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.