The adventure begins with the first step. My inspiration is my desire to create things and an appreciation for reflection. I feel there is a tactile experience people have with books and there is strong nostalgia that is growing with the decreased use of the physical book. Books are the cornerstone but the objects we use with them, around them, in conjunction with them are important too. Drawing in sketch books; writing in journals; tracking our lists, objectives, accomplishments on pages. These creative exercises are not the same when we use electronic media, and I think others feel the same. The basics of printing, binding, and art creation are the building blocks of what I expect are the foundation of better and greater things on this journey.
What is Corner House Press
Corner House Press is the idea of a physical space except that it exists only in my mind. It is an evolving picture of a building that, to me, is more entertaining to imagine than it is to fully realize in a physical location. I expect that it will never be fully conceived as it is constantly being remodeled, demolished, and rebuilt. Levels are constantly being added or removed. I picture various parts of it for inspiration. It is a building that has three distinct levels. The basement is the workshop. The main street level is a cafe or coffee shop. The levels above are the creative ideas that take many different shapes.
Sometimes I build it as a red brick building with stone corners and slate grey trim. The door hardware is darkened brass with a strong patina. Heavy doors swing open at the entrance and the tile under foot has an aged look. The smell of coffee is inviting, along with the warm humid air compared to the frigid and dry outdoors. The top of the building has Greek architectural dentils and the motif of Corinthian capitals. In spite of its attempt at ornate trimmings, it is still a building that could be from any city prior to the creation of skyscrapers. The basement is accessed at the back for deliveries or in the front by the steps that lead from the street level down to the entrance.
It is my creative space and where I go to find inspiration. It is filled with nostalgia. It is crowded with smells, textures, and sounds.