Tea Marks
Weston, CT: Ellen Schiffman, 2024. Ellen Schiffman has worked as a professional artist for over 30 years in her Connecticut studio. She is a multimedia artist working in a range of modalities including fiber art, collage, sculpture, photography, printing, cyanotype, eco printing and, most recently, book art. She often combines multiple media in a single piece. Throughout her career, she has been an avid explorer of both material and technique, often including found objects and everyday humble items in her pieces. Serendipity and surprise are hallmarks of her singular work. She has exhibited her work nationwide, including numerous museum shows and solo exhibits. She has received multiple awards for her work and has been featured in online and print publications, including several books. Her work reflects a fascination with texture, pattern, color, organic shapes, sculptural forms, the majesty of nature, and the beauty of imperfection.
The pandemic shut-down provided Ellen with an abundance of time to explore and experiment with some media that were new to her. She started making books during this time. She felt an immediate connection with the materials and the techniques of this compelling art form and found the process of making books a meditative balm for stressful times. Books have allowed her the opportunity to present her work in new and exciting ways. She celebrates the fact, unlike most other forms of art, the viewer gets to touch and interact with a book, thereby becoming an active participant in the process of the book becoming a meaningful piece of art. She frequently uses her books to present a body of related art work, while just as often she uses them as vehicles to capture the essence of memorable places, issues and moments in time. As the worst of the pandemic has subsided, Ellen has continued her book making journey, exhibiting her books in notable book art exhibits nationwide.
This unusual and engaging book is a book sculpture in a custom box. Ellen explains its inspiration: "Tea time has been cherished tradition in many cultures for thousands of years. Although I have enjoyed drinking tea my entire life, it grew in importance to me during the pandemic. I stopped all activity twice daily for reflection, brainstorming, taking stock, writing in my journal and having a soothing cup of tea. Often, I would plan zooms with friends so that we could enjoy a cup of tea together. I started saving the tea bags from this daily ritual. My growing stash marked the passage of time. Eventually I started painting, drawing, printing, and writing thoughts on the delicate tea bag paper. Tea Marks, is a book sculpture made with boxed cubes which are covered with my pandemic tea bags. Each side of every cube has a unique image. This is a participatory sculpture, as the cubes in the box can be rearranged into a myriad of different ways and the cubes can be removed from the box and built into 3 dimensional structures. This book of boxes channels the reflective calm which the tea drinking imparts in a playful, creative and meditative way." The cubes are housed in an elegant beige cloth covered box with the title and a decorative image on the front cover. On the back of the box's cover is a quote that says "TEA: Cherishing a moment of simplicity and grace..." There are twenty handmade cubes that are each 2 inches square. The box measures 9 x 11.25 inches. In fine condition. ARTB/071124. Fine.
Item #37364
Price: $800.00