I found more of a reading groove in December, helped of course by the reading retreat I went on with Amber and some really good books!
Back in November, I fell in love with Etel Adnan’s weavings at the Guggenheim (you can see them in my IG highlight) but was immediately disappointed that I couldn’t find more information about them. Fortunately, I was able to track down this little book, Life is a Weaving, a collection of letters Adnan wrote when she first learned weaving and natural dyeing in the 60s, and not only did it explain her process in more detail, but the writing is downright beautiful. (And thankfully not in French, as it was described online.) It was also amazing how this book established a thread (pun intended) that carried through almost everything else I read in December.
In addition to Adnan’s book, I figured I would continue the theme and bring Selected Essays on Design by weaver Anni Albers along on our retreat. I have mixed feelings about this one. I loved some of the essays (especially when she talked about the importance of the tactile) but I was often frustrated by her elitist, modernist rhetoric, particularly her denigration of decoration. I know these essays are a product of her time and her attempts to elevate weaving to a “fine” art form, but at the same time, I couldn’t help but be disappointed.
One of the outliers I finished on our retreat was Lost in Work by Amelia Horgan. I’ll admit to being a little bored by this one, but it wasn’t Horgan’s fault. If you haven’t read anything on the theories of work, this book would serve as a good primer. But as I did a pretty solid deep-dive into the theory of work in 2020 and early 2021, there wasn’t much in there that was new to me. Still, if you’re looking for a more readable, less academic entree into theories of work, this is a solid place to start.
One of the books that Amber brought along on our retreat was Make Ink by Jason Logan, and I immediately fell in love Not only is the photography gorgeous and the paper quality dreamy, but the essays are fascinating. While I don’t have plans to make much ink of my own, I knew I had to have a copy of this book for my library! (And I did start a batch of blue ink from copper scraps, because, let’s face it, I have a lot of copper scraps floating around!) Reading making natural ink was also a lovely tie-in to Adnan’s essays, where she talks about learning to make natural dyes. Like I said, so many lovely threads of connection in this month’s reading.
Another book that I loved (and that also made my favorite books of the year list) was Water, Wood, & Wild Things by Hannah Kirshner. Kirshner writes about learning traditional Japanese crafts and skills in a tiny mountain town, and the result is an incredible exploration of tradition and craftsmanship. This book also fits itself nicely into the themes of this month, particularly the part where Kirshner learns to make charcoal (something that Make Ink teaches as well) and her experience making natural paper.
The final book I finished in 2021 was Mutualism by Sara Horowitz. Not only does this book have the distinction of having the most beautiful cover I’ve ever seen on a business book, but it’s also a fantastic exploration of the ways that mutualist-oriented businesses can help improve our world. It left me inspired, with some new project ideas for 2022!
PS. I couldn’t resist photographing two of my favorite books from December with one of my new colorful copper bowls. This one will be part of my next shop update, so make sure you’re on my mailing list so you don’t miss out!
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