Artist Timothy Ely in front of FOUR FICTIONS ©2007 - dry pigment and gesso on Arches Cover formatted to match the Golden Rectangle

DIAGRAMMING FATE • Tim Ely • March 30 – May 1, 2009 • Everett Community College

EVERETT, WA – Hand-created books and watercolors by Everett Community College graduate and internationally recognized artist Timothy C. Ely will be on display at EvCC’s Russell Day Gallery until May 1.

Tim Ely creates unique manuscript books that are lavishly painted and drawn visual narratives, often including maps, cribiform writings, odd arcana and are about such topics as natural sciences, mathematics, architecture and sacred geometry.

He is influenced by comic books, Steam Punk design, and the study of history, religion and sociological and psychological phenomena. The works often include soil, sand, pigments, metals, inks, resins and wax. In addition, Tim is a 21st century bookbinder and printmaker who has developed bookbinding tools and equipment. His work is in library special collections and private collections worldwide. Tim lives in Colfax, Washington.

Tim's artwork is beautifully displayed in the Russell Day Gallery on campus

I’ve been a big fan of artist Tim Ely since my introduction to his work through books, periodicals and journals about 18 years ago. Back around 2000 I taught workshops at a store in Portland, Oregon, and the owner, well aware of my interest in hand-made books, asked me if I’d like to join her for the opening of Tim’s exhibit, ‘The Bookbinder’s Apothecary’ at a gallery in the Pearl District. I was thrilled that my workshops coincided with this exhibit, and readily accepted her invitation.

ROOT 9 ©2001 - Drum leaf binding with leather spine, tooled and relief rolled. Interior is ink, graphite, pastel and pigment pencil on offset custom printed graph paper

JUPITER EFFECT ©2005 - Full black leather drum leaf binding with gold tooling. Interior drawings are ink, watercolor and pastel on paper

The opening/reception took place in the evening on the day I arrived, and was a very special treat, to say the least, as I met Tim for the first time. Most of Tim’s work I’d seen up to that time consisted of incredible, meticulously crafted one-of-a-kind books and slipcases, and based on the title of the exhibit, I figured I’d be viewing this amazing artist’s most recent book structures. My assumption was dead wrong – there was nary a book in the entire show!

TABLE OF JUPITER ©2004 - Ink, paste, dry pigment on Arches Paper

BLACK MAPS ©1992 - Prepared paper, ink, acrylic, graphite, dry pigment on BFK Rives Paper

The exhibit featured wall hung panels, many of which had narrow shelves along the bottom edge with an assortment of tiny objects. The upper portions resembled renderings of outer space, with diagrams and formulas and planets and equations and dirt and sand from various parts of the known world and bits of brilliant color. These beautifully executed pieces had a mesmerizing effect on me and literally seemed to be otherworldly.

BLACK MAPS ©1992 - Prepared paper, ink, acrylic, graphite, dry pigment on black Rives Paper

DIAGRAMMING FATE ©2009 - Ink and dry pigment on Fabriano Paper

Fast forward nine years to May 16, 2009. I arrived early at Tim’s reception for ‘Diagramming Fate’, and talked with him then and several times throughout the evening. He graciously allowed me to take the photos in this blog post.

‘Diagramming Fate’ is fantastic, and, again for me, absolutely mesmerizing, with approximately 30 pieces spanning 20+ years. And this time, in addition to beautiful wall hung pieces on paper, there are lots of unique bookworks and some of Tim’s numerous sketchbooks. Don’t miss this exhibit!