A pre-arranged making day afforded time to conclude Kitchenalia – bringing together each side of the story for the first time. As we collated and prepared to conclude the final elements of production, we shared stories of change, noting the adaptation of scale and placement in response to the work of the other. Preferred outcomes were selected, favourite responses discussed, and ideas for next interactions of Kitchenalia determined. The new books will offer the opportunity for ideas and making methodologies developed individiually to be extended collaboratively within a shared response.
Having made a series of seven independent responses to the kitchen, we are beginning to combine our work – adjusting content and placement in response to the work of the other to inform new pairings of prompts and props.
Our pre-arranged making day was an opportunity to exchange work produced independently for the kitchen project and to enable the next stage of the making process.
In keeping with the premise of doing things differently, there was no pre-determined list of tasks to be completed, rather the day started with a discussion enabling us to reflect on each other’s work and draw up individual action plans to determine the composition of each page when combining the two individual books together. Whilst there were some inevitable challenges through working autonomously, ongoing dialogue and a mutual understanding of the perceived final outcome enabled us to easily accommodate the proposed merging of design elements. Alternative layouts were considered, content adjusted, and new combined outcomes determined.
The next task was to clarify the endpaper design; earlier WhatsApp messages had generated several starting points, T had brought several relevant ‘props’ from home to help develop ideas. With limited time together decisions were formed quickly and purposefully with thoughts around shared ‘prompts’ considered. An appropriate paper stock was selected and we determined to print a series of concentric circles based on the lids of a coffee container (owned by T) and teabag container (owned by P), thus reflecting a collective response to our individual drinks of choice. Working at the actual scale of the objects meant we could print on large sheets to be trimmed to size when completed.
The usual format of the making day is to complete a series of individually allocated tasks, however we undertook the printing process together, offering an opportunity to learn and put into practice new techniques and processes of making (as well as benefitting from a more efficient use of time). Having confirmed the final title and subtitle, we worked alongside each other to trial either a self-adhesive label or etterpress type for the cover that will be printed at a later date.
As with making days, on-going conversation led to new idea generation and a ‘spin-off’ edition from Kitchenalia was explored. Shared starting points exploring Special Collections and associated found phrases resonated with both of us, prompting future reading and exploration. Throughout the two days as we continued to discuss the current book chapter it became apparent that we have developed a series of significant collaborative practices; we agreed to formalise these for future use by starting to collate a database of keywords relating to each project plus the range of titles and styles of book introductions produced so far.
P: Disaster, set solid. Squidgy chocolate log. Dessert. Black biro
This phrase was not part of the original selection, however after re-jigging the page order at week 4 it seemed an appropriate inclusion for the remaining single page. Within typographic terminology ‘set solid’ means to set type without any leading, therefore this sentiment seemed to align perfectly with the phrase itself; mindful that as a single page there has to be space for T to ‘add to’ the work, I produced several visuals of different layouts with type that overlapped and merged together, however after test-printing just one idea, I was pleased with the result and proceeded to produce the final prints. The use of a fluorescent ! acts as a form to align the letters to.
T: Sunday Lunch: A great opportunity for wine
Consideration around the final response, led to ideas around last – last day of the week, last remaining objects of a set, last drawer in the kitchen, last place to look….. I began to list objects and memories connected with this which led to reading around the traditions associated with a Sunday lunch. Having been gifted a gravy boat and custard jug from my parents dinner service years ago, I undertook some first research about these items noting the crown and mark of Johnson Bros on the base of each object. Ideas around family resonated and multiple connections emerged including the three brothers who manufactured the ceramics being the grandsons of a famous potter, and the rituals of a Sunday dinner revolving around family. With a nod to previously employed systems and methodologies, I traced around the saucer of the gravy boat and identified my mother and her three grand daughters through typewritten self adhesive labels. A relief print of the last remaining wine glass from a set given as a wedding present employs a colour from my wedding dress and links with the found phrase selected from research into the Sunday lunch.
meeting in the middle 