Baltimore Sonnets

My Art in the Time of a Pandemic The Lure Books and postcards created during quarantine in Baltimore, Maryland 4/30/2020 When most I wink, then do mine eyes best see, For all the day they view things unrespected; But when I sleep, in dreams they look on thee, And darkly bright are bright in dark directed; Then thou, whose shadow shadows doth make bright, How would thy shadow's form form happy show To the clear day with thy much clearer light, When to unseeing eyes thy shade shines so? How would, I say, mine eyes be blessed made By looking on thee in the living day, When in dead night thy fair imperfect shade Through heavy sleep on sightless eyes doth stay?    All days are nights to see till I see thee,    And nights bright days when dreams do show thee me.            Shakespeare Sonnet 43 *Coronavirus Disease 2019: Update in Maryland- 4/30/2020 21,742 confirmed cases  1,140 deaths       ...

My Art in the Time of a Pandemic Tonight I decided to repeat a blog post about my bone folders I originally posted 7 years ago.  They are still my most important tools. Bone folders from my studio, Suzanne Coley Bone folders are my extra fingers when  binding books and making boxes. #1 Teflon bone folder - used for smoothing, pressing, folding, shaping. #2, #3, #4 - antique genuine bone folders given to me by a retired master bookbinder, made in Germany - used for delicate work and conservation. #5 - wooden Potter's rib - used for difficult spots in large boxes.  Great for smoothing and shaping. #6, #7 modern genuine bone folders - used for scoring and turning corners when binding books. #8 Teflon bone folder - nothing sticks to them and they don't leave marks. Bone folders are great for crisp clean folds and creases.  Suzanne Coley My fingers may grip, pinch, and pick up things, but my bone folders are stronger, smaller, larger, ...

My Art in the Time of a Pandemic Shakespeare Sonnets Page of textile book: Work in progress by Suzanne Coley Each day I continue to work on stories and books inspired by Shakespeare's Sonnets.  I've been using the leftover textiles from these books to create the backgrounds for the postcards I posted this week.  Hopefully,  I  will complete two of these books the first week of May. *Coronavirus Disease 2019: Update in Maryland- 4/28/2020 20,113 confirmed cases  1,016 deaths         Update in New York State - 4/28/2020 295,106 confirmed cases  22,912 deaths, including 17,682 in NYC Total in United States: 1,012,517 confirmed cases, 58,356 deaths Total Worldwide:       3,115,977 confirmed cases, 217,132 deaths * All numbers are taken from Johns Hopkins Coronavirus Resource Center

My Art in the Time of a Pandemic The Importance of Health The stamp on today's postcard was issued on August 19, 1963 by the Philippine government. It is one of three stamps in a range of denominations that make up the 1963 Fight Against Tuberculosis issue. The lung disease tuberculosis (TB) has been a major health problem for decades.  Although it is curable, over a million people die from it each year worldwide. According to the World Health Organization, "TB is one of the top 10 causes of death and the leading cause from a single infectious agent (above HIV/AIDS)." TB is transmitted through the air when an infectious person sneezes or coughs.  A person only needs to inhale a few droplets to become infected.  The World Health Organization reports that about one-quarter of the world's population has latent TB, which means people have been infected by TB bacteria but are not (yet) ill with the disease nor can they transmit it. About half of all people ...

My Art in the Time of a Pandemic Masks Today's postage stamp is a colorful mask from the Republic of Equatorial Guinea.  Created in 1977, this stamp captures the bold graphic style of the seventies.   On the bottom left of the stamp, it says C orreos , the Spanish word for Mail or Post. And, underneath the mask is written  Mascara Africana,  Spanish for African Mask.  The Republic of Equatorial Guinea is the only African country that has a Correos and issues postage stamps in Spanish because Spanish is one of its official languages.  The country's other official languages are French and Portuguese.  *** *Coronavirus Disease 2019: Update in Maryland- 4/26/2020 18,581 confirmed cases  910 deaths         Update in New York State - 4/26/2020 288,045 confirmed cases  22,269 deaths, including 17,280 in NYC Total in United States: 965,435 confirmed cases, 54,856 deaths Total Worldwide:   ...

My Art in the Time of a Pandemic Tiny gems Today's stamps are from Spain and Italy.  On the left are the Spanish stamps: The beautiful building on the stamps is the Colombia Pavilion.  It housed the 1929 World's Fair (or Ibero-American Exposition of 1929) in Seville.    On the right are the Italian stamps: The title of this series of stamps is  Italia al Lavoro and it means Italy at Work in English.  For this postcard, I am using only two of the nineteen stamps in this series of pictorial definitives created during the years 1950-1958.   *** *Coronavirus Disease 2019: Update in Maryland- 4/25/2020 17,766 confirmed cases  875 deaths         Update in New York State - 4/25/2020 282,143 confirmed cases  22,009 deaths, including 17,126 in NYC Total in United States: 938,154 confirmed cases, 53,755 deaths Total Worldwide:       2,896,746 confirmed cases, 202,846 deaths * All ...

My Art in the Time of a Pandemic Faith, Fortitude, and Civilization I am swell.  Wish you were here.  April 24, 2020 by Suzanne Coley Today's stamp is a beautiful Maltese one.  It features the Monument of the Great Siege, which consists of three bronze figures symbolizing Faith, Fortitude (or Valor), and Civilization gallantly standing on a granite base.  Completed in 1927, this monument commemorates the Great Siege of Malta.  This siege took place in 1556 when the mighty Ottoman Empire tried to invade Malta.  Even though the Maltese were outnumbered, they valiantly repelled the invaders. *** *Coronavirus Disease 2019: Update in Maryland- 4/24/2020 16,616 confirmed cases  798 deaths         Update in New York State - 4/24/2020 271,590 confirmed cases  21,349 deaths, including 16,646 in NYC Total in United States: 890,524 confirmed cases, 51,017 deaths Total Worldwide:       2...

My Art in the Time of a Pandemic Creating a postcard a day from postage stamps I've been collecting since childhood. Gold leaf postcard with 1964 Olympic stamps  by Suzanne Coley, 4/23/2020 Today's stamps: 1964 Tokyo Olympic games printed in Poland.  The stamps show the victories won by the Polish team.  The Polish team won 7 gold medals that summer.   On my postcard are stamps of the following athletes: 1. Waldemar Baszanowski - Weightlifting 2. Egon Franke - Fencing, Men's Foil Individual 3. Women's 4x100 meters relay (Teresa Cieply, Irina Kirszenstein, Halina Gorecka, Ewa Klobukowska) This year's Olympic Games in Tokyo have been postponed until 2021 due to the new coronavirus pandemic.  The Games have been cancelled only three other times in the history of the modern Olympics Games.  Those cancellations were due to war. *** *Coronavirus Disease 2019: Update in Maryland- 4/23/2020 15,737 confirmed cases  748 deaths ...

My Art in the Time of a Pandemic Traveling through my stamp collection during lock-down. I am swell.  Wish you were here. 4/22/2020  by Suzanne Coley Today's stamp is a discus thrower in the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, USA.  The stamp was issued by the People's Republic of Kampuchea. In April 1980 the first set of postage stamps was issued after the establishment of the People's Republic of Kampuchea.  In 1989, the name of "People's Republic of Kampuchea" was changed to the State of Cambodia.  So much history in stamps! ••• *Coronavirus Disease 2019: Update in Maryland- 4/22/2020 14,775 confirmed cases  698 deaths         Update in New York State - 4/22/2020 263,292 confirmed cases  19,413 deaths, including 15,074 in NYC Total in United States: 840,476 confirmed cases, 46,611 deaths Total Worldwide:       2,624,846 confirmed cases, 183,120 deaths * All numbers are taken from...

My Art in the Time of a Pandemic I am swell.  Wish you were here. I am swell.  Wish you were here.  April 22, 2020.  Postcard and stamp series by Suzanne Coley I have been collecting postage stamps my whole life.  The designs are beautiful and compelling, and I'm fascinated by the colors, the watermarks, the paper, and the printing styles of national and international stamps.  One of my stamp books. Many have historical value and geographical significance. Postage stamps in my collection. Wether new or old, the subject of stamps is extremely diverse and cover a wide range, from sports, cars, birds, flowers to presidents, kings and queens. *Coronavirus Disease 2019: Update in Maryland- 4/21/2020 14,193 confirmed cases  652 deaths         Update in New York State - 4/21/2020 258,480 confirmed cases  19,114 deaths, including 14,887 in NYC Total in United States: 824,438 confirmed cases, 45,039 ...

My Art in the Time of a Pandemic Slow stitching pages . . . Stitch by stitch, the pages of my new books are coming along.  I usually embroider abstract designs on the textile pages; However, being home day after day has reminded me of my early years of studying arts and crafts.  In the 1970s, arts and crafts were mandatory in my primary school, and each year we had to complete rather complex projects. Those early days of NYC schools integrating science, math, English language, and art were instrumental in my development as an artist. * * * * *Coronavirus Disease 2019: Update in Maryland- 4/20/2020 13,684 confirmed cases  582 deaths         Update in New York State - 4/20/2020 253,060 confirmed cases  18,611 deaths, including 14,604 in NYC Total in United States: 784,599 confirmed cases, 42,138 deaths Total Worldwide:       2,473,209 confirmed cases, 170,042 deaths * All numbers are taken from Jo...

My Art in the Time of a Pandemic Creating art with materials I have around the house. Linocut on recycled newspaper, 4/19/2020 Recycling newspapers: I love test printing my hand carved linoleum blocks on newspapers.  The text and inks on the newspapers create very interesting backgrounds.  I never know exactly how the print will come out, and I enjoy the unexpected outcomes. *Coronavirus Disease 2019: Update in Maryland- 4/19/2020 12,847 confirmed cases  461 deaths         Update in New York State - 4/19/2020 247,815 confirmed cases  18,298 deaths, including 14,451 in NYC Total in United States: 759,118 confirmed cases, 40,666 deaths * All numbers are taken from Johns Hopkins Coronavirus Resource Center

My Art in the Time of a Pandemic Deconstructing wedding dresses When I am transforming wedding gowns into books, I am always curious about their histories.  Today, I worked on a wedding dress from 1940 and one from 1960.   This is a picture of the wedding gowns on my work table.  Even though I altered their outward appearances, their fabric weave structures and textures remain the same. *Coronavirus Disease 2019: Update in Maryland- 4/18/2020 12,326 confirmed cases  421 deaths         Update in New York State - 4/18/2020 242,424 confirmed cases  17,627 deaths, including 13,157 in NYC (*13,202 was reported in NYC yesterday) * All numbers are taken from Johns Hopkins Coronavirus Resource Center

Art in the Time of a Pandemic Masks and more masks. I've been making masks for family members and friends for the past two weeks.  I downloaded a free pattern and made a few adjustments so that the masks fit properly.   The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently recommended that everyone wear cloth face coverings over their noses and mouths when entering public places to help slow the spread of the new coronavirus.   On Wednesday, Gov. Larry Hogan announced the executive order to wear face masks, and tomorrow at 7:00am, this order will go into effect. Everyone in Maryland must wear a face mask inside stores or when riding public transportation. Another order that will go in effect tomorrow is: stores and carry-out restaurants will need to mark 6-foot distances for people to stand in line, sanitize the handles of shopping carts and baskets, and allow workers to wash their hands every 30 minutes. Face masks include cloth masks, handm...

My Art in the Time of a Pandemic This time spent in my home has allowed me to take an artistic journey through my library and archives. To understand the trajectory of my art during the last few years.  It has been a good time to reflect on the past, examine the present, and plan for the future. *Coronavirus Disease 2019: Update in Maryland- 4/16/2020 10,784 confirmed cases  294 deaths   (note: yesterday's total was 311)       Update in New York State - 4/16/2020 223,691 confirmed cases  14,832 deaths, including 11,477 in NYC * All numbers are taken from Johns Hopkins Coronavirus Resource Center

My Art in the Time of a Pandemic Love and Beloved Let those who are in favour with their stars Of public honour and proud titles boast, Whilst I, whom fortune of such triumph bars, Unlook'd for joy in that I honour most. Great princes' favourites their fair leaves spread But as the marigold at the sun's eye, And in themselves their pride lies buried, For at a frown they in their glory die. The painful warrior famoused for fight, After a thousand victories once foil'd, Is from the book of honour razed quite, And all the rest forgot for which he toil'd:   Then happy I, that love and am beloved   Where I may not remove nor be removed.       Shakespeare's Sonnet 25 ***** Coronavirus Disease 2019: Update in Maryland- 4/15/2020 10,032 confirmed cases  311 deaths         Update in New York State - 4/15/2020 214,698 confirmed cases  14,064 deaths, including 10,899 in NYC

My Art in the time of a Pandemic Today was about finding the calm in the midst of chaos.  It is important to slow down, take a deep breath, and not panic.  Access your situation, and control what you can. ****** Coronavirus Disease 2019: Update in Maryland- 4/14/2020 9,472 confirmed cases  302 deaths         Update in New York State - 4/14/2020 203,020 confirmed cases  10,842 deaths, including 7,905 in NYC

My Art in the Time of a Pandemic Art is emotion.  Art is passion.  Art is love. Art is struggle. Handmade book by Suzanne Coley Opera and Theatre take us through dramatic trajectories of emotions, in the short span of two hours. This morning I watched a wonderful production of  Hamlet, starring Michelle Terry in the title role.  This gender fluid Shakespeare production was filmed at the Globe Theatre in London. This is how The Globe described the production: "Encompassing political intrigue and sexual obsession, philosophical reflection and violent action, tragic depth and wild humor, Hamlet is a colossus in the story of English language and the fullest expression of Shakespeare's genius." The Globe also offers programs, talks, and podcasts that you can download. Hamlet is free on YouTube and will be available until Sunday, 19 April 2020.  It is amazing to see this great production on YouTube!  I would love to see more: maybe the Met?...

My Art in the Time of a Pandemic Nothing like reading the newspaper on Sunday mornings.  I enjoy touching the 22"x 24"pages.  I find myself holding them close to my face especially when I get lost in a story.  Pinching the cool coarse edges to turn a page reminds me that there are more stories waiting.  The sound of creasing, crinkling, crumpling paper sends a smile to my face.  The familiar musty scent brings back memories of years of reading about politics, crime, business, entertainment and lifestyles.  Each Sunday everything seems so new, unimaginable.  Looking back, everything becomes like the thin newsprint itself, made from wood pulp and recycled matter -- not intended to last long. This morning when I was reading the Sunday Times, I was going to print my linocut on the cover like I usually do.  But when I read the wonderful article The Caribou Lessons by Caroline Van Hemert in the Travel Section, I began to dream of traveling ac...

My Art in the Time of a Pandemic Day by day, minute by minute, I work. I feel like the book lover in "Time Enough at Last" an episode of the Twilight Zone.  Desiring time to work until every muscle in my body aches.  Not feeling any discomfort, only excitement to do what I love -- create.   ***** Coronavirus Disease 2019: Update in Maryland- 4/11/2020 7,694 confirmed cases  206 deaths         Update in New York State - 4/11/2020 181,825 confirmed cases  8,650 deaths, including 6,367 in NYC

My Art in the Time of a Pandemic Looking back . . . Today I was looking for an image I created a few years ago and I had to go through several drawers and boxes of my older works. It was nice to take a pause from my usual schedule and look through a few books that I created five years ago. You notice change when you look back. Coronavirus Disease 2019: Update in Maryland- 4/10/2020 6,968 confirmed cases  171 deaths         Update in New York State - 4/10/2020 174,481 confirmed cases  7,884 deaths, including 5,820 in NYC

My Art in the Time of a Pandemic Not marble, nor the gilded monuments Of princes, shall outlive this powerful rhyme; But you shall shine more bright in these contents Than unswept stone besmear'd with sluttish time. When wasteful war shall statues overturn, And broils root out the work of masonry, Nor Mars his sword nor war's quick fire shall burn The living record of your memory. 'Gainst death and all-oblivious enmity Shall you pace forth; your praise shall still find room Even in the eyes of all posterity That wear this world out to the ending doom. So, till the judgment that yourself arise, You live in this, and dwell in lover's eyes.      Shakespeare, Sonnet 55  *****       Today I spent ten hours working on my handmade textile books.  The base materials for my books are wedding dresses that I find at second hand shops.  I take the dresses apart at the seams and paint ...

My Art in the Time of a Pandemic The Library is Closed Temporal Lines by Suzanne Coley In Maryland, the coronavirus was moving quickly and on March 12 at 4pm, Governor Hogan issued an Executive Order prohibiting public access to State buildings.  Libraries were closed the next day.  If you borrowed any books or videos from the library, their due dates were automatically extended and all fines and fees during the closure were waived. I'm an avid reader and researcher and the closure of libraries has been a little difficult.  I appreciate the free access to e-books and the library's digital resources, but I don't really use them. The Maryland libraries also have a link to the Library of Congress catalog and searching for information on it is a little intimidating.  The other day I was looking for Richard Burton's performance in Hamlet and it gave me Richard Burton's marriages. With the libraries closed, I've been relying on my personal library.  Right ...

My Art in the Time of a Pandemic Printmaking on textile by Suzanne Coley     Devouring Time, blunt thou the lion's paws, And make the earth devour her own sweet brood; Pluck the keen teeth from the fierce tiger's jaws, And burn the long-liv'd Phoenix in her blood; Make glad and sorry seasons as thou fleets, And do whate'er thou wilt, swift-footed Time, To the wide world and all her fading sweets; But I forbid thee one more heinous crime: O, carve not with the hours my love's fair brow, Nor draw no lines there with thine antique pen! Him in thy course untainted do allow For beauty's pattern to succeeding men. Yet do thy worst, old Time! Despite thy wrong My love shall in my verse ever live young.       Shakespeare's Sonnet 19 I selected Sonnet 19 for my post today because of the way Shakespeare personified  Time as a powerful, devouring monster-like creature.  Puissant Time has the ability to  burn the immortal mythical...

My Art in the Time of a Pandemic Heroes for the Times Today on the CBS morning news, I watched reporter David Begnaud , dressed in what seemed like a well-equipped space suit, interview doctors and nurses working in the critical care unit of a Brooklyn hospital.  Mr. Begnaud showed viewers what is really happening in the ICU and the challenges medical personnel are facing every day with the coronavirus.  One of the nurses he interviewed was wearing a make-shift protective gear cut from plastic.  Her papery face mask didn't seem like it would last through her shift.  When Mr. Begnaud asked her what she needed, she responded, "I'd like a mask like yours for all of us.  And, a white suit like you have."  Mr. Begnaud then asked her what she was wearing and she said, "A plastic bag.  We are all wearing plastic bags."  Medical personnel were wearing plastic bags over their scrubs.  One doctor wore ski goggles to protect his eyes. Mr. Begnau...

My Art in a Time of a Pandemic When birds sing and church bells ring . . . Each day I create a circle in a square as a reminder of the birds singing, 4/5/2020 For the past week I've been waking up to birds singing outside my window.  Sweet, heart piercing tunes that take my mind off the shortage of masks, gloves, and gowns for front-line workers.  The need for more ventilators for the increasing number of critically ill. Wind Songs #4, by Suzanne Coley Songs with no words that speak to my soul, reminding me of the closed churches, closed schools, closed funeral homes.  The death of loved ones and how families cannot properly bury their bodies.  Cities can barely house them till they reach their final resting places.  And, if there is a funeral or resting place, no more than 10 people can attend.  Family must watch on video or through FB. Wind Song #3 by Suzanne Coley The birds sing each morning, giving me concerts as if I have special seats...

My Art in a Time of a Pandemic Two decades ago, I printed this photo in my darkroom.  This morning when I heard there were 630 deaths in 24 hours in New York,  I pulled it out of my archives.  And, I began to pray. Madonna Rising in Times Square by Suzanne Coley, analog photography  One hundred years with you would not be enough To show you all my love To shower you with kisses To touch you where it tickles To soften the blows of life To capture the wind in a jar and save for a still day One hundred years with you would not be enough For me to feel your presence as  We swim in the lake guided by the moon Even hurricanes didn’t touch our oak cabin you built Sturdy roof and small kitchen for two We have had wars where lives were lost Property was destroyed, children made orphans Our love endured Two days left before I take my final breath The machine will be turned off and all I Can think of is your kisses on my breas...

My Art in a time of a Pandemic Memories of teaching coding and embroidery at a New York City High School This year I was invited by Eleanor Roosevelt High School on the upper Eastside of Manhattan to teach art and design in several of their computer classes.  These STEM classes were taught by an innovative computer educator named Susan Ettenheim. Susan Ettenheim has been working on several projects. One of them aims to extend the computer coding skills of high schoolers in a very creative way. When working with textiles, the first thing I encourage all students to do is paint their own fabrics.  Start projects with blank canvases and create their own marks and images from the beginning.  We began our project with three basic colors, blue, yellow and red. The students were very happy with their first layer - painted textures.  After the paints dried, the students printed their computer coded designs, using an embroidery machine, onto the fabrics. ...