The Marblers
In early 1989 while trying to arrange speakers for the First International Marblers' Gathering in Santa Fe, New Mexico, at what I call St. John's School for Junior Spooks, I wrote Richard J. Wolfe asking him to be a speaker at the event. Dick Wolfe was an author, historian, and marbler. Polly Fox of the marbling journal Ink & Gall had already tried to get him to attend and was unsuccessful. I tried contacting him hopefully to make the argument that he would be a great addition to what I modestly called "The Largest Assembly of Marblers in the History of the Universe" His rejection letter to my offer pretty well summed up what some of the the traditional bookbinding elder statesmen and establishment figures felt about the new generation of crazy artists who were rediscovering the "ancient" art or craft of floating colors on water and printing the image that was created onto another surface.
Dear Mr. Coventry:-
Your letter of March 15 indicates to me that you are probably a nice guy, well-intentioned and serious and interested in doing the right thing. And you seem to be aware, as I am (and as are a few of the old-time marbler with whom I have been in contact) about the problems existing on today's marbling scene -- unbound enthusiasm, but limit knowledge on the part of many young marblers which, as you imply (or as I infer), need tempering.
Nonetheless, my time is severely compromised, and I have to carefully pick and choose in order to survive in an overly busy world and still pursue my own interests. I thought that I was very definite when writing to Ms. Fox, but I shall now iterate my very answer to her about participating in your forthcoming gathering: no.
My marbling history should be out in the fall, and I am hoping that it will begin to set a standard whereby the rediculous (sic) statements that have been coming out about marbling and its history will be measured in the future. My book will be highly documented; the typescript I turned into the press had over 200 pages of notes and references to sources and documents, and unlike most of the recent literature in this field, will indicate to the reader that my information is anchored into bedrock and not dangling from thin air. This, and the translations and other literature on marbling that I have been publishing (and hope to continue to publish), is my contribution to the field.That's enough for me; I have no more to say. And, as I have observed in academe, I do not wish to get involved in meetings that are dominated by people who know the least but want to talk the most. I don't want to compete with them or be involved with them.
I wish you well in your gathering, and I hope that all enjoy themselves.
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| Richard J. Wolfe (1928-2017) handmade stationary marbling (8 1/2 in. by 11 in.) dated March 22, 1989. |
