17/06/2017

367 (2017)

367 by Mette-Sofie D. Ambeck (2017). Click image to see preview of content.
367 – a POD artist's book of skies.

On July 25th 2015 I began taking photos of the sky every day. My plan was to do this for one year and my rule was that it had to be done between 12:00-14:00 and I never missed a day, though occasionally life got in the way.

Strangely, that first day was not only my 42nd birthday, but also that of both my grandmothers.
That I share my birthday with my grandmothers, who I never knew, has also made the day a special one full of reflections on life and what connects us across the years.

That my days are filled with the care of my own mother, who has Alzheimer’s, intensifies these feelings. This new book from Ambeck Design shows the skies I saw every day; beautiful, moody, drab and exciting – and all emotions between.

The physical book was launched at BABE (Bristol Artist's Book Event) at the Arnolfini Gallery, Bristol, 1-2 April, 2017.


Printed and bound on demand by Blurb.co.uk

Hardcover with ImageWrap, 128 pages

Binding: Durable library binding

Stock: ProLine Uncoated, Mohawk Superfine uncoated photo paper, 148gsm and ProLine light grey endpapers

Cover size: 21 x 26cm
Language: English
Edition: unlimited
ISBN 9781366236906

Published March 12th, 2017
In the public collection of Winchester School of Art Library: Special Collections & Wellcome Collection.


There is now a 2nd edition as minor corrections were made on April 25th, 2017.
ISBN: 9781366039859
Published April 25th, 2017
In the public collection of Manchester Metropolitan University Library All Saints and The British Library.



367 (2017)

POSTED/UNPOSTED (2017)

Forty copies ready to post.
August 23rd, 2017: Finished my contribution to the Nordic project: POSTED/UNPOSTED – a book art project with special emphasis on letterpress printing from the Nordic countries: Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Finland, Iceland and Åland Islands.
Around 30 artists, poets, printers and publishers who use (or have the potential to use) letterpress have been invited to contribute to a collaboration with constraints. We have all had to contribute with 40 letterpress printed envelopes with contents (both being of equal importance). All envelopes had to be C5 size (229x162mm).

Deadline September 1st, 2017.
By the end of September the organisers: Imi Maufe (Norway) and Lina Nordenström (Sweden) packaged the limited edition collection and sent copies touring around the Nordic countries and the world in the months/years to come. Each contributor got a copy of the limited collection.

The collaborative project was launched at the Bergen Art Book Fair October 19-22, 2017. (www.bergenartbookfair.no) and other venues followed.

Past Exhibitions:
CHART Art Fair 2021 (9th Edition) – Kunsthal Charlottenborg, Copenhagen, Denmark 26-29.08.2021
Malmö Konsthall, Sweden6-12th May 2019

San Fransisco Center for the Book2nd Feb-29th April 2019 (see Posted / Unposted ++) This is a extended version with extra works by 9 of the participating artists called POSTED / UNPOSTED ++ and is part of Codex Polaris' Nordic Focus at the CODEX 2019 book fair and Symposium, USA.
SFCB produced a catalogue to go with the exhibition which is available from their websitewww.sfcb.org

Grafikk i Väst, Gøteborg, Sweden5th-31st January 2019

Viborg Hovedbibliotek (The Main Library, Viborg), Viborg, Denmark, June 4 - August 6, 2018

Leeds Letterpress Conference 19-20th July 2018

Galleri Pi, Copenhagen, Denmark, June 15 - July 7, 2018

turn the page – book fair, Norwich, UK May 25-26, 2018

Malmö Artist's Book Biennial, Sweden, April
20-21, 2018

Rönnells Antikvariat, StockholmMarch 2018

Konstfack Library (the University College of Craft, Arts and Design), Stockholm, Sweden, February 2018

Bergen Art Book Fair, NorwayOctober 2017

For more detailswww.codexpolaris.com


All parts of Posted/Unposted by Ambeck Design, 2017.
POSTED/UNPOSTED
Digital vs. Analog: posting messages/updates vs. keeping it private/only for the few.

When one communicates online via platforms like Facebook most posts have the potential to be seen and read by hundreds if not thousands, as many have a large number of "friends" – not unlike writing a letter on the outside of the envelope rather than the inside – for all to read.

These were my initial thoughts/inspiration when presented with the theme Posted/Unposted.

Front of envelope close up.
Outer Design
To express this idea I sought Facebook posts which I felt expressed this deeper, private level which would have been shared with a much more select circle of people before online platforms existed.
I chose to digitally inkjet print these posts in the official "Facebook blue" using Helvetica Neuethe previous Facebook font before San Franciscoas used today with OS systems.
The posts are all in lowercase and no names are mentioned, thoughbetween commentsa number of friends are randomly listed.
All this is printed on the outside of a standard British Brown Envelope. (1) because I like them and (2) because they have been/are part of my life since living in the UK for a number of years.
The envelope front is left blank, specifically where the stamp and address would ordinarily be placed. The pieces are for no one in particular, but for all who care to read.

Envelope with content.
Inner Design
The inside content is an SRA2 Munken Pure 120gsm folded sheet of paper with the Danish word "Privat" (Private) placed centrally, with red ink using wooden letterpress.
The font used is unknown (indeed the word may include more than one font) and the letters were found in the UK.

Woodtype set to print & printed.
The reason for the large folded sheet reflects the "secret folded notes" which I first experienced as a late 1980s High School student in New Hampshire, USA before internet and mobiles became commonplace. The secret notes were used for love letters or just general teenage comments.


Between the outside and the inside the tension and huge difference in the past and present etiquettes and processes of our personal communication exists, and only opening the envelope allows the completion of the message of the piece.

I constructed my own folding as I didn't want the print to be folded, but it needed to fit within the C5 envelope.

Front and back of the "secret" folded note.
Note unfolding.
I used a HumanBook Press for the printing (my body weight and a book); the only press I have available.
Printing in progress August 2017.
Each of the forty copies are numbered and signed with my stamp on the inside of the envelopes.
Robo-Girl aka Ambeck Design
Red ink.

Stacked, ready to go.

October 19, 2017 a box arrived by post – my copy of the collection (No. 19) – exciting.

A parcel arrived with a box inside.
Inside the box was a catalogue listing each artist's work and then the whole collection of envelopes held together by a broad wrap-around held in place by two rubber bands. The work of Imi and Lina.
Once the rubber bands were off the collection could be viewed.
24 lovely pieces to be explored one-by-one.

Below some official images by Imi Maufe.
Image by Imi Maufe © 2017

Image by Imi Maufe © 2017

Image by Imi Maufe © 2017

Image by Imi Maufe © 2017

Image by Imi Maufe © 2017

Public collections which hold the collection:

  • Göteborgs Universitets Bibliotek, Sweden (2023)

16/06/2017

Bookishness – World Book Night 2017

World Book Night, April 23rd 2017.

Again this year Ambeck Design took part in the World Book Night project organised by Sarah Bodman of the University of West England's Centre for Fine Print Research, Bristol.

The project this year was not a specific book title but the theme of the Loch Ness Monster, as an expedition were going to Fort Augustus, Scotland in search for the real thing.

Not able to join the expedition team, I contributed from afar. Below Nessie silliNess created early March 2017.
48 artists contributed to Bookishness the publication, limited edition only compiled and written by Sarah Bodman, 2017.

Bookishness, page 14, a sighting by Mette-Sofie D. Ambeck.

Bookishness, page 25, book cover.
Book cover design by Ambeck Design, March 2017 (robots are back). Kismet – a reference to the MIT Kismet.
The project in full: http://www.bookarts.uwe.ac.uk/events/bookishnesswbn2017.html