Archive for the ‘Poems’ Category
May 17, 2012






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In Morocco, moushrabiyas or geometrical screens keep Muslim women hidden from view. These screens allow women to observe their surroundings without themselves being seen.
When making an Artists’ Book with this beautiful young lady, I asked her in sign language if she had some scissors. She took me to her room where she flicked on the TV. A static zig zag pattern filled the screen. The room was set up for her family, three outfits hung on rope across one corner of the room. We tore the sheet of paper, folded it and sewed it together with a piece of thread we found. I wondered what this girls’ future was going to be. This idea was the impetus for my book. Zellig, also spelled Zellige, is a collage of patterns making up the tile decoration in Morocco. When making the book I used a collage of my work made up of my poems, paintings, drawings and photography.
Iris printing, on Somerset 175 gram soft white, by Urban Digital Color.
Typography and letterpress printing by Norman Clayton One Heart Press.
A limited edition of twenty copies and three artists proofs
Bound by John DeMerritt, Emeryville.
Copyright by Carla Trefethen Saunders
San Francisco, California 2000 $750.00
Zellig 2000
Limited edition of 20 with 4 artist’s proofs
Letterpress, iris prints, vellum UV Ultra 11 white, Somerset 175 gram soft white,
Rives heavyweight buff and Lamili Lokta paper
Images and poems by the artist
Original drawing
8 x 8 inches
This book is in the following collections:
Private Collections
Zellig is for sale on Amazon.com
Tags:Art, Artists' Book, Arts, collage, Letterpress printing, library special collections, Morocco, photography, poetry, Publishing and Printing, Travel, travel sketches
Posted in Abstract Painting, Artists' books, drawings, Morocco, Paintings, Photographs, Poems, Travel Drawings | 4 Comments »
May 8, 2012




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Original sketches on arches 140wt. Rives BFK
Xerox and ink jet on vellum, watercolor
Caran d’ache crayons, pen and ink, gouache, dry pigment from Morocco,
Original poems by the artist
Accordion 8 x 8 inches opens up to 8 x 80 inches
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Tags:Art, Artists' Book, Jacques Majorelle, Marrakech, Morocco, Travel, Yves Saint Laurent
Posted in Abstract Painting, Artists' books, Morocco, Poems, Travel Drawings | 4 Comments »
March 7, 2012

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Lantern
burning
song
flickers
into
darkness
dizzy
Tags:animals, Botswana, Giraffe, poem, South Africa, sunset, Travel
Posted in Africa, Animals, Botswana, Photographs, Poems | 3 Comments »
March 6, 2012

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Morning Writing
Wash out all
those ghosts
cobwebs
worrywarts
black cloud critters
chattering
like monkeys
in your swollen
brain
swollen brain filled
with piston-like
repetition
it’s wrong
it’s wrong
it’s wrong
not good enough
for who?
for tinman
looking for his heart?
wash out all
those ghosts
cobwebs
worrywarts
and black cloud critters
chattering
like monkeys
in your swollen
brain
quickly
lay your thoughts
out on the page
protect those tender shoots
of pale green
close the book
then walk away.
Tags:animals, monkeys, morning writing, photography, poem, Zimbabwe
Posted in Africa, Animals, Botswana, Photographs, Poems | 3 Comments »
March 5, 2012

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After Rousseau’s Sleeping Gypsy
Warm breath
soft nose
nuzzled against my cheek.
Secure under the watch of my friend
I dream of a place faraway
crowded
lush
large leaves
animals peeking out.
Is it scary in there?
Or am I supposed
to say
“Oh, that is lovely.”
Tags:animals, Henri Rousseau, Photographs, poems, South Africa, Zimbabwe
Posted in Africa, Animals, Photographs, Poems | Leave a Comment »
February 21, 2012

The Wind Horse, shown on the the imprint of a prayer flag is a luck-bringing symbol. This horse can bring good luck, life force, health, influence and merit. On his back is the Flaming Jewel, a spiritual warrior, capable of fulfilling all wishes. The spiritual warrior is carried past the many obstacles leading into the sacred world. The word for Wind Horse (Lungta) has come to mean luck.
I found the wood block in Thimpu, when I was snooping around the shops near the contemporary art school. Using printers ink, and stamps on mulberry paper I made up some small pieces. I started to make an limited edition of five Artist’s Books on mulberry paper. They are scrolls about 62″ high. Now there are only four. I tore up one last week while working on an idea. The torn pieces may be incorporated in the finished product. This print shown above may be added to one of the scrolls. It’s a work in progress. (As usual click on the image to see it bigger)
Tags:abstract painting, animals, Art, Artist Book, Bhutan, poem, Prayer flag, Shopping, Thimphu, Travel, Wind Horse, woodblock print
Posted in Abstract Painting, Artists' books, Bhutan, Paintings, Poems, Travel Drawings | Leave a Comment »
February 13, 2012



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Listen
Alcohol painted eye
recites garish truth
Hot chilies, fresh
ginger and pepper shout.
Green cardamom pods sizzle,
coriander and cumin crackle.
Red chilies roast above
the charcoal fire.
Yogurt is whisked.
Tags:Abstract Art, Costume, Dance, drawing, Kathakali Classic Dancers, Kerala, poem, Southern India, travel sketches
Posted in Artists' books, drawings, India, Paintings, Poems | 5 Comments »
February 12, 2012
Devotion
Temple dancers shadow smoke,
pierce woven sunlight.
Blessings balance fierce tongues:
worship spills saffron song.
Priests prepare flowers and cloth.
Fresh flowers and food are brought.
Clanging, shouting, dark and light,
sweet sandalwood, incense burnt.
Tradition wrapped crowds chase
autumn silver throne.
Lord Shiva and Parvati are put to bed.
Tags:Art, Artists' Book, drawing, Hindu, India, Krishna, Lord Shiva, Parvati, poem, Rama, Shiva, Shopping
Posted in Artists' books, drawings, India, Paintings, Poems | 7 Comments »
February 11, 2012

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Driving to Hotel Hallo Coca Cola / Cow Dust Hour
Birla power
Tata trucks
Leaf plates stitched
Earth swept
sunlit
barefoot
chili
Saris
goats
monkeys and a pig
Dark skin
between
coconut palm
Thursday
wires
dust
electricity
Two bullocks
idli
a Honda bike
Bindies
and
bangles
men dressed
in white
Darkness falls
headlights
when
An evening lamp
is lit.
Tags:Coca-Cola, drawing, elephant, Food and Drink Related, Honda, lion, Painting, poem, Soda, watercolor
Posted in Artists' books, drawings, India, Paintings, Poems | 1 Comment »