Posts Tagged ‘Morocco’

Zellig, an Artist’s Book – Morocco

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:

San Francisco Public Library, Special Collections
F.W. Olin Library, Special Collections, Mills College
University of California, San Diego, Special Collections
University of  Vermont, Special Collections
Athenaeum Music and Arts Library, Artist’s Book Collection, La Jolla, California
Private Collections
Zellig is for sale on Amazon.com

The Fortune Teller – Morocco

May 14, 2012

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Snake charmers, food venders, jewelry sellers, a dentist and other people filled Djemma el Fna, a large open space in Marrakech. One night a man, someone said he was a fortune teller,  was speaking to a large group of men. He cleared a space for me to join the circle. Someone threw a rug on the dusty ground. I sat and sketched by the light of a kerosene lamp. Drawings made that night were preliminary studies for five foot oil paintings I produced in my studio when I returned home.

Lifting the Veil – Morocco

May 10, 2012

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Lifting the Veil 50″ x 40″ oil on canvas 1998

McGouna Rose Petals Slowly Dried in the Shade – Morocco

May 9, 2012

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McGouna Rose Petals Slowly Dried in the Shade   2000

Small book inside, Xerox, newspaper, candy wrapper, stamps, transfers

Wire, gold shoe polish, wax, paint, dried pigment from Morocco

Feather, rose petals

10 x 7  inches

Jardin Majorelle – Marrakech Morocco

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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Painting with a Little Girl Near Ait Benhaddou – Morocco

May 4, 2012

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Bundle of Sticks 23″ x 23″ oil on canvas 1998

While I sketched sitting by a wide, dried up river bed, I looked at the entrance to the Sahara desert. Across the riverbed was the Kasbah, Ait Benhaddou. I watched a small girl make a wide arc around me. On her back she carried a bundle of sticks. The bundle was bigger than she was. After awhile, she put down her sack and very slowly made her way over to me. We ended up making Artists’ Books using torn pieces of paper and paint. I taught her how to paint and how to use a paint brush.

Will I Find the Uniqueness of Me?

May 3, 2012

My strongest summer memory

A self portrait as I wish I was

A jungle at night

Two cats fighting

click on images to zoom in on them

For ten days I’ll be painting with a small group picked by Leigh Hyams. By working hard and trying the unfamiliar, like painting with dirt, flower petals, whatever, we will be working towards finding our individual uniqueness. Look inside Leigh’s Artist’s Books on her website.  http://www.artsreal.com/ You are in for a treat.

On our first day we are to bring in four drawings which I have labeled. How will I be drawing and painting in ten days? I’ve worked with her before so I know there will be a jump in my ability to create work that is authentic to me. I’ll let you know how it turns out when I get back. For now, I’m about to plunge in to some heavy duty soul searching. I have ten whole days just to think about and make art. Until then, check in on my blog. I’ll be showing my paintings, artist’s books and drawings created in Morocco.

Rainbow Found on Capitol Hill Reminded me of Marrakech

April 10, 2012

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The sun was shinning in Seattle and color was popping up everywhere. A friend stopped to say hello to us. She was in city dark clothing, but her arms cradled two large bunches of spring flowers and she had bright pink shoes on! Window boxes, filled with perfect red tulips, were placed under the police station. The building was painted a marvelous jewel tone blue. It reminded me of Yves St. Laurent’s garden in Morocco. His house was painted majorelle blue.  A lemon tree dripping with bright yellow lemons was in the foreground. The pots for plants were painted bright colors. A little green frog chirped in the  pond.

red: life
orange: healing
yellow: sunlight
green: nature
indigo/blue: serenity/harmony
violet: spirit

Moushrabiya – Morocco

January 26, 2012

In Morocco, moushrabiyas or geometrical screens

keep Muslim women hidden from view.

These screens allow women to observe

their surroundings without themselves being seen.


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