on the menu: broiled paper?

assignment 1: altering the surface of paper

in that attempt, this morning I tried to "broil" (literally in the oven!)
a sheet of Rives BFK paper. I kept watch over it, with a
pitcher of water at hand, just in case. It didn't look like anything was
happening, and I flipped it over and over, hoping it wouldn't burst
into flames (although secretly hoping that something really exciting
would happen). As you can see, it did change the color....but
needed a little char on the edges.
I then was excited to continue altering surfaces, and sewed (with and
without thread), punched (there were a few hanging chads that I left
for a while, then changed my mind....don't we wish someone in
Florida could have just "changed their minds?"), and shredded.
I love the shredded look, only wish I could have done it without
having to fold the sheet....it left a slight crease. I also like the
scraped piece....will do some more of that with other tools. (I used
a piece of rusted metal to scrape, and also to do the rubbing.)
I can begin to see some small folded booklets, using these sheets as
the cover.

scraping the surface

I have been so excited about the "art of the book" class,
happy to be exposed to new ideas, knowing I will be
challenged to be more conceptual and not so literal in
the making of my art.
Today finally got here, having been marked on my calendar with a
big red circle for the past 6 weeks. I have spent the past few
days gathering the tools, choosing the container, and mapping
the route to the classroom.
I got up a lot earlier than I needed, and, realizing that I was the
first one to arrive, circled the complex of buildings for at least
10 minutes.
In the studio, a dozen students (most 40 years junior to me) who
will spend the next 12 weeks learning to relate form, material,
text and image in the design of traditional and non-traditional
book formats, sat around the tables. I felt like I was the only
one who was enthusiastic....maybe it was too early for them?
The class will be demanding of both time and energy. If I had forgotten,
this was apparent with the handouts: syllabus, materials list,
reading list, and assignments.
Our first assignment is to alter the surface of 25 sheets of paper,
potentially to be used in the production of a book. Burn, tear,
emboss.....wet, sand, puncture....and I have only "scratched the surface."
So all afternoon my thoughts have revolved around how to come up with 25
ways to change the surface. I rubbed a rusted metal scrap on
a piece, was a little disappointed with the result.
One down, 24 to go.