Please see side bars for artist books/book art resources

Please see side bars for artist books/book art resources, twitter.com/rareautumn for current, or rareautumn.com for works - this page is on extended hiatus...

Glad midsommar!

'Fairy of Midsummer' by Elsa Beskow (1874-1953) from pinterest.

Glad midsommar! (Happy Midsummer!).


"In modern Sweden, Midsummer's Eve and Midsummer's Day (Midsommarafton and Midsommardagen) [...] is arguably the most important holiday of the year, and one of the most uniquely Swedish in the way it is celebrated, even if it has been influenced by other countries long ago.

The main celebrations take place on the Friday, and the traditional events include raising and dancing around a huge maypole. One typical dance is the frog dance. Before the maypole is raised, greens and flowers are collected and used to cover the entire pole.

Raising and dancing around a maypole (majstång or midsommarstång) is an activity that attracts families and many others. People dancing around the pole listen to traditional music and many wear traditional folk costumes. The year's first potatoes, pickled herring, sour cream, and possibly the first strawberries of the season are on the menu. Drinking songs are also important at this feast, and many drink heavily.

Because Midsummer was thought to be one of the times of the year when magic was strongest, it was considered a good night to perform rituals to look into the future. Traditionally, young people pick bouquets of seven or nine different flowers and put them under their pillow in the hope of dreaming about their future spouse. In the past it was believed that herbs picked at Midsummer were highly potent, and water from springs could bring good health. Greenery placed over houses and barns were supposed to bring good fortune and health to people and livestock; this old tradition of decorating with greens continues, even though most don't take it seriously."

To learn more about the Swedish Midsummer traditions continue reading here or here for example.

Shine On - World Book Night 2015

Shine on for World Book Night, 2015.

See my contribution - snow - here (and in the film). Project info here and here.

Description:

A film of miniature models made in response to Stephen King’s book, The Shining. Filmed for World Book Night, 2015.

Model Makers: Mette-Sofie D. Ambeck, Craig Atkinson, Sarah Bodman, Angie Butler, Si Butler, Nancy Campbell, Anna Cooper, Jeremy Dixon, Lilla Duignan, Sara Elgerot/Rare Autumn, Su Fahy, Hazel Grainger, Charlotte Hall, Paul Laidler, Pauline Lamont-Fisher, Gwen Simpson, Simon Smith, Tom Sowden, Angela Thames, Elisabeth Tonnard, Stephanie Turnbull, Corinne Welch, Linda Williams, Philippa Wood, Clare Wyatt.

Set build: Si Butler

Background: Sarah Bodman, Angie Butler

Set assemblers: Sarah Bodman, Angie Butler, Lilla Duignan, Tom Sowden

Filming: Tom Sowden

Photography for book: Paul Laidler [book to come]

Rest in Peace Tomas Tranströmer

"Through his condensed, translucent images, he gives us fresh access to reality."

Vila i frid. Rest in peace.

More here, here, here, here, here and here for example.

International Women's Day

'A girl should be two things: who and what she wants.' - Coco Chanel.

Link, link, link.

Rest in Peace Leonard Nimoy

"A life is like a garden. Perfect moments can be had, but not preserved, except in memory. LLAP"

Happy New 2015!

Movie still and vintage card from pinterest.

Happy New 2015!
May it be a year of stillness, peace and dreams fulfilled.