Saturday, May 12, 2012

a nifty library

so yesterday was hannah's
orientation at syracuse university's bird libraary 
special collections
peter verheyan gave us a tour, fed us
and off they toodled, and
off i tootled
 i love how the old paper sucks up ink
and the desire unerstand
the natural world
is with us still
(and we still understand so little)
 vovelles are my favorite parts
of kinesthetic books
 see how this on sits on the page
 with a tiny bit of added yellow pigment
 1574
 and there was this small psalter
with an amazing illuminated letter
 on vellum
 see how it rests in the interior
 then there were these funny birds
after a tasty lunch
good conversation with 
six people who love books as objects
as well as their bookness,
i spent time with this stack of books.
 look at those lines,
the gold leaf
and below the green pigment
hannah starts work in a week or so.
go to see the power & the piety
the world of medieval and renaissance europe
at the 
special collections research library
a little jewel of an exhibit.


20 comments:

  1. Oh my... beautiful. And the kinesthetic book - never SEEN one before from antiquity.... got the wheels turning (ha ha!)

    What an inspiring day! How far are you from Syracuse? Wondering if you'll be running over there for lunch with Hannah and more book-ing.

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  2. ALL special collections have their jewels. I am sure that both Hanna and you will be transformed by this tenure. What dreams she'll have...(just a wee bit envious)

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  3. valerie, syracuse is 2.5 hours away...but doable. when we meet, i'll show you how to make one!
    jude, it's a good library and special collections...well, beautiful.
    henrietta, i know you know all about those jewels...and i am also envious.

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  4. ah-mazing beauty. you catured so well. most interesting and you must have been in heaven!

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  5. YAY!!! SO exactly the place for hannah, and you. so glad you got to visit.

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  6. nancy, it was amazing and very down to earth as well. perfect.
    aimee, hannah wa reticent, until she saw the library AND got a sublet. YAY!

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  7. oh my! I don't know whether its my booky or calligraphic self that is the most excited by all the treasures! mmmm mmmmm MMMMMM!

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  8. superb books, their age and beauty

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  9. It sounds like you had a perfect day. Saw some divine books, lunched and chatted with booky people and then sat an enjoyed that gorgeous stack of books. Pretty perfect I would say!

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  10. V-such joy for Hanna - what a great experience. So good that you could share the day and soak up the beauty of old books. Go well. B

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  11. Hanna will surely love it especially with that treasure trove of glorious books to explore.

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  12. ronnie, they were just delicious. the beautiful lines on the second to last photo are divine
    cathy, they were superb, i wanted to leaf through each one, but the glass cases prevented!
    susan, it was just grand!
    barry, and she will be there for three months!
    penny, she will learn so much. both her brother and i are a wee bit jealous!

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  13. Heavenly --- and congratulations to Hannah and to you on your 600th.

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  14. jean, dully passed on to the offspring

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  15. I think days like these are golden and the makers of memories that shine. What a wonderful experience and opportunity - for Hannah, and for you to visit!

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  16. Hello Velma,
    you might enjoy this
    http://www.bl.uk/onlinegallery/sacredtexts/ttpbooks.html
    What a delightful visit you must have had

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  17. the illuminated book is a marvel. although i can be ecstatic w the indigo & the stripe and lattice design books too.

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  18. thanks, kat, i have some experience with the british library, but will go back because i'm sure there's more online than there used to be!
    neki, yes. ecstacy is right. i love bird library!

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  19. fiona, you would swoon over some of thoes lines i saw--

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