"Time Suspended: One Hundred Quiet Moments #1" is a series of small, very intimate drawings intended to inspire quiet contemplation. It took me over a year to complete the 100 drawings in this project, using a wide variety of metals such as silver, gold, copper, aluminum, platinum, brass, steel or pewter. Each drawing measures 3.5" x 3.5" and is individually wrapped in glassine and the set is contained in a small leather box. The viewer can look at them one at a time or spread them out to see the drawings as a group; the order is at the discretion of the viewer.


Several of my artist books have been produced in collaboration with composer Martin Boykan. "Flume" and "Nocturne", both variable editions, combine metalpoint drawing with a musical score in a format which is reminiscent of Oriental art (accordion or scroll). For both of these books the music (clarinet or viola da gamba) was written first, and after listening, I began to imagine the drawing that might flow along with it. A CD of the piece accompanies each book.


"Flume", an edition of 5 books, is in the collection of The Museum of Modern Art, NYC; The Library of Congress (LOC); Reed College, Portland, OR; and the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. (The edition is sold out). "Nocturne", an edition of 10, plus an artist proof, is in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum, London; the Athenaeum of Music and Art, La Jolla, CA; Reed College, Portland, OR; Boston Public Library; Carnegie Mellon University, Hunt Library, Pittsburgh, PA; and the LOC.


Interview

Susan Schwalb and composer Martin Boykan are interviewed by Stephen Soderberg, discussing their experiences collaborating on artist books

Library of Congress, Washington DC

March 2010