Thirteen members recently participated in our second annual snail mail print & paper exchange around the optional theme of Architecture. We encouraged participants to create their pieces using any type of technique and format. No size or material restrictions as long as the items could be sent through the mail. The prints created are wonderful and varied, in style, approach, and medium, and made for a really fun exchange. Keep en eye out for future exchanges and new themes!
If you’d like to see last year’s print exchange, click here.
Barbara Hebard: I liked the architectural theme of this Print and Paper Exchange because I work on a campus filled with beautiful Collegiate-Gothic buildings. The Bapst Building, which houses the John J. Burns Library, has a lovely tower. First, I thought that the tower would be my theme for this project, but then decided the labyrinth located on the lawn would be a better choice. I view it through the window in my conservation lab.
The labyrinth, modeled after the well-known labyrinth set within the Chartres Cathedral, was installed in memory of the Boston College alumni who died in the September 11 terrorist attacks. Daily people of all ages walk the labyrinth and meditate. Some place flowers along the outer perimeter. The introductory plinth, adjacent to my window, has a base-relief brass scale model of the labyrinth as a decorative element.
On a cold, windy day early in February, I made 13 wax rubbings on the paper of the model labyrinth for us to share. Please come and walk on the Memorial Labyrinth the next time you are in Boston!
Dawn Walus: A Chippendale side chair in the collection at the Boston Athenaeum, circa 1765-1775, made in Massachusetts, possibly Salem. According to a letter written on April 28, 1896, the chair has long been preserved in the family of Sylvanus Gray (nephew of Hon. William Gray) whose second wife was Abby Lee, daughter of Joseph Lee, son of Col. Jeremiah Lee. The chair was supposedly used by Gen. George Washington on his visit to Marblehead.
Martha Kearsley: My print highlights an ampersand from my wood type collection that I’ve always admired but never used or proofed. It seems like this ampersand is doing a lot more work than the other ones I’ve come across, and I wanted to pay tribute to its grace, enthusiasm, and flexibility. I thought it best to frame it with a couple handsome borders and a banner proclaiming its meaning with letters from the alphabet. The size of the print lent itself neatly to a small greeting card format, and may in fact be prove to be inspiration for a series of cards highlighting good-looking, hard-working, and well-intentioned punctuation from my type collection.
Sarah Pike: The image is laser engraved leather with laser engraved debossment.
New England GBW 