After two weeks in residency in Petaluma last June and three weeks of production in Philadelphia, our new artist book production is complete ! A big thank you to Macy Chadwick for having us at her In Cahoots residency and to Kelly for her assistantship in Philadelphia.

This book is an edition of 15 and celebrate our 12 years of collaboration anniversary.

“& (Ampersand in English, Esperluette in French) ” celebrates Smith and Fouquet’s collaborations, featuring individual and joint works in a playful flagbook structure. This piece illustrates creative synergy and demonstrates the power of artistic partnership.

A new book coming along.

Even if it’s not our field of expertise, we decided to get some training and get on the letterpress for our book project ! We used it as much as we could : with wooden block letters for the back of the accordeon displaying lots of synonyms for collaboration. We used it with a plate for the cover and back and the colophon. And we also used it for a colograph for the inside cover ! Requering no effort to turn the crank, the electric letterpress was really a delight to run.

After the welcome dinner

from left to right the residents of In Cahoots : Patty Smith, Jen Scheuer, myself (Claire Fouquet), Cullen Houser, Macy Chadwick (host and director of the residence), Britta Urness

It was a pleasure to work alongside all these inspirering artists and printmakers, discovering their process and their work.

Making some jacob’s ladder book dummies at the studio, using monotypes.

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new collaborative book project initiated