Book 54. The Tinder Box Part One. Martin, J and Penn, C. (2009) (Fig 53). The Tinder Box. Part One.  Unique collaborative artist’s book. Accordion bound book, mixed media including drawing, painting, stickers, fabric, photographs. 295cm x 30cm. Book 54.  Collection: Joan Martin.

Martin sent me a letter (2009)  (now part of 6TH June 2009 – 9th September 2009) detailing some of her concepts in this book.  An extract reads as  follows: The following ideas surrounding my part of the Tinder Box book we are creating together:  I see the soldier as representing me/or the male part of my personality (structured and ordered).  His journey home after the war could possibly be a metaphor for my life through duty.  I feel that I am at the beginning of a new phase in my life and I am only starting to reach my creative potential. Perhaps the witch (who often represents creativity in Jungian psychology) is the meeting with my own creativity

The tree represents the fulcrum around which the world revolves – both the underworld and the skies… the dog has always been a personal symbol of male aggression… the apron could perhaps represent the dependence on other people in my life.  I think this story is telling me to ‘cut the apron strings’ and act more independently if I want success.

I received the letter after I had finished working  into Martin’s book. After reading her explanations I found it interesting that I had mainly inserted witch images into her book.  The witch image ( a self portrait…) is accompanied by another shadow figure which is often present in  my work – the night crosser.  The question on the back of the book is “why do people always kill the witch in order to get what they want”?