Finishing Proverbs

Upon finishing Proverbs I dove headlong into Ecclesiastes. Imagine my joy when I found a passage at the beginning of Chapter 3 that read: "To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose..." It's one of the perks of the project. 3:1-8 PP

Finishing The Book of Psalms

Shortly after the little movie below I finished the 150 entries in The Book of Psalms. It was a bitter sweet departure as I numbered page 1,086. The poetry had been so often a healing balm. The Book of Proverbs awaits with no doubt more healing as well. PP

A little movie

A little movie of handwriting the Book of Psalms.

How could I not be encouraged by this day?

Showed one of the finished volumes to a gentleman this afternoon who was moved to say that he was inclined to pick up a bible and start reading it. Another person, who is in possession of one of the facsimiles of The Book of Ruth, got in touch with me to make a donation of the pens that I write with. How could I not be encouraged by this day? PP

About half-way through

Looking forward to the coming season of chilly temperatures as I prepare to complete the Book of Psalms and cozy up with the Book of Proverbs. I'm about half-way though copying the complete Bible, and I'm feeling a bit frisky. Let's see how much I can finish in this next year.

In the meantime, it might be fun to see... if anyone will be able to guess how far along I'll be (chapter and verse) come January 1st, 2011. Post your thoughts here. Just remember. I got an AARP card this year. PP

Note on the photo: The dark shading on the edges of the pages indicates the progress of the handwriting. The shading comes from handling those pages as they're being copied. This photo is from May 2010, closer to the beginning of the Book of Psalms.

Erasing supplies

Supplies for erasing pencil lines on the pages of the handwritten bible as was mentioned in the Metroland article: 

“It’s just a ratty pencil case filled with erasers and pens. But each thing in there means something..."

It's also on display until July 23, 2010 at The Paper Sparrow in Troy, New York. You can see fingerprint impressions on the erasers when you look closely at the print. (Thank you to Kate for pointing this out!)

"Let There Be Light" in Metroland

We're jumping out of our skin today because this week our project is the subject of the cover story in Metroland. The author, Kathryn Geurin, accurately captures the motivations and progress of the project, the story of how we met, and the effects it's having on both our lives:

"They are not a likely pair, this aging black scribe and bubbly young Jewish artist. But there is a sort of yin and yang about their spirits that creates a balanced fit. Within moments of talking to either, the partnership makes wonderful sense."

Here's a lovely little excerpt about our Book of Ruth:

"It is, he says, his favorite book, 'because it’s about decent people doing decent things.' The cover of the facsimile bears a photograph of Patterson in his writing chair, an open volume resting across his arms, the lushness of the deep warm silks softened by the humility of his rolled sleeves and calloused hands." 

Note: Cover photo by Joe Putrock

The Book of Ruth for you to own

We are so excited to announce that the facsimile of The Book of Ruth is available to purchase online. It is positively radiant and came out just the way we envisioned.

There are 16 pages in the book with one color photograph on the front cover. It is signed by both of us on the inside of the back cover.

When the book is closed it is 8.5"x11" and when it is open it is 17"x11". The cover is printed on 110# watercolor cover and the inside pages are printed on 80# watercolor text. It was expertly scanned and printed by the McGreevy ProLab and ProPress.

(Copies are also available at The Paper Sparrow in downtown Troy in conjunction with our exhibit "Photographs by Laura Glazer with Works by Phillip Patterson" which is on view through July 23, 2010. See post below for more details.)

Opening reception

The opening reception at The Paper Sparrow was great and talking to everyone was even greater. We never got tired of signing copies of our new book. (It's a very beautiful facsimile of The Book of Ruth.
Signed copies will be available for purchase later this week
are now available here.)

Exhibit in Troy

Come see photos from our project and some

of the pages of the hand written bible up close.

The exhibit is June 25 - July 23, 2010

at The Paper Sparrow Gallery,

288 River Street, Troy, New York

Please join us at the opening reception

Friday, June 25, 2010 as part of Troy Night Out

5:00 - 9:00pm

(Come see the show even if you can't
make it to the opening reception!)
The gallery hours are:

Tuesday - Thursday: 10:00am - 4:00pm

Friday: 11:00am - 5:00pm
Saturday: 10:00am - 4:00pm


Extra volume

Had a peasant surprise with volume three. It accidentally contained one book too many. Needless to say, adjustments have been made and I find myself ahead of the game. The index is finished and the pages are waiting to be trimmed. In the meantime I thought I'd do a special edition of Ruth. PP

Indexing volume three

I'm organizing the index for the completion of the writing on volume three, (ending with Job). In some ways it's the best part of the project because I get to revisit all those characters, both sinister and noble, that always treat me like a well remembered friend. PP

Erasing the Book of Job

Continuing with the book of Job, though it's been a couple of days of erasing the lines that I have to draw in order to keep the text in place. Thirty-two over sized pages in a row. That's a lot of graphite. I also broke my routine and used a regular pink eraser. That's a lot of rubber crumbs. I could only do that because I was working outside. PP

From the Book of Job

 

Excerpt from the handwritten Book of Job:

For there is hope of a tree, if it be cut down, that it will sprout again, and that the tender branch thereof will not cease.

Though the root thereof wax old in the earth, and the stock thereof die in the ground:

Yet through the sent of water it will bud, and bring forth boughs like a plant.

But man dyeth, and wasteth away; yea, man giveth up the ghost, and where is he?

As the waters fail from the sea, and the flood decayeth and dryeth up:

So man lyeth down, and riseth not, till the heavens be no more, they shall not awake; nor be raised out of their sleep.

O that thou wouldest hide me in the grave, that thou wouldest keep me secret, until thy wrath be past, that thou wouldest appoint me a set time, and remember me!

If a man die, shall he live again? All the days of my appointed time will I wait, till my change come.

Thou shalt call, and I will answer thee: thou will have a desire to the work of thine hands.

Starting the Book of Job

Started the Book of Job today. I knew little more about it than the hype. So far I'm pleasantly surprised by the ratio of mayhem to contemplation. I still have a ways to go so I'm just sitting tight. PP

Esther

Starting the Book of Esther this morning. She's only ten chapters.
The book of Job waits with anticipating breath in the wings. PP

Drawing lines

Line drawing is usually done while talking on the phone via Bluetooth.

The drafting board props right on to two over-turned laundry baskets. 

Nehemiah

As of this writing I'm up to chapter 8 of Nehemiah. It's been a couple of 14 hour sessions in a row. Today will be another long one. PP

Show and tell at St. Peter's Church

Our "show and tell" at St. Peter's Presbyterian Church on Sunday, May 2, 2010, was excellent and invigorating! After we talked people came up and looked closely at pages from the handwritten bible. The church is in Spencertown, New York, and is 250 years old this year.

Second Chronicles

Finished Second Chronicles last night, just as I ran out of paper. I'll erase lines this morning, then go out and purchase a few supplies. Can't wait to get into the Book Of Ezra. PP

Article in The Columbia Paper

The Columbia Paper published an article on The Serenity of Knowing by Taitia Shelow with a great headline: Longhand project goes by chapter and verse. Here's the link:

www.columbiapaper.com/index.php/the-news/1129-by-taitia-shelow

Bookstore bibles

Part of the bible selection at the book store.

Still here!

Work on the bible and the photos continues

despite the silence here on the blog...we assure you.

Show and tell

Phillip explained what it's like to hand write the bible attoday's

show and tell talk at First Congregational Church in Albany.

The talk was during the coffee hour after the service.

People asked great questions about the project,

some relating to what role HIV plays in the project

and others relating to the content of the bible.

 The program for the service had a beautiful description of the project:

"Art speaks to our religious and spiritual life as much as the spoken word. The artist, Phillip, has been living with AIDS for more than 20 years. He took on this project as a way to gain more insight into his life and to face his mortality; he describes it as 'The Serenity of Knowing.' Photographer Laura Glazer has followed Phillip's work since early 2009. Phillip has finished writing the first five books of Moses."

Special thanks to Reverend Tony Green, Perry Junjulas,
and the members of First Congregational Church.

Article on All Over Albany

We are very thankful for the recent

article on our project on the website:

www.alloveralbany.com

The writer, Jessica Pasko, descibed

the project using great words at

a perfect pace; it is a pleasure

to read. Thank you to Jessica and

to the readers who left such

thoughtful comments. 

Interview

Talking about hand writing the bible during the interview with

Diane Goettel from A & U magazine this past December.
(We used Skype! Diane's in Japan, we're in New York!)


Taming the excitement after the interview
with a piece of chocolate.

The article is available now in the February 2010 issue.
(Find the magazine at AIDS service organizations and at
some newsstands. Or order a copy by sending an email to mailbox@aumag.org)

You're invited!

Sunday, February 28, 2010, around 11:30am

First Congregational Church, 405 Quail Street, Albany, New York 12203

Come take a look at the handwritten, hand-bound volumes of the bible on display during the coffee hour immediately following the church service. We'll talk a little bit about the project and show some pictures, too.

Free and open to everyone! (Church attendance not required!)

Cookie jars

Family cookie jars for oatmeal cookies.

Bread alone

It was a long and rewarding day of work. About the 7th. hour my mind played upon the phrase that... "man does not live by bread alone." I thought about it as I continued writing. Eventually I stopped for an hour and made myself the most delicious oatmeal cookies. It made getting back between the pages all the more satisfying. PP

Blood pressure

Blood pressure reading at today's doctor's appointment.

After Thanksgiving dinner

With Morgan after Thanksgiving dinner.

At the train station

At the Hudson train station on Saturday
to pick up Morgan.

Volume two

Volume two of the handwritten bible is finished and will be bound by hand soon. Work will begin on volume three promptly.