silk-storied

New works in progress! I’ve been hard at work during my fellowship at Dieu Donne. I feel incredibly lucky to have access to a high end papermaking facility and to be working alongside master papermakers and guest artists! In this exploration, I continue to use the language/structure of the multi-tiered, elongated palm leaf manuscript. Here,

Embankment/Embodiment

Title: Embankment/Embodiment Medium: Jersey City Embankment soil, organic seed starting mix, ceramic, and wood Year: 2022 Dimensions Variable: 84” x 12” x 10” As we move about our city, it hovers above our street view, fenced off from the public. The human eye cannot see the Embankment in its entirety. Its presence speaks of earth

Special Edition Books

While COVID-19 shut downs persisted and my access to facilities for printing and binding were limited, I turned my Aferro studio into a production space. This project manifested as a limited edition of 60 artist books made by hand and took several months to complete. Studies in Brotherly Love is a collection of four poets

pale pink papermaking

My latest joy in the studio has been making paper with a new handmade sugeta mould. The mould consists of 2 parts – an interior flexible bamboo-splint mat, and an exterior framework which houses it. My main goal is creating consistent sheets – in color, texture and weight. I aim to make a good number

New Jersey Book Arts Symposium

WHAT BOOKS DO BETTER 25TH ANNUAL NEW JERSEY BOOK ARTS SYMPOSIUM @ RUTGERS UNIVERSITY, NEW BRUNSWICK On November 8, 2019, the twenty-fifth annual New Jersey Book Arts Symposium will feature presentations by: Ioulia Akhmadeeva, a Russian-Mexican visual artist, teacher and researcher; Maureen Cummins, founder of the Inanna Press, a recipient of the 2009 Pollock-Krasner Award,

Homage to the Ancients

A Place to Rest One’s Palms, 2019 Cyanotype on handmade paper from Thai Kozo (mulberry), Mitsumata, Philippine Gampi, Soapnut natural dye, Handmade rope and covers from Thai Kozo Dimensions variable (can be open or closed as a folded book) when open 88 in. x 42 in. x 1.5 in. The sewn structure is based on

All Things Inter-are

If you are a poet, you will see clearly that there is a cloud floating in this sheet of paper. Without a cloud, there will be no rain; without rain, the trees cannot grow: and without trees, we cannot make paper. The cloud is essential for the paper to exist. If the cloud is not

the book as sculpture

In Signatures, Version II, no text is present, there are no discernible pictures. It is the pure form and gesture of the earthen material to be read, which echo signs of human touch, providing textural information, and having a memory of its own. Each signature has unique punctures along its spine, traces of its disembodiment.

Art of the Book

Seager Gray Gallery presents The Art of the Book, 2018. This signature show for the gallery is in its 13th year and includes 42 works by 22 artists. The exhibition runs from May 2 to June 1, 2018. A full-color catalogue accompanies the exhibition and the artists include Robert Adams, Rhiannon Alpers, Tor Archer, Doug

On a Different Page

November 9 – December 14 Reception: Thursday, November 9, 5:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. Artist Talk: Thursday, November 30 at 5:30 p.m. On a Different Page presents the artist’s personal relationship to the book as art form. Whether storytelling, tackling social issues, sculpting or deconstructing, each of the artists in this exhibition utilize the book

bookwork in progress

The french phrase, “nous sommes simplement de passage” translates into “we are only here for a moment’s time.” This bookwork of grief is a personal confrontation of a silent event, recognizing that the process of healing is communal. Every book is coded, a system of signs to be decoded by its reader. It is the

another clay book!

more books to the kiln

Clay and porcelain 

clay books, bisqued

Next generation of Eviscera books…by Jaz Graf.

handmade books

Book binding can be so meditative! So far, my favorite binding I’ve practiced is the french loop link with exposed spine. 

Exhibit @ AAHD Gallery

NEW FACES @ AAHD Gallery, University of Notre Dame On view Dec 1, 2016 – Jan 16, 2017 Jaz Graf – Trophic Avulsions, 2016, Cyanotype accordion book with thread drawing, paper lithography and laser engraving on wood, Dimensions variable, closed: 6” x 8.5” x 1” Jaz Graf – Here and After Series, 2016, Paper lithography on muslin with laser cut-outs,

all in blue

A new book in progress! Cyanotype images featuring deltas of the world, with thread drawing throughout. I was thinking about the currency of transboundary rivers and all that collects at the delta. Aerial views of these land areas provide a vast expanse of what is perpetually in flux.

studio visits at VSC residency

I was awarded a Civil Society Institute Fellowship at the Vermont Studio Center to participate as an artist-in-residence. I had my first studio visits here with Byron Kim, Jen Bervin and Miguel Luciano. Open Studios, book-spread inspired walls, influenced by writers in-residence… Visual Artists in residency, Vermont Studio Center May 2016 (Barbara White Studios)

In Other Words

Nine solo exhibitions in drawing, painting, and print featuring Terri Amig: Mercury and the Little Mysteries, Enrico Gomez: Paper Works, Lisa Ficarelli-Halpern: Chamber Pieces, Eileen Ferara: Estuary, Jaz Graf: In Other Words, Carol Radsprecher: We’ve Escaped the Studio!, Eliot Markell: Imaginary Sculptures, James Prez: Bird(s) on a Wire, and Max Velez: Faces. @ Drawing Rooms

Open Studio This Weekend :)

Jaz Graf Open Studio prints, book arts, and drawings Saturday and Sunday, Oct 18-19 from 12-5pm Merseles Studios – 339 Newark Avenue @5th St, in the Monaco Lock Bldg downtown Jersey City, NJ #69 on the JCAST Map http://www.thejcast.com (with 6 other art studios + resident artists exhibit) My work will also be included in

text flirting in 3-d

exhibition in keene

On view thru June 8, 2013 – KSC Art Alumni Exhibition curated by Rosemarie Bernardi, featuring works of Randall Merchant, Jaz Graf, Katie Houle, Eileen Longe, and Nicholas Petrow. My work was featured in a recent article by Summer Dawn Hortillosa in The Jersey City Independent – http://www.jerseycityindependent.com/2013/04/29/a-lasting-impression-artist-jaz-graf-deconstructs-materials-to-build-new-ideas/

an open book

These pieces were recently exhibited at City Hall in celebration of Women’s History Month. Book pages are selected poetry by women from Immortal Poems of the English Language.

ash

On the daily commute, I saw lots of people with ash crosses on their foreheads for Ash Wednesday. It got me thinking about James Castle, a deaf, illiterate, self-taught artist who barely ever left his home. His communication skills were limited and few in his family could understand him. His assemblages, drawings and book pieces

paperwork

Truly awe inspiring artist books and paper sculpture by Swiss artist, Valerie Buess.

busy weekend!

Fri, Sat and Sun have been jam packed with amazing arts events! This weekend is Jersey City Artists Studio Tours. Selections from the 2010 GRAF X-change are on exhibit at the Grassroots Community Space. A visit to the NY Art Book Fair @ MOMA PS1 was intoxicating and stimulating. An impressive collection of books and

remembrance

My Eviscera installation is included in “Remembrance of Things Past,” a juried show featuring the works of 50 New Jersey artists. On view September 8th, 2011 to February 15th 2012 at Gallery 14 Maple, part of the Arts Council of Morris. Opening reception on September 8th from 6-8pm. An impressive array of art, exhibited in

altered books

The sickest assortment of altered books I’ve ever seen!@ Brian Dettmer has a solo show on view in Chelsea at Kinz + Tillou Fine Art thru June 11th.

home

I once heard an old man in a wheelchair yell “Take me Home where I belong!” I have stolen this phrase from him and continue to use it often. That’s how I feel most of the time. When I spotted this painting by Jeremy Geddes– It seemed to say the same thing.

Participate in the Sketchbook Project

Art House Co-op (now located in Brooklyn) is having another Sketchbook Project series of exhibitions all over the country! $25 gets you a book and return it by Jan 31st 2012 to have your work seen by the masses! Read more about it here…

Print Installation

The opening reception for Eviscera was great! Despite the bad weather it was a good turnout of people. I even sold my book, Blub Blub Blub! Here is a pic of my installation from the Eviscera series. EVISCERA, 2010-11 Paper lithography on muslin with mixed media Dimensions variable Origin: c.1600, from Latin verb ēviscerāre,–e (ex)

E V I S C E R A

Come and join me for an exhibit of recent print work at the Manhattan Graphics Center (481 Washington St btw Spring+Canal) NYC. Sat, FEBRUARY 5th 2011 from 6-8pm On view through February. Also on view in the Project Space: International Print + Stencil Exchange Exhibition featuring over 30 artists work. In 2008 and 2010 I

Upcoming exhibit & auction

My work was selected to be included in a group show at the Printmaking Center of New Jersey. A Reverence for Water October 23-December 5, 2010 Reception: Oct 23rd from 1-4pm Live Auction: Dec 5th from 4-7pm   (auction benefits ANJEC, Association of NJ Environmental Commissions) Location: Printmaking Center of NJ, 440 River Road, Branchburg, NJ

Jersey City Artists Studio Tour 2010

spring books!

Koshi Kawachi breathes new life into old comics. he calls it “manga farming.” and i am in love with it!

enchanted creatures

recently discovered the illustrations of Fernando Forero – this artist has some wicked style! im dying to get my hands on Bestiary – a book of his imagined creatures. these manifestations are truly fantastical.

handmade gifts for the little ones

so my nephew is big into science and nature so i made him a book to jot down his microscopic findings and inventions. the best gift i got as a kid was a microscope and i loved eyeballing weird things – the covers of this book are a compilation of all things scientific made by

Gallery Catalogue

Published in my first gallery catalogue! Exquisite Corpse, Paul Robeson Galleries 30th Anniversary, a full color, 64 page book, Published 2009 ISBN# 978-0-9795167-7-1

street arts book release

Last summer there was a call for art on on Priority Mail Stickers (label#228). I sent in some stencil pieces and they were selected to be published in “Label 228 – A Street Art Project.” The book is available for purchase on Amazon.

Making books…

Recently been working on book projects. This is the latest: