a state about which I am not confused: it absolutely is a gift.

I feel we shared a view of life that always reminded there was good in everything. This was a woman who wrote in the introduction to her journal, "I love boggy places." Looking today at the pages she created for Sunset, I find in her circle/spiral motifs an expression of wholeness, completeness, overlaid by bright tendrils, rays of the sun that eventually reach every corner. The words that passed between us, her unmistakable joy of each moment, are treasured pieces of the light she embodied.

True Colors - Nina Bagley

TRUE COLORS

Nina Bagley
Metallics

it is a beautiful spring day, one in a series of beautiful days, and i woke up this morning feeling that it was time to sit and write about my True Colors experience. truth be told, i wasn't able to keep up with the regime all the way to the very end, as others did; yet, the group stalwartly and kindly continued to send my big ol' journal of Metallics (dubbed by Lynne as Heavy Metal, it is ENORMOUS...what was i thinking?!) around until everyone had done a page or two in it.

my format was unusual: at the time, i was quite taken with the notion of black pages, and found a huge old antique relic of a book on ebay that was originally something in which to tuck one's postcard collection. back in those times, 100 years ago, folks sent lots of mail to one another - postcards were a quick and visual way to stay in touch, and this behemoth had little corner slits in various places on each big, black page. the cover is embossed, heavy to be sure - black - and i set about attaching a lot of metal trims to both front and back. why metal? i'm a jewelry designer, have worked extensively in mixed media, and felt that the dimensions and tones of metal would be in keeping with the rest of my work.

back in the mid 1990's, when i was still attending the new york wholesale gift shows, a fellow jeweler friend took me down to a wonderful little shop in soho that specialized in metal trim - enormous rolls of it, like the sort you used to find on lampshades and such. i found a lovely length of silver toned trim with a pointed, crown-like design, and attached strips of it all around the front in a sort of "frame". i then glued a grid of round glass and metal tin lids with little findings behind them. finally, i hammered the words "True Colors" and the year - 2001 (that long ago?!) into two strips of brass, and wired those to the front.

i just got out the measuring tape and am amazed at how big this book actually is, that i was so stupid as to think it would be convenient for the entire group to mail back and forth across this great big country: 10" x 15", with a spine six inches thick!!! but everyone was a true trooper, and the results are incredible.

what i love about this collaboration most of all, in retrospect, is that it formed a bond amongst the 15 artists that is still there today; our "leader", lynne perrella, still sends out group letters to us all that will trigger responses from quite a few of us in return. we talk of art, and food, and books, and museum visits, we remember childhood stories, childhood dreams. even today lynne sent out a letter talking about housecleaning, purging, airing things for spring and how good all of that feels.

i'm not the best at joining clubs, at deadlines, at rules or guidelines, anything like that; i never have been. consider me a good example of the proverbial wallflower. but this project, along with another i did with 24 fellow artists about self portraits that teesha moore organized, is something in which i'll always be honored and grateful to have been included. the artwork is phenomenal; there are pages that i'd love to cut out and hang on the wall, but i don't dare ruin the collective format within those heavy pages.

it feels a little like everything we did is now sacred, if that makes sense - the time spent on those varied journals was intense and inspiring, and very much treasured by all who were involved. obviously, its format, its concept, spoke to a lot of people when the book came out, and it was fun to see how different collaborations sprang off of that notion of working with one specific color scheme.

lynne is one amazing woman (we took to calling her The Prism, for her sage wisdom and guidance of our many colored ways); she has wisely guided and helped many of us throughout the years, urged us to go beyond our safety zone, made me sit back and think what i could do to express myself in a format that would be shared by many. the work i did - the detail, the emotion - is something that amazes me still.

it was fun getting out the Behemoth just now (heaving it off the shelf is no easy feat!), dusting off the cover and all those little round lenses of glass to see what was held inside. i wish i could have each and every one of you pick it up, feel its weight, turn the pages and watch the sunlight glimmer on the different metal details held there on its pages. Fellow True Colors participants, i send my humblest gratitude out to you all over again, along with a great big hug.

xo nina bagley
http://www.ornamental.typepad.com/

True Colors - Sarah Fishburn/Keely Benkey

TRUE COLORS

Sarah Fishburn
Red

To whom it may concern:

I would love to help create an ad campaign for your unparalleled and seminal 2003 book True Colors.

I {literally} have more ideas than you can shake a palette, or more precisely, a brush, at!

Here are a few of my notes, just in case:

True Colors: Kinda like an encyclopedia, but better.
True Colors: It's got Poetry, it has Imagery...what more can One Girl need?
Tru{e Color}th vs. Fiction: Watch {stunned} as the color wheel takes down all comers.

Bodice ripper, anyone?
Read the sordid tale of Violet, who slept with Yellow, when really in her heart, she loved only Green...

Appropriated, and altered {appropriately, from Yellow Submarine}:
Red, orange, green, oc-h-re, can I have a little more,
Blue, white, black, turquoise, tan I love you.

Also appropriated, altered, and especially for Lisa Hoffman:
She's a little bit Aqua and a little bit Forest Floor.

Or, especially in honor of Lynne Perrella, Teesha Moore, and Linn Jacobs:
Come White, come Hot Pink, come Yellowgreen & Copper - to the Greatest Show on Earth!

Ala Fiddler on the Roof:
A little bit of this, a little bit of that, a leaf, a twig, Metallics, a cat...
What do we leave? Nothing much - only Green and Se-pia...

Maybe a hologrammed Audrey Hepburn, perched waifishly in her Breakfast at Tiffany's window,
singing wistfully to the tune of Moon River:
"Blue & Och-re, dark-er than A-qua..."

These are only the tip of the iceberg...

Respectfully,
Anne {"Out of Control"} Copywriter

Please contact me to discuss further before Sunset, or at least by Autumn, at the following:

Sarah Fishburn
http://www.sarahfishburn.com/

Sarah, Lisa H. and Monica at book signing

And Sarah adds that her favorite line from True Colors is in the Tip & Techniques section on page 274...

#1 Adopt this philosophy: When it comes to art journals, anything worth doing is worth overdoing!
_______________

Keely Barham Benkey
Black

Written by Lynne Perrella

The Art Bar in California hosted a True Colors event, and many of us travelled there to teach and participate in a wonderful Panel Discussion; also attended by many of the editorial staff of Stampington, including publisher Kellene Giloff and Kathy Bold, the editor of True Colors.

I think, BEST of all, was the chance to see all of the True Colors journals in one place, at one time. The organizer of the event, Nicole Steinam, thoughtfully gave all of us an extra hour to be alone with the journals, before the public arrived for the Panel Discussion. I don't think I will ever forget the scene of seeing all the attending artists circling the journals, lost in appreciation and exclaiming over all the details or a new-to-them page. It was a total love fest. For many of us, it was the chance to see how a journal had turned out - perhaps one we had worked on in the earliest stages.

Keely generously invited all of us to her home one evening, for a beautiful dinner party with delicious Mexican food and other homemade treats; and we had the joy of meeting her family and being surrounded by her wonderfully artistic decor. Keely had transformed her living room into an art room, and the results were spirited and beautiful. As soon as we entered her home, we were literally surrounded by her whimsical and colorful works of art, perfectly arranged - almost like being in a Keely Gallery.

As Keely busied herself with the dinner preparations, we were all
invited to take a seat and make ourselves at home. Lisa Hoffman and I noticed that each of the dining tables had a centerpiece consisting of a wooden bowl full of AMAZING small dolls, each one dressed in stunning colorful costumes. Obviously, a bonanza of Keely artwork. We carefully looked at the dolls, exclaiming and marveling -- when Keely appeared at the doorway. "Oh! You've found YOUR dolls!" she said, with an ear-to-ear grin. OUR dolls!?!?

In a customary gesture of over-the-top generousity, Keely had literally created a doll for each of us, according to our True Colors color-of-choice. There was a doll for each of us. Mine has a halo of white maribou feathers surrounding the face, and the body of the doll is covered in a white-on-white damask fabric, with an off-white canvas printed tape, and a tiny white-washed wooden dollhouse fence.

Everytime I look at it, I think of Keely and the wonderful True Colors event and how marvelous it was to finally meet some of the artists for the first time -- and to reconnect with other longtime friends.

Written by Lynne Perrella

Keely Barham Benkey
http://straystitches.typepad.com/

True Colors - Teesha Moore/Monica Riffe

TRUE COLORS

Teesha Moore
Hot Pink & Orange

The first thing I think about when True Colors is mentioned is that Helena Bonham Carter reportedly ordered the book (through stampington). I thought that was pretty cool and reminded me about the ability to reach people with our art that we would never dream possible.

The 2nd thing that comes to mind is pink and orange. I will forever be associated with those two colors in the minds of the readers. For a long time I got a lot of pink and orange art from readers which was super fun. The most amazing thing to me is that after all these years I still get SO many people who still rave about the book. And, usually without fail, when I am in a public gathering of artists, I have at least one person who has the true colors book and wants me to sign my page.

I miss those days when I was more involved with collaborative projects. That group was the best. They made me try harder. I went through a lot of self exploration on those pages. It was frustrating because for some odd reason I thought I had to make art in the style of the artist who I was working on. Once I gained a little more self confidence in my own style and realized that they want MY art and not a reproductions of their own, something clicked with me that still remains an important lesson.

It was a stepping stone in my life...one of many...that made it easy to help inspire people to be more creative and I am grateful to everyone who was involved in it to make it happen. That book has a lot of good energy about it and that is the reason it is still being discussed and leafed through.

Teesha Moore
http://www.teeshaslandofodd.com/1/temp.html
http://teeshascircus.blogspot.com/
_______________

Monica Riffe
Green

“I think about color all the time, do you?...do you want to do a project around color?” ---Responding with a 'YES!' to that email from Lynne Perrella was the domino that started a chain reaction of good fortune and involvement with a fabulous group of artists that has lasted a decade or more.

Through mail art exchanges in the 90's I became acquainted with a third of the true color artists. I still have all of their art cards and the richly embellished envelopes they sent me back in the day. Those alone would be fodder for a fabulous book!

What took the True Colors collaboration to a level beyond simply mail art was all of our communication via emails. Receiving a box in the mail with a new journal was amazing, but getting to know the people behind the art was the true gem. Then the Alphabetica art journal collaboration followed on the heels of True Colors, and between just those two projects, we had years of bonding over the internet. (The chatty-ness of this group is not to be underestimated!)

When the True Colors book came out, I was disappointed that some of my favorite work by the other artists didn’t make the cut for publication. There were so many wonderful pieces that will remain unseen by the masses, and that is a pity.

I feel so fortunate to have been along for the ride! Getting to play with this group of women was a lucky thing indeed. The fact that several of the True Colorists went on to write other books, and that my work was included in those books, feels like a double prize. Most of all, I am very grateful for the friendships gleaned from our collaborative connections.

I remain the only True Colorist who doesn't have a website, or much of a cyber presence, but I have been contacted via email by those who said they saw my work in True Colors. I was surprised when two students from England asked to interview me for school projects they were doing. I was honored to help them out, and hope they got an 'A'!

Monica Riffe

True Colors - Anne Bagby/Karen Michel

TRUE COLORS

Anne Bagby
Violet & Orange

True colors: a memorable trip

The true colors swap was my first big swap and the beginning of my work in Collage. It seemed like a very charged experience to me. It was obvious that the other artists were quite skilled and working hard AND experienced collage artists. I didn’t want to embarrass myself. I found it very hard to complete my work in the time allowed. I would plan what I wanted to do in the next book, but when it arrived it wouldn’t fit. Some books I just loved while others were a struggle from start to finish.

I wasn’t very concerned with the work the other artists were doing in my book (because I was so wrapped up in my work and how it looked) so I was surprised with my emotional response when it arrived at my house at the end of the swap. I loved it and I have to admit, every time I sent it off, first to Somerset Studio and then to California, I worried about it. It is so delicate; I don’t think it could stand another trip.

One of the nicest things about this swap was slowly getting to know Michelle Ward. She was right before me on the list and mailed the books to me. I first got to know her from her work, which was great. Every book she sent me had a little piece of art for me, too. (One was a beautiful leaf/tag, which I treasure.) She was the one that finished off my three little books, added the scent of violets and sent them home. Our friendship is one of the best things about the swap. You can always count on Michelle for enthusiasm and for working on something new and fun. This Christmas we chased each other with cell phones in the middle of the mobs of people in New York as we tried to meet up and see the Bergdorf windows. My plane had been late but she insisted I run over and see them. She started out as just a name in the true colors swap, but when it was over she was a friend. Thanks for everything Michelle!

There were lots of names in the group that became friends. I always appreciated Lynne having faith enough in me to include me in the group. After it was over I felt like I had run a marathon. I sat out the Alphabetica swap and caught my breath.

Anne Bagby
http://www.annebagby.com/
_______________

Karen Michel
Violet & Green

The TC project was a real joy for me, it was exciting to receive all the new journals each month and get to know everyone in the project who became dear friends still to this day. I had the honor to have all the journals at our art center during a book art exhibition I put together which is still archived online here.

Locals still ask me about it! Seeing all the journals together was magical, I imagined them all having conversations with each other when the lights were out for the evening, telling their stories of travel.

It is also an honor to be able to reflect on the project and remember the experience we got to share with Linn Jacobs who has since passed away, who was such an amazing and wonderful woman, she lives on through her artwork and the TC book.

This book was an important landmark on my journey as an artist and has certainly contributed to the artist I am today. A big thanks goes to Lynne Perrella for doing putting it all together into book form.

Karen Michel
http://www.karenmichel.com/

True Colors - Lisa Hoffman/Judi Riesch

TRUE COLORS

Lisa Hoffman
Forest Floor
Aqua

T   R   U   E        C   O   L   O   R   S

The first project of it's kind, and the World of Visual Journaling was never to be the same.

Rare opportunity to participate in a beautifully organized and smoothly run project.

Up to that point, most of the artists were unacquainted. We completed this "event" with life-long friendships.

Even now, we all receive mail from fans the World over. Our intention was to have fun and inspire. Mission accomplished.

Continued requests for the very large body of work that compiles THE UNPUBLISHED PAGES. Will the publisher respond? Send letters to Stampington!

On the first of the month, we would start to visualize and plan our pages for the next, incoming book.

Lots of sighs and swooning by email as the books arrived each month and we built our pages and our friendships.

Ongoing gratitude to Lynne Perrella for her brilliant idea, Michelle Ward for her Mad Organizational Skills and Stampington for taking the publishing plunge.

Ready to re-group and do TRUE COLORS TWO. Is the World ready?

So long to Linn Jacobs. Her passing left a significant void in this Beautiful and Rare group. We Love and miss you, Sweet, Sweet Lady.

Lisa Hoffman
http://www.lisahoffman.typepad.com/
_______________

Judi Riesch
Sepia

If I create from the heart, nearly everything works; if from the head, almost nothing. Marc Chagall

Spring 2001..........from the day this project began, till the finished journals arrived home again in the fall of 2002, it became clear to me that TRUE COLORS had a heart......a live, beating heart that was the true center of this amazing collaboration. Through frequent emails we plotted, planned, researched, and explored as each book came our way. Remembering my thoughts in the TRUE COLORS book, "Each book's arrival was truly an event. Occasionally I would tear open the box before the postman drove away, but more often than not I would wait until later, using the unveiling as a treat or incentive to stay on task during the day. With coffee or wine in hand, I would savor each and every detail of the journals."

Working in my colleagues books never felt like a job to complete. Adding to the book became a unique challenge for each of us to listen to the heart and soul of the work that came before us. Entries were a labor of love planned and executed with enthusiasm and authenticity, using details personalized for each participant and their "chosen" color. The focus was on freely creating....................publication was never discussed till near the conclusion of the collaboration.

As the project grew over the months, it's heart grew as well. It spilled over with lessons learned, fresh ideas, new friendships and a deepened respect between 14 artists who became a part of this living, breathing project. This "heart" still beats today in each of the women who shared a piece of themselves in this collaboration, and of course in the TRUE COLORS book that tells their heartfelt story.

Judi Riesch
http://www.itsmysite.com/judiriesch/