Patience

Podcast posted by Ricë. January 7, 2010

Ricë Freeman-Zachery's Podcast Interview with Randi Parkhurst.

When I saw the video of Randi Parkhurst's book structure, "Patience," I knew I had to talk to her.

This piece is absolutely amazing, and Randi's story of how she came to create it is fascinating. There are links on my blog, Notes from the Voodoo Cafe. The fabulous video of Patience was created by Jim Hill and Meesh Rheault Miller of Glowing Heads in Olympia, Washington. You can find it on Vimeo.

Today Randi talks about Patience, about creativity and ideas, and about the process of working on a long, intense project. She also generously offers tips for beginning book artists. She was lots of fun to talk to, and you're in for a real treat.

This is a video of Randi Parkhurst's artists' book, Patience. It is a work of art that cannot be described in words and photos can't do it justice, therefore, a video had to be made. Watch as Randi demonstrates how Patience opens and reveals 19 handmade books in all, including a 1/2" book. The piece includes handmade papers and/or handpainted papers made by the artist. Patience is reminiscent of Russian dolls or Chinese puzzle boxes. The video is produced by Glowing Heads and the music is by Laura Inserra.

Randi Parkhurst displays Patience, an artists' book

Parkhurst Paper Arts.

Parkhurst Paper Arts is home base for native Pacific Northwest artist, Randi Parkhurst.

Randi is a full-time artist and arts instructor, specializing in artists' books and handmade art papers. Her work is featured at galleries and art shows throughout the Northwest. Randi lives in the Puget Sound area of Washington State with her husband and their beloved Chihuahua.

Randi's latest works include books in boxes, made exclusively from her own handmade, marbled or embellished papers. These books challenge the perception of what a book is. In her latest piece, Patience, http://vimeo.com/7694315 the viewer is taken on a journey like that of a puzzle or Russian dolls: A book within a box contains a book within a box...Randi says. "I want my audience to expect the unexpected when viewing my work. My books are to be handled and played with. Unlike a book with words telling a story, my books tell a story by enticing the viewer to open and explore them. Their rich papers are textured and there are little books nestled inside cubbyholes to pull out and open. My books' 'stories' are about the journey and the surprises along the way."

The Evergreen State College Library has acquired two of Randi's artists' books for their Rare Books Room collection. Her piece entitled "Ocean Passports" won the Honorable Mention at the 2008 Capitol City Visual Arts Exhibition at the Minnaert Center for the Arts.

"I am happy to say I do my creative work full-time.The challenge of making something intricate is what keeps me interested in making art. I like complicated plans that I have to draw out on graph paper,” says Randi. “It seems that all my experience as an artist has led me to and prepared me for the world of books and boxes. My work now consists of not just 2-dimensional work, but sculptural pieces as well. An artists' book engages the viewer, just as a theatre or dance performance does. It has a beginning, a middle and an end.”

For over 20 years Randi has been making handmade papers and embellished art papers. Her papers may be painted in several layers of transparent colors or they may contain a grid pattern of threads between two sheets of paper. She also makes papers that have the look and texture of rich leather or tree bark. Each sheet is an hour's worth of work. Her artists' books are filled with these tactile and lovely papers. "Making my own papers to use in my art work gives me a sense that what I'm making is truly original," she says.

Randi is a self-taught artist and continues to learn new techniques by attending art workshops and intensives around the country. In May of 2008 and 2009, she attended master bookbinding workshops at the Paper and Book Intensive, studying with renowned book artists Hedi Kyle, Gillian Boal, Dolph Smith, James Reid-Cunnigham, Barbara Mauriello and William Drendell.

Randi also teaches art workshops in the paper and book arts fields. She has taught at The Evergreen State College, the Seattle Center for Book Arts, La Conner Art Workshops and offers workshops from her studio in Olympia, WA. When asked about teaching, Randi says, "I encourage would-be artists and those whom have put aside their talent, for whatever reason, to find that creative person inside them. It is one of my greatest joys to see that 'ah-ha' moment on the face of one of my students. I learn so much from them, too."

Check her official website.

PATIENCE

Randi Parkhurst's artists' book