A word about the snowflakes. . .

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Hope, 2018, MS #114, 14.5 h x 10.75 w x 2.5 d inches.
Description: This box houses a hand lettered copy of Emily Dickinson’s poem 254, c. 1861, “Hope is the things with feathers. . .” and a flower illustration composed of fabric and paper snowflakes.
Materials: The artist’s gouache lettering on Katie MacGregor handmade paper and hand-cut paper snowflake illustration on batik fabric. 

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​Recently I was asked why I have been making and using snowflakes in my bookwork and installations. I apologize for the long answer.
 
First: In January of 2013 a call was put out to send 20 snowflakes to the elementary school in Sandy Hook, Connecticut, to welcome the children back to school and honor the 20, six and seven year children, who were murdered on December 4, 2012. That year I decided to cut a snowflake for each person killed by gun violence in this country. Although I have cut thousands of snowflakes over the past 5 years, I cannot keep up with the nearly 13,000 gun homicides that occur each year in the United States. Whatever your opinion, it bears thinking about.

​Second: I am interested in math and geometry in art, especially in the Gospel books created between 600 and 1000 CE. Early scribes used their knowledge of the Pythagorean theorem and simple geometrical tools to develop a characteristic style of decoration that integrated complex interlacing geometric designs. This style of illumination succinctly illustrated the early Christian principle of God’s existence everywhere, from the smallest microcosm to the largest macrocosm.
 
A hand-cut snowflake exhibits similar traits. A square of paper of any size, when folded into triangles and having shapes cut out of it will create a lacey 6-sided design. The resulting repetition of geometrical designs and variations are endless. 

On the Formation of Snow, 2018, MS #115, 20 pages, book measures
​12 h x 9 w inches, box measures 13.75 h x 10 w x 2.25 d inches.
 
Description:
I pledge allegiance to the land of snow! Here in the north during the winter months I create hand-cut snowflakes from paper and scissors and use them in artwork such as the handmade paper in this book. The binding is a three colored ‘snow’ flag. The book text explains how snow is formed and its importance in redistributing water around the globe to sustain all life on earth.

​Materials: Watercolor and gouache on Katie MacGregor handmade papers. The artist’s hand-cut snowflakes were embedded into the white papers during the papermaking process. The artist’s binding is composed of handmade papers covered in transparent fabric and embroidered snowflakes. Joelle Webber created the dark blue fabric covered box. The book rests on a compartment with a sliding piece of plexiglass under which is a collection of hand-cut snowflakes.

Thank you for reading this blog.

​Nancy