BOOK * ART * JOURNAL EXHIBITION - Lynbrook, NY     In November 2003, Karen Michel and Carlo Thertus exhibited books and journals by Traci Bonkers, Juliana Coles, Dana Gentile, Ilya Noe, Carlo Thertus and altered books by Claudine Hellmuth, Linn Jacobs, Karen Michel, Lynne Perella, Monica Riffe, and Michelle Ward from the recently published "True Colors."

One of the exceptional pleasures of the exhibit was the way in which CASK (Creative Art Space for Kids) Foundation exhibited the work. The gallery is spacious, well lighted and provided the perfect setting. Visitors were able to both touch and see at close hand the details in each piece and feel part of rather than outside the books and art.

LINN JACOBS

left: TRACIE BONKERS    right: JULIANA COLES -

Ilya Noe's unadorned wall-hung book appeared to both guard and accentuate Lynne Perella's white journal, one devoid and the other resplendent with embellishment. Dana Gentile's work calmly invites you to come close and examine its fine details. Karen Michel's art both in her "True Colors" book and her other works, several of which are immense journals, are provocatively engaging, while retaining a whimsical, vibrant quality. I found myself traveling through Monica Riffe's and Claudine Hellmuth's green pages and coming back several times to admire Michelle Ward's Autumn, my favorite season and one of my own true colors.

Adjacent to the "True Color" books, Juliana Coles and Traci Bonkers had personal artist's journals, which together seemed to speak to and complement each other. I've admired Traci's work on line, but it was a thorough pleasure to see her work in person. I was fearful of the loose pages in Linn Jacob's yellow and copper journal sitting on a pedestal, but then Carlo pointed out that Linn had created her "folio" book as individual pages. What a pleasure!

The piece de resistance after touching, peering, retracing my steps, leaving and returning to CASK over a 2 hour period was Carlo's wall hung book of etched metal, paper and a reproduction of one of his paintings. The book is a thought provoking tribute to war and remembrance.

Taken together I can say, "terrific" and then "bravo" and finally "a must see." The range of work itself was extraordinary.

S. Zoe Hecht is a poet, and artist living in Park Slope, New York. Some of her work can be seen at www.itsmysite.com/parsifalsSister