An Illuminators' Library in New York City

By now you're might be wondering: where does someone who practices the art of book-making go when seeking inspiration? For me, the answer is incredibly close at hand. It's in midtown Manhattan. We are blessed to have a historical site and museum devoted to this rare and fine art, The Pierpont Morgan Library.

 

Museum entrance (photo © Marie Doucette).

The Morgan is divided into two sections: the old Morgan family house, and the new addition, for exhibits and collections. When I was younger, the museum consisted solely of the house. A major renovation occurred some years past, which made it a delight to rediscover anew. 

Gates to the Morgan manse (photo © Marie Doucette).

Still, it's the older facade which speaks to me, as an enduring symbol of this New York families' cultural contribution, (and extraordinarily generous gift), to the people of their beloved city. On the gates which close the entrance to the house, one can still see the doorbell for guests upon their arrival to the Morgan estate.

Grounds surrounding the Morgan estate (photo © Marie Doucette).

Please take time out of your busy schedule or vacation to visit this gem, as you discover its' treasures, section by section. Have a pleasant day of exploration, book hunters and literary tourists. I promise you, you will not be disappointed by the contents within.
  
http://www.themorgan.org/home.asp

The Art of Perfection

I discovered illuminations while attending the BookExpo, New Yorks' annual publishing convention held at the Javits Center. A beautiful leather-bound book on a podium jumped out at me from a corner booth. Opened to a lavishly colored folio was one of the loveliest reproductions of an illuminated manuscript that I've yet to encounter.

The house of Moleiro is based in Barcelona, Spain. They sell exclusive and unrepeatable editions which I haven't had the nerve to price out, as well as more affordable limited editions for about 100 Euros (that's roughly $145.00 USD). The catalogues are gorgeous, too—intricate gold details are scattered throughout, overlaying the color art in faithful reproduction to the books produced and sold.

For those of you seeking the experience of owning one of these treasures, you won't find more accurate and historical representations elsewhere. Happy perusing!

http://www.moleiro.com/en/books-of-hours/the-isabella-breviary.html

The Old and The New, in Harmony.

Graffiti and castles? It's true, and it's a delightful installation painted on the exterior walls of a Scottish estate.

The Earl of Glasgow seems to be basking in the glow of all the attention, and he has come to appreciate the artworks' urban charms. What a refreshing attitude about embracing new cultures and ideas!

As a child of New York, I've always had a soft spot for the beautiful murals and street art of our fair city. It's nice to see this recognition extends to our neighbors across the pond.

Have a sunny Monday. Let's get back out there and see some art, wherever we may find it.

http://www.linkedin.com/news?actionBar=&articleID=733956323&ids=0Md3wMe38QcPsIcP8PdzkVcPcTb30Oe3sMd34NdOMNdj4Qej0MczsIdPgSd34Sej4T&aag=true&freq=weekly&trk=eml-tod-b-ttle-99

The Little Church Around the Corner

Earlier this week I was walking to dinner, when I found myself pulled in the wrong direction for my meeting spot, but the right direction for my soul. The Church of the Transfiguration had caught my eye a few times before, on quick jaunts around the neighborhood.

During this evenings' walk, I stopped to admire it more closely. I was surprised and delighted to find small yet beautifully decorated grounds around the church, with all manner of sculptures and fountains. There's also a charming grave-marker for the parish cat, from the 19th century.

As I inspected the art and outer buildings more closely, I found a sign detailing the church's history. And what a great story it is. In the past, actors had been considered people of ill-repute and societal pariahs. Many of them were often turned away from parishes. This particular church became a safe haven for the actors of New York, when spiritual tending and other services were required.

It was here that they created a community of like-minded souls, to worship and make art together in peaceful harmony. Many of us may not be able to make the trip to our religious institutions today, due to inclement weather. As those of us on the east coast weather the storm, we can still give thanks for our many blessings and pray for the continued safety of our loved ones.

No matter where you may be on this Sunday, look to within for strength and guidance, and you'll find it.

http://www.littlechurch.org/history.html
http://www.littlechurch.org/

Stormy Weather

One of my favorite books from childhood is Alexander and The Magic Mouse, which also happens to be about a big rainstorm that lasts for days. Quite fitting on this soggy day in New York, as we run last minute errands before the predicted "Hurricane Irene" hits.

Forecast by the usually meek and shy magical mouse, the household of animals, and the beautiful old lady who cares for them, brace for the worst by making their preparations beforehand. The main protagonist, Alexander, takes it upon himself to warn the low-lying village across the river, which is inadequately prepared. Having excluded themselves from socializing with the tenants who reside in the house on the hill years prior, out of fear, the villagers are ignorant to the oncoming dangers which await them.

Alexander braves the rivers' raging waters to deliver a warning to the Mayor of the town. He encounters one villager after the next who direct their prejudices towards him by turning away from him. He finally succeeds by handing the message to a little boy, who had stopped to inquire about Alexanders' welfare. After a grueling battle to return home, he falls deeply sick back at the house.

Besides teaching several important life lessons, about bravery in the face of danger and our shared duty towards helping neighbors, Alexander epitomizes courage. By doing what's right, despite all the obstacles and resistances which lie in his path, he becomes noble.

After all, when times get tough and the rain seems like it'll never end,  we have to pick ourselves up to carry on with the business of living and caring for one another, even when it's met with derisive scorn. During this tempestuous weekend of weather, be sure to hug your children, family, friends, and loved ones tightly to reassure them that everything's going to be alright, because it will be. Let's ride out the storm together.

"My Name is Red"

It's not often in art or life that one encounters Islamic illuminators, and yet Pamuk's murder mystery revolves around their world.

When the scriptorium receives a commission from a wealthy patron, it sets off a chain of events that will grab you by the lapels and completely immerse you in their world, one pen stroke at a time.

Readers, I won't tell you who "Red" is, but let me assure you, it is not the name of a person. Written from this unique perspective, it places you directly onto the pages of a manuscript unlike any other book experience I've encountered.

As we head into this stormy weekend, here on the East Coast, I invite you to settle down indoors with one of the greatest pleasures known to humankind—the reading of a great fable expertly told. Enjoy.

Boo! In book form!

I first discovered Boo while surfing the advertising links within my facebook page, tailored to my interests by my own hand, because the application allows the user to define their marketing experience by giving us options for the types of ads we like to see. Obviously, I'm a huge dog fan. An example of niche marketing at its best.

When I first found Boos' fan page, he had about 200,000 fans. Within a week, it grew by a hundred thousand. I just checked his page and the number, as of today, stands at 1,531,860. A massive fan base indeed.

What makes him so lovable? He is the cutest little doggie, that's true, but I think his appeal also lies within his personality, which is very funny, and the outfits selected with care by his loving owner, along with gorgeous photography.

This is my kind of celebrity. Boo is famous for simply being an adorable animal we all respond to in the best possible way, revealing our genetically-driven compatibility for dogs. After all, we humans evolved along the same evolutionary track as our canine companions. They have been our best friends and helpers for eons.

Because of this deep-seated connection, we respond to Boo with the best part of our nature, in the kindest and most gentle way. We can sense the owners' spirit as well—she took the first opportunities for exposure to re-direct her fans attentions to charitable events and causes, with Boo serving as a furry figure-head.

Savvy, smart, and beneficent. Quite the illuminator indeed. Well done!

http://www.amazon.com/gp/mpd/permalink/m2BCU40I0YHIOW/ref=ent_fb_link

A Tale of Two Mediums, "The Name of The Rose"

An excellent case about the tribulations of translating a book into a movie. On the one hand, we have Umberto Eco, a master writer, and two, the relatively set experience of passively watching a directed film.

For readers, every book experience is like the best movie they've ever seen, and a great book, re-read at different times within ones' life becomes a new movie, because as we age, we see different things in the text that we could not have experienced previously. It is said that no two persons every read the same book, because you, the reader, are an active participant to the process. By directly engaging the content, you create and act out all of the parts of a story, in a way that a movie cannot ever hope to do.



Much as I love Sean Connery, the film version cannot possibly capture the subtleties of Eco's various story lines, all the variations and sophistications which weave the fabric of his fable together. The movie must choose one storyline, or else loose its audience within its given time frame. The movie director chose the most obvious and easily understandable aspect of Eco's book, which is the murder mystery.

But there are so many aspects woven into the book which cannot be rendered accurately in film-form. A director tells you the point of view, and you are a captive audience. A book, read expertly, becomes the most incredible movie you've ever seen, because you have an active hand in its creation through your own inner self. Nothing trumps the richness of the human imagination. The film becomes a shadow, a derivative and lesser product from the source which it has sprung.

Umberto Eco gives us history, art, illuminators, medieval life, the mysteries of faith, a murder plot, the hierarchy of church leadership, the hypocrisies of organized religion, the divine strangeness of the supernatural, the inner workings of an abbey and a scriptorium, the brutalization of the burning of books as a political weapon by destroying certain human histories, plus whatever else you can derive from his work.

So top that. But you won't. An neither will I. Because it's a masterpiece.

Getting Cinematic

A glimpse into illuminating in the 21st century, the book trailer. Cannot wait to read this one. Looks like a howling good time!
Links to the videos below.

 http://youtu.be/YMHXqRYf9_g

http://youtu.be/1mqW1YvjN1g

An Illuminator in action

Freakin' sweet!

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1496420787/the-endangered-alphabets-project

“Go West…”

The Book of Eli is an excellent movie about the nature of faith and the power of  The Good Book, despite being slightly blunted by a somewhat miscast Mila Kunis, who channels a Valley Girl-accented actress in her "extra-skinny" jeans and obvious hair extensions. Denzel Washington is so classically gifted, as usual.

It's a fascinating scenario about the art of illumination and a warrior monk in our post-apocalyptic, climate-changing future. Stick to the right path, warriors. Stay in the light of The Word, and its truth. Amen to you, today.

Art is where you find it, in every step you take

One of the many joys about living in New York City is the richness and abundance of art and design everywhere the eye falls.

The contribution artists and craftsmen have added to our shared cultural history over centuries is staggering; their tender ministry given over to the details so many of us pass by each day, have grown to become powerful symbols of love and generosity, careworn with time.

A walk through our city is not only beautiful, but enriching with each step. Here is my tribute to them all, as a small token of my appreciation.

Thank you, for your hard work.

Gorgeous cover, interesting topic, book love.

Thanks to http://www.loveitalot.com/

The benefits of designing with white space

Thanks to Cathleen Ouderkirk from Amacom Books, for using one of my cover designs as an illustration to her article: http://amacombooks.wordpress.com/2011/08/16/guest-post-cathleen-on-why-white-space-isnt-nothing/

A Shining Moment at Grand Central Station

A thing of beauty is a joy for ever:
Its loveliness increases; it will never
Pass into nothingness; but still will keep
A bower quiet for us, and a sleep
Full of sweet dreams, and health, and quiet breathing.

—opening stanza from Keats' A Thing of Beauty is a Joy Forever