Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to you and yours,
and the Very Best in the New Year!

Take Care,
Wayne

Coptic Journals at Ashland Gallery and The Chesser Studio Project

These past few weeks I have been very busy binding Coptic journals for the Holiday Season. Hence the lack of blog posting...sorry about that guys. These books will be for sale at Ashland Gallery as well as The Chesser Studio Project. All of the books have interior pages of a really nice weight white drawing paper and exteriors that feature beautiful Centipede Stitches and Coptic Headbands. I really tried to make these books special with the hope that they would become a beautiful part of someones daily life. I hope all of you have a wonderful Christmas Season and a Bright and Prosperous New Year. In these difficult and trying times just find beautiful things to enjoy and make you smile!

Binding as a Repetitive Textural Element in Cover Design

Here are photos of the latest book that I have made. It is a four needle Coptic journal with a Coptic Headband stitched onto the head and tail of the book. I have adorned the surface of the front and back cover with repeating graduated centipede stitches, as a texture over the top of the cover surface. The centipede stitches are purely decorative and serve no function in structural stability. The stitches on the inside of the cover run in parallel lines and provide a distinctive rhythm in the interior of the book. I must say this book is truly a delight to hold in your hands...that way a book should be. Enjoy till next time!

Exits: For the Dearly Departed

The Chesser Studio Project proudly presents Exits: For the Dearly Departed as our exhibit for the month of November. In celebration of Day of the Dead and with a kind eye to those we've left behind over the years this show offers a vibrant look into the artists represented. Artists include : Vikki Turner Finch, Wayne McNeil, Dee Carriglino, Bertice McPherson, Seven Scribe Three, Lydia Host, Mary Elizabeth Kimbrough, Cameron Hodges, Sol Davis, Allise, Angela Rand, Julie Day, and Rachel Wright. The Chesser Studio Project will be open Wednesday afternoons from 2pm-5pm and Sunday Afternoons from 1pm-4pm. Come in and enjoy.

El Manuscrito Illuminado de la Muerta

I've been teaching a Bookbinding Survey at Space 301 in downtown Mobile this fall and it has been very exciting. This Sculptural Book is an outgrowth of that class. (I'll post about the class next week after I take some photographs.) I challenged my students, which are a wonderfully talented bunch, to create books outside of class and bring them in to share. I took this as a challenge for myself as well. I plan to make 3 new Bookworks and this is the almost completed first one. It is an Accordion Fold Book with Concertina Pleating. When backlit it will tell a narrative about life and death using birds and dancing skeletons as characters. When unlit the book will be seemingly blank. El Manscrito Illuminado de le Muerta will be on display at the Chesser Studio Project (which I will post about soon) the second friday in November, 6-9pm for LODA Artwalk. The show will be exciting so please come downtown and check it out.

Until next time take care!

New Small Works

Here are two of the ten new small works that I have been creating for Ashland Gallery's Great Art Small Sizes show which opens November 13th in Midtown Mobile. (2321 Old Shell Rd. Mobile, Al 36606 - 251-479-3548) The works are Re-designed Vintage Book covers that have been over bound with historic Coptic stitches. They will be framed in very simple shallow shadowbox frames which will give them a very specimen like quality.

New Books-Bindings Sewn Over Tapes

Here are two new books that I have bound this week as a result of my Bookbinding Survey at Space 301. Both are one-needle sewing over tapes. The taller of the books features beaded embellishment stitched into the binding along the exposed spine. The smaller book features a hand cut silhouette of a bird on a branch in turquoise. Enjoy!

Ashland Gallery or How The Other Half Lives Half the Time

So when I am not at The Chesser Studio Project I am at Ashland Gallery doing the many assorted tasks which fill up my days there...not the least of which is my important role as Lighting Director...aka light bulb boy. My work is represented there year round and will be apart of the November Small Works Show which opens November 13th from 6:00pm-8:00pm. We have a wonderful group of artists in this show and will have an amazing opening so please come by and join in the fun and the buying frenzy.

Ashland Gallery is open Monday-Friday 9:30am-6:00pm and Saturday 10:00am-3:00pm

Telephone (251) 479-3548

The Chesser Studio Project Exhibition Schedule 2008-2009

November- Entrances and Exits: The Chesser Studio Project Day of the Dead Celebration
December -Yule Come: The Chesser Project Yule Show
January- Will Crane Solo Exhibition of Surrealist Works
February -The Ages of Aquarius: Featuring Chesser Aquarians and Friends
March -Mystery Wagons: Mirth and Misrule on Wheels
April- Chesser Studio Project Artist
May- A Sense of Place: Botanical Art by Kate Seawell
June -Binders and Books: A survey of Artist Books and Fine Binding curated by Wayne McNeil

All openings will be in conjuction with the LODA Artwalk on the second Friday of each month from 6:00pm - 9:00pm

Come out and see what Vikki and I feel is a great year of Exhibits

The Chesser Studio Project

The Chesser Studion Project is the latest incarnation of the Chesser Gallery in Downtown Mobile. Vikki Turner Finch and I enjoy the space as both a studio and exhibition gallery. Many of you know this already but for those of you who don't I'll include some press links in this post. I thought it might be fun to show you the space in which I work when it isn't Art Walk. The function of this space as a studio is a bit of an adventure for me as it is always different each month...there is no telling how the studio might look, but I suppose that keeps it interesting. I don't mind it at all...I just love being in such a vibrant part of the city quietly cutting and gluing hundreds and hundreds of little pieces of paper together...its like my own private monks domicile. I really must say the most gratifying part of my little set up is facing all of my paper hung on a rack rather than searching through boxes for 30 minutes at a time to find something. I'm at the studio Wednesdays from 1:00pm-5:30pm and Sundays from approximately 11:30 am - 5:00pm, come on down for a visit sometime.

blog.al.com/artbeat/2008/08/chesser_reborn_spunky_downtown.html

www.chesserartgalley.org

Alabama Bound

There is a wonderful trio of exhibits at the Mobile Museum of Art at the moment and I highly suggest seeing them as soon as you can. Firstly there is the Illuminated Word which is an exhibit of pages from the first Illuminated Manuscript in over 500 years...the scale of this project is truly amazing. There is also an exhibition of the print work of Albrect Durer which is breathtaking. Finally there is an exhibit called Alabama Bound which showcases bookbing/bookarts and fine letterpress in the state of Alabama. It is a fine cross section of the work being done in Alabama in this field. To the viewer who has never really encountered Bookarts before it serves as a wonderful introduction. I was fortunate enough to be asked to be a part of this exhibit.

www.mobilemuseumofart.com/exhibitions/current_exhibitions.html

A Thank You To Paul Moxon

A few weeks ago I got my new business cards that were printed by Paul Moxon at Think Letterpress. They are truly amazing. Paul found a wonderful Twin Rocker handmade paper to print them on and I couldn't be more pleased. The collage on the lefthand side of the card has been customized by me. If you have any need for an exceptional letterpress printing project I highly recommend Paul Moxon.

http://www.thinkletterpress.com/

Thanks again Paul!

The Way of All Flesh

Here is an old piece from a few years ago titled "The Way of All Flesh" 32x40" Paper on Birch panel.

Starting Out!

So after much prodding by many friends I am starting a Blog for my artwork and bookbinding. Much will follow very soon!