A couple of weeks ago I came back from a brief trip to the breathtaking Pacific coast in California. One of the highlights was definitely the sightings of those adorable nursing baby elephant seals near San Simeon.

While there was nothing related to book arts during this trip, I did manage to find something book-related. At this interior design shop called Rubbish Interiors in the Silver Lake area of LA, I saw two home objects!

A stack of book... coffee table. The middle book is actually a drawer with a handle in the form of a bookmark:


And another stack of books... which are in fact, stone book boxes:


A few doors from Rubbish Interiors is Materials and Applications' exhibition space, currently showcasing a scaly metallic sculpture called Bloom (by Doris Sung in collaboration with Ingalill Wahlroos-Ritter and Matthew Melnyk). It is

A 20 foot tall shiny metal 'flower' who's skin will open and close with the heat of the sun and provide a unique and exciting experience for the thousands of visitors to this unique art laboratory. (Excerpt from Materials and Applications' website)

This very blog you're reading right now will participate in the strike on January 18th from 8AM to 8PM (EST) in support the cause to stop the "web censorship bills" (SOPA and PIPA). It will go dark and will not be available during that time period.

A little over a year ago, Rapzunel left home and traveled from New York to Delaware then to Maryland. Now she's back with me.

When the package was dropped off by the art handler, I couldn't wait to open it, as if it were a present. I opened the box excitedly, then felt a little bit emotional. I truly missed her!

It certainly feels like summer just flew right by me. Despite my occasional tweets and Facebook posts, I've been really quiet.

There is always something in our lives that we said we'd want to do, but either we procrastinate or just avoid it, until it's too late. Since I had my boy cat Yogi in 2008, I've been wanting to make a book about him. Well, he passed at the end of June. He was only a little more than 4 years old and it was really devastating. This experience pretty much clouded my whole summer. Most days were gloomy since.

Then again, it might be a good idea to make a book about him to help myself grieve. Maybe. Perhaps. That's not something I could force myself too hard into doing.

That pretty much summed up my summer, which explains why it felt like it just flew right by. The equinox is only 10 more days away.

I can only hope that fall will be better. Afterall, fall is my favorite season of the year. This fall, both of my Rapunzels are away on display. One at Towson University and the other at NOPX in Turin. Things are happening again.

And I shall write again.

Last Thursday I had an awesome opening at Phoenix Gallery. I was lucky enough to have my solo show alongside with four other talented artists: David Bogus, John Breiner, Heechan Kim and Rebecca Rose.


Here is a list of the work that are showing until July 16:

Hokusai's Yurei (Hokusai's Ghost) (2010)


The Ugly Duckling (2010)


Duotone #2 (2010) and Duotone (2009)

Friends know that I have a detest for the summer in New York. While I am still enjoying the last leg of spring, I am already dreading for the heat waves coming in the next few months. I am not kidding.

However, with two upcoming shows in the city this Summer, that would possibly make New York City Summer a more bearable for me! Hot!

Phoenix Gallery (June 22 - July 16, 2011)

Opening next week is my solo at Phoenix Gallery. The show will feature a number of pieces, including Hokusai's Yurei (2011) and Rapunzel #2 (2011). (To go along with the show, I will be writing about the process behind these two pieces in the coming weeks.)

From the press release:

No. 19 is Phoenix Gallery’s 19th Annual Juried Competition and is curated and juried by Renée Vara. The show, taking its cue from Bauhaus philosophy, suggests that the impulse to create an aesthetic that unifies fine art, design, and fashion, has come to full completion. Dennis Yuen was awarded the solo show. The exhibition will also feature 4 finalists – David Bogus, John Breiner, Heechan Kim, and Rebecca Rose.

The Center for Book Arts (July 6, 2011 - September 10, 2011)
Then throughout the rest of summer, Pages (2011) will be hung in the air-conditioned Center for Book Arts while I sweat like crazy on the streets. The show is entitled The Un(framed) Photograph, curated by Alexander Campos and Doug Beube.

This exhibition, featuring current members of CBA's artistic community and other invited artists whose work will further the discourse, will focus on how the art of photography, the photographic process, and related media such as video stills are used to convey content, form, text, and image within a broader context of book arts practices. Artworks featured in this exhibition will represent a broad range of book and related arts, including but not limited to books, prints, sculpture, mixed-media installation, new media, and performance art.

Last week, 2 long-overdue websites finally came to be.

Affordable Binding Equipment (affordablebindingequipment.com)

First of, California-based cabinet-maker and bookbinder Jim Poelstra, who has been making affordable and high quality bookbinding equipment for years and sell them solely on eBay, now has his own website.

In 2006, I've purchased a sewing frame from him and I simply love the craftsmanship of the piece. Since I wrote about it in back then, people have written to me and asked where they can buy his work, but I really couldn't them much because his eBay store has been on and off.

But now, you can see all of Jim's work -- presses, frames and cradles -- and purchase them directly through eBay again.

Susan Mills (susanmillsartistbooks.com)

I always write about Susan Mills, not only because I attribute a lot of my basic bookbinding techniques to her, but also because I simply love her work. Guess what, Susan finally has a website that lists some of her artist books. You can even buy them on the site!

If I can afford to get another MFA, I would totally consider going to Center for the Book at University of Iowa, which announced yesterday that they will be offering an MFA program in book arts starting next Fall.

Now should you want to get an MFA in book arts, you can choose to go to Alabama, Philadelphia, Chicago, Oakland or Iowa.

Read the press release on the annoucement