I had successfully printed my two Metro newspapers on to live wildflower seed-infused paper. I had laser-cut their deckled edges and assembled them in numerical order using the original newspapers as a guide.
Here are some images of my two finished 'MetGro' Newspapers!
As you can see, the MetGros look very thick - like hand made books. They were certainly more bulky than regular Metro newspapers because the seed paper was so heavy. Because of this, it was impossible to fold the paper down the centre and staple together.
It proved difficult working out how to bind the seedpaper together so that the final product looked as close to the original newspapers as possible.
Finally, I came up with a solution.
By glue binding the 'spines' of the seedpaper piles and then using the front page of the newspapers to wrap over the spines to create a smooth finish and to hide any unsightly glue, the pieces looked as newspaper-like as they could without being folded..
I really liked the way that the papers were 'ready-mades' with a twist. I had taken something so recognisable and by simply printing it on to different paper, the MetGros became important art objects; not to be cast aside once read on the tube, but to be exhibited and observed.
From start to finish, the process of making these two MetGros took approximately five weeks - to order and wait for the paper to be made; to scan each newspaper; to edit each scan and prepare for the printers; to digitally print each page; to laser-cut the seedpaper accurately; to assemble the pages and finally to glue bind them together. I had grown so attached to both pieces. Having worked so hard on them it was interesting that everyone who helped me along the way began to treat the pieces with care, delicately lifting the pages to read the articles and feel the seeds in the paper. It was as though I had suddenly given these free newspapers a greater value.
It seemed a shame to rip them up and put them in soil!
Oh well, on to Stage Two of the process... organising the METGROW EVENT!
Here are some images of my two finished 'MetGro' Newspapers!
As you can see, the MetGros look very thick - like hand made books. They were certainly more bulky than regular Metro newspapers because the seed paper was so heavy. Because of this, it was impossible to fold the paper down the centre and staple together.
It proved difficult working out how to bind the seedpaper together so that the final product looked as close to the original newspapers as possible.
Finally, I came up with a solution.
By glue binding the 'spines' of the seedpaper piles and then using the front page of the newspapers to wrap over the spines to create a smooth finish and to hide any unsightly glue, the pieces looked as newspaper-like as they could without being folded..
I really liked the way that the papers were 'ready-mades' with a twist. I had taken something so recognisable and by simply printing it on to different paper, the MetGros became important art objects; not to be cast aside once read on the tube, but to be exhibited and observed.
From start to finish, the process of making these two MetGros took approximately five weeks - to order and wait for the paper to be made; to scan each newspaper; to edit each scan and prepare for the printers; to digitally print each page; to laser-cut the seedpaper accurately; to assemble the pages and finally to glue bind them together. I had grown so attached to both pieces. Having worked so hard on them it was interesting that everyone who helped me along the way began to treat the pieces with care, delicately lifting the pages to read the articles and feel the seeds in the paper. It was as though I had suddenly given these free newspapers a greater value.
It seemed a shame to rip them up and put them in soil!
Oh well, on to Stage Two of the process... organising the METGROW EVENT!
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