Lise Melhorn-Boe: RE Books an interview by NO and NO (Gabriel Cheung and Katharine Vingoe-Cram) is on the essays page. (Used by permission of Modern Fuel Artist-Run Centre, and NO and NO.)
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REACT, REGRET, REPEAT was inspired by a friend who was addicted to shopping. The colours I chose are (to me) unpleasant ones, and yet I think it is very beautiful. This book opens in an accordion and can be wall-hung.
2015, Kingston. 3 words. (22″ x 11″ x 3″) Unique. Collection of Michigan State University.
REAWAKEN, REMEMBER, READJUST tells part of the story of my son's recovery after a traumatic brain injury. The colours I chose, orange and purple, are his favourite colours. Some of these letters turned out quite fat; they are very satisfying to fondle. This book opens in an accordion and can be wall-hung.
2015, Kingston. 3 words. (22″ x 11″ x 4″) Unique. Collection of UCLA Biomedical Library.
This is another RE Book made about my son's experience. In this book, the words are REVIVE, RECUPERATE, REAPPRECIATE. Reappreciate was his choice. I had something else, but took it apart and re-made it at his request. The words in this book spill out vertically, to a length of about 6.5 feet.
2016, Kingston. 3 hanging words. (16″ x 12″ x 4″) Unique. Collection of UCLA Biomedical Library.
This small fabric flag book is made mostly from scraps of decorator fabrics. The words REORIENT, REDESIGN, RENOVATE refer both to my house and to my life, as I began anew after separating from my husband of 25 years.
2015, Kingston. (15″ x 6″ x 3.5″) Unique. Collection of Library and Archives Canada.
This hanging RE Book is grey and bleak. Black and grey, with a little bit of acid green. What can I say? I have not had good luck in love. One benefit is more time to make art! As with many of these RE Books, the cover is made mostly from upholstery fabrics.
2015, Kingston. 3 words. (18″ x 15″ x 6″) Unique. Collection of University of Calgary Special Collections Library.
My youngest sister helped me with the text for this book. The spring colours represent new life. The words, which open out horizontally in an accordion, are REPENT, RENEW, REJOICE.
2016, Kingston. 3 words in a block. (22 ″ x 10 1/2″ x 4 1/2″) Unique. Collection of Library and Archives Canada.
Unlike the other RE Books which have text made from used T-shirts, the letters that make up the words in this flag book (REBOOT, REINSTALL, REATTACH) are cut from used mouse pads, donated by several helpful artist-friends. There are also a couple of hardware components.
2015, Kingston. 3 words. (15 1/2″ x 5″ x 4″) Unique. Collection of University of Calgary Special Collections Library.
More grey bleakness here. As I said before, not much luck with love. The words in this book are: REGRET, RENEGOTIATE, REPEAT.
2016, Kingston. 3 words. (16″ x 12″ x 4″ ) Unique. Collection of University of Calgary Special Collections Library.
Encore une Fois uses the French words for the Three Rs of the environmental movement: REDUIRE, REUTILISER, RECYCLER. Lots of green in this hanging book.
2017, Kingston. 3 words. (12″ x 24″ x 4 1/2″ ) Unique. National Library and Archives Canada.
REIMAGINE, RECAPTURE, REAWAKEN are the cheerfully-colourful words in this RE Book. (I used my imagination.) It opens out horizontally and can hang on a wall.
2015, Kingston. 3 words in a block. (24.5″ x 12.5″ x 3.25″) Unique. Collection of University of Calgary Special Collections Library.
More happy colours for "Happy Memories." The outer cover fabric came from a piece of cotton which my mother had when she died; she would drape it over something when she wanted cheering up. The hanging text reads: REFLECT, REMINISCE, REJOICE.
2015, Kingston. 3 WORDS. (17″ x 11″ x 6″ ) Unique. Collection of Art Gallery of Ontario Library.
Painful Memories
RECALL, RE-ENACT,REPRESS speaks to the (not-so-helpful) habit of re-playing our bad memories and reliving them in our bodies. The letters fold up on themselves, and are tied with ribbons when the book is closed.
2016, Kingston. 3 words. (22″ x 12″ x 3.75″ ) Unique. Collection of Art Gallery of Ontario Library.
RECALL, RE-ENACT,REPRESS speaks to the (not-so-helpful) habit of re-playing our bad memories and reliving them in our bodies. The letters fold up on themselves, and are tied with ribbons when the book is closed.
2016, Kingston. 3 words. (22″ x 12″ x 3.75″ ) Unique. Collection of Art Gallery of Ontario Library.
Business-like browns and pale blue (think suits and ties) are the colours of this RE Book. The text reads: REJECT, RECONSIDER, READJUST. Some people stick together because they'd rather compromise than be alone.
2015, Kingston. 3 words. (18.25″ x 11″ x 4″) Unique. Collection of University of Calgary Library.
This second French-language RE Book was inspired by hearing the word "ressortir" on the CBC. It means taking out old memories (souvenirs, in French.) The colourful hanging text reads: REPENSER (to take a fresh look at,) RESSORTIR (to resurface memories,) REPRENDRE (to recapture, to take up again.)
2017, Kingston. 3 words. (22″ x 10 1/2″ x 4″) Unique. Collection of Art Gallery of Ontario Taylor Research Library.
While I was making Love Stories out of T-Shirts, my friend Beth Cook, in Toronto, was writing a poem ABOUT a t-shirt. I couldn't resist making that into a book as well. The text is rubber-stamped on 2 used t-shirts.
2017, Kingston. 6 pages. (30″ x 17″: opens to 30″ x 34″) Unique. Collection of University of Calgary Special Collections Library.