[journaldeflohr]

Les mots du voyage : lecture publique par des étudiants et bibliothécaires

Le manuscrit de Georg Flohr sera mis en voix avec d’autres récits de voyage, conservés dans les fonds patrimoniaux. Imprimés et manuscrits, tous évoquent la richesse et la diversité des motifs et manières de voyager. C’est au travers de ce florilège d’écrits, que l’on vous invite à prendre le large. 

Vendredi 23 juin 2017 à 18h30 en salle de conférence de la Médiathèque André Malraux- Strasbourg.

[journaldeflohr]

“Wanderlust”- Moments in a Journal of a Lifetime

Sided accordion with image transfers, digital images and watercolor. - 1/1

I was immediately struck by the history presented in the fragile aging document of the George Daniel Flohr journal.   His young age as he made his journey and recorded his observations of life in the new world.  The in depth details he uses, which are interspersed with personal accounts, stories and anecdotes immediately suggested to me to create my own reflection of time and experience.  In addition I was struck by the beauty of his sensitive script, stained and weathered pages all reinforcing the wear of time.

This lead me to an investigation of my own narratives, photographs and sketches and journal entrees collected over fifty years of past travels.  I have a love of travel and have done a fair amount of exploring for pleasure and work.  When I was nineteen I was awarded a Travel Scholarship, which provided me with my very first exploration of Europe. The Ex-Libris project gave a structure and presented a challenge where I chose to reflect on my own past.  Digging through old photographs and journals, it gave me the opportunity to ask why certain images or reflections were important to me and by pulling them out I could give them new meaning in the context of time.

Sara David Ringler

[journaldeflohr]

Aller simple

Gouache sur tirage papier d’un composite de cartes historiques, routières, ferroviaires, d’images satellites contre collé sur lin.- 1/1

Titre du poster : du Nord au Sud, tirage d’un composite d’image satellite du fleuve Oronte, tempera à l’œuf.

Le journal de Daniel Flohr est, à mes yeux, le carnet de voyage d’un soldat qui part pour  un pays étranger  participer à son indépendance. Il décrit les paysages et les peuples qu’il croise sur son périple. Etudiante, j’ai ramené des carnets de voyages, plus tard, depuis ma table, j’ai peint sur des cartes des signes abstraits, puis des motifs décoratifs sur des cartes historiques. Aujourd’hui quand en Europe on parle de voyage et de guerre et même d’indépendance,  ce sont les syriens qui viennent en premier lieu à l’esprit. Trois volontaires m’ont compté leur périple de Syrie vers l’Allemagne en 2015. La frise est le récit géographique de leur périple, des portions à pied, en bus, en avion, en bateau. Le paysage joint est une image du fleuve Oronte, le seul au monde qui prenne sa source au sud (au Liban), pour se jeter au nord en Méditerranée.

Marta Caradec

[journaldeflohr]

Navigating Ophelia

Boxed circular board book with hand-made papers, collage, transfer prints, leather cord, pencil, metal chain, grommets, metallic embroidery threads, plastic compass and other found objects, book board, task board, acrylic sheeting and butter board. - 1/1

What was most interesting about Daniel Flor? I am infatuated with ephemera, historic documentation, all matter of books and paper. I love the look and feel of his illustration and calligraphic writing. And of course his is such an amazing story -- as one who is also fascinated with story -- a unique window into time and place.

How does this project relate to your studio practice?

As to how this has influenced my studio practice -- that really remains to be seen. Deb Putnoi and I ended up really helping each other, so the project was a catalyst for deepening our working relationship. Deb and I were both exploring how we can develop ideas of personal story in innovative ways and we both ended up with LOTS of "spare parts" when we finished. We are both planning to use those parts to develop future work using themes and imagery from the Ex Libris project.

Ronni Kamarow

[journaldeflohr]

Flohr’s Birthplace

Photography - 1/1

Nous connaissons le voyage aller-retour de Flohr de Strasbourg au Nouveau Monde. Nous connaissons la fin de sa vie. Que nous manquait-il? On dit qu'il naquit dans le Palatinat, à Sarnstall ou Annweiler. Je suis parti à sa recherche, avec un appareil photo primitif, le Holga. Il pleuvait à verse. Au lieu du fantôme de Flohr, dans le cimetière, j'ai retrouvé mon nom. Les fantômes aiment ce genre de blagues. Dans une vitrine de magasin, la statue de la Liberté m'a fait un clin d’œil et souri à mon appareil. Elle aussi a voyagé d'Alsace vers l'Amérique.

Jean-Louis Hess 

[journaldeflohr]

A Study of Past Events (Georg Flohr in the New World)

Folding 3-panel box, letterpress, found and fabricated objects

Although most of the history we are taught is made up of major events and important figures, most people of course are never famous or grand or noted in official accounts---we primarily live lives filled with everyday common events.    Georg Daniel Flohr and his journal are interesting as an intersection of these two kinds of histories--- he was a common man who found himself in extraordinary times, transplanted from day to day life to an active arena of a major world event.

In my studio practice, I have a long interest in archives, collections and museum practices as ways that we construct, remember and preserve history, and also in how this history is essentially constructed only from whatever fragmentary evidence survives. Flohr’s diary is one such fragment and it informs us significantly in our understanding of the experiences, places and events of the years he chronicled.   For this project, I took the opportunity to create a portfolio that suggests an institutional collection.

Lisa Olson

[journaldeflohr]

Un kilomètre à pied…

Gravure, peinture acrylique, collage, pliage. - 1/1

Mon travail a été guidé par l'impulsion chromatique rouge et jaune de la représentation des habitations dans le manuscrit de George Daniel Flohr et de ce pas, rejoint le fil rouge du "Freedom Trail " (chemin de la liberté) qui guide les marcheurs dans Boston afin de découvrir les sites historiques de la révolution Américaine.

Les plans, indice de l'appropriation humaine d'un territoire peu importe le continent.

L'Homme à tête de pied évoque la marche des hommes reliant un territoire à un autre, peu importe la raison, mais, engendre dans sa course incessante, mixité et métissage.

Hafid Mourbat

[journaldeflohr]

Journée d’étude autour du manuscrit de G.D. Flohr

vendredi 2 juin 2017 - salle de conférence

Animée par Isabelle Laboulais, professeur d’histoire moderne à Faculté des Sciences Historiques de Strasbourg et responsable du comité scientifique ayant étudié le manuscrit de Flohr, accompagnée de chercheurs, enseignants et bibliothécaires pour présenter leurs travaux et débattre des sujets suivants : . 10h-12h30 (sur inscription: [email protected]) Présentation autour des pratiques et écritures du voyage : « Ce qu’un manuscrit de voyage du XVIIIe siècle dit aux historiens »

. 14h30- 16h30 Table ronde (entrée libre) : «Faire l’édition critique d’un manuscrit à l’âge du numérique»  

[journaldeflohr]

Flohr/Fleur/Flower

Accordion with wood block and stencil prints on BFK and Kozo papers with Charbonnel and Akua inks, photographs. - 1/3

Most interesting about Georg Daniel Flohr:

I think that his ability to keep such a detailed record of his life during the war was amazing. His observations were detailed enough so that when reading the translation I could picture the scene he was describing. I also found his record to be relatively free from political commentary, and just focused on his daily life and interactions with the people he met. He maintained a serious calm when taking care of other soldiers, whether wounded or sick, which would turn out to be a characteristic that he employed throughout his life. After I researched him (post American Revolution) I discovered that he had become a minister in Virginia and lived out his life here in the United States.  His background in the war, and later an attempt to become a doctor in Paris before leaving France forever, seem to me to be the beginning of his path to become a healer of a different sort. From a very humble beginning in Europe this young man became a person most beloved in a small rural community; the journey of his life was the most interesting source of inspiration for my project.

Studio practice:

I work mostly in a style which uses the forms of abstract expression and Impressionism. The ex Libris project allowed for wide interpretation of the GDF journal, and thus I felt free to use the book art to create my own impression of this young man. As his name Flohr means flower, I decided to create a book that would take the shape of a flower.  I like the way a flower may unfold and petals give depth, in my book you can see the pages as petals and the whole shape of the book as a flower.  This is how I could interpret the overview of a human life, unfolded as a flower, each petal with layer and depth in it to express the journey.

Kristine Arena

[journaldeflohr]

Rencontre

aquarelle et encre sur papier aquarelle. - 1/1

Le très riche et fascinant manuscrit de Georges Flohr sur la révolution Américaine, m’a plongé dans l’histoire profonde de la dérive de la guerre.

De l’injustice, de la conquête du monde, des génocides des indiens d’Amérique, de l’exportation des êtres humains m’ont permis de dessiner et transcrire mon instinct imaginaire simpliste et colorés.

Geneviève Aïssi

[journaldeflohr]

Georg Flohr: An Extended Journey

Double accordion structure with woodcut prints on rice paper. - 1/1

What did you find most interesting about Daniel Flohr?

Georg Daniel Flohr observed the world around him every day of his journey. He was a young man from a relatively uneducated background on an exciting and frightening adventure, yet he had the presence of mind to record his days. Marching, war and the physical strain of long sea voyages were probably not always condusive to reflection, yet his journal seemed to be his priority and joy.  He does not talk about himself, but his observations reveal a good mind and a curious nature. I enjoyed learning more about history through him.

How does this project relate to your studio practice?

I am a printmaker that works mostly in relief prints: woodcut and linoleum.  I keep several journals: a travel journal when I travel, a sketchbook for my studio practice, and a daily journal of my thoughts upon waking.  These will never have the historical import of Georg Daniel Flohr’s journal, as they are by nature very personal.   However I can relate to the impulse to record one’s days and impressions.  My book and poster for this project are extensions of my travel journal practice, which is related to my background in illustration.  I chose to illustrate Georg Flohr (GF) and his voyage with my own vocabulary of shapes and images using linoleum prints and collage. 

Julia Talcott

[journaldeflohr]

Paysages montés

Lithographies retravaillées, impressions numériques. - 1/ 2

Partir.

Éprouver la mer.

Découvrir un autre continent, la terre.

S'imprégner de paysages, s'enivrer.

Ces paysages, les mêmes éléments à chaque fois.

Revenir. Retranscrire.

Réaliser un collage d'extraits de voyage.

Georg Daniel Flohr a écrit cet ouvrage à partir de notes et observations prises sur le vif, mais également à partir d'informations glanées a posteriori. Avec des informations floues et d'autres plus précises, il a recomposé son périple.

De la même manière que lui, je recolle des fragments pour reconstituer des atmosphères et des paysages ; des ambiances et panoramas inspirés de ceux qu'il a décrit.

Mes fragments sont issus de lithographies réalisées au préalable. Leurs « tâches » font écho à celles du manuscrit, au vécu du papier.

Les évènements et éléments anciens, historiques, nourrissent quotidiennement mon travail. Fouiller et retrouver du passé me passionne. La lithographie et la céramique, techniques artisanales élaborées il y a des siècles, font partie de mes médiums de prédilection. 

Le paysage est très présent dans le récit de Flohr et ponctue son voyage. Il le dépeint comme un décor onirique constitué de motifs, chose à laquelle je suis sensible et que j'essaye également de retranscrire dans mon travail.

Elise Planhard

[journaldeflohr]

Chouette, une visite guidée !

Alain Eschenlauer, président de l’association Trafic d’Art et commissaire de l’exposition Ex-Libris : réinventer le manuscrit de Flohr sera présent demain à 18h en salle d’exposition de la médiathèque André Malraux.

Comprendre la démarche des artistes et découvrir les 26 œuvres/objets-livres/livres d’artistes, tel est votre programme pour vendredi soir!

[journaldeflohr]

Strasbourg Diary: 1985

Single signature structure with pamphlet stitch binding, cyanotype, vintage paper and collage. - 1/1

What did you find most interesting about Daniel Flohr?

For a young man born in the 18th century and raised in modest circumstances in the Northern European countryside, Flohr was remarkably adventurous and curious about the larger world. I admire his pluck in taking off for the New World, crossing the ocean to spend four dangerous and uncomfortable years as a foot soldier.  His writings reveal his compassionate view of the slaves, how they lived and how they were treated.  He was also very intrigued by the customs and appearance of the Native Americans, and found much to admire in their dancing and music-making. I am fascinated that he managed to create such a richly detailed, exquisitely handwritten and hand-illustrated account of his time on this continent. I find it oddly touching that he abandoned his study of medicine in Paris and returned to our fledgling, rough-hewn country.  Here he became a father (adoptive), husband, and minister and lived well into the 19th century.  Georg Daniel Flohr was clearly a man who thought for himself, and though not an artist, chose to make a beautiful book to memorialize his experiences.

How does this project relate to your studio practice?

I have worked with old books and found papers for many years. Books have long served as inspiration and as studio material, so this project fits right into my usual way of working. Flohr used the tools at his disposal - paper, ink, quill pen – to record his travels to this country.  When I visited Strasbourg in 1985 (thanks to a Boston/Strasbourg Sister City artist travel grant), I used the tools I had: 35 millimeter camera, slide film, my sketchbook/diary.  In response to the Ex Libris invitation, I used cyanotype to combine my 1985 images and text with maps from Baedeker’s Au Bords du Rhin (1906).  That particular copy had traveled to Strasbourg in 1909 with its original owner, who used it to record his own notes and observations.  I used two 20th century travel diaries/guides (mine and someone else’s) to make a 21st century artist book…

in response to an 18th century travel account!

Jess E ca Ferguson

[journaldeflohr]

Pays de Cocagne

Pays de cocagne, où la tentation de goûter aux fruits d'accortes indigènes peut conduire aux pires extrémités, où les espions pullulent, où les alligators pèsent le poids de plusieurs bœufs de l'ancien monde, où ronfler sous l'arbre mystérieux fait gonfler comme une baudruche, où de curieuses peuplades ont les pieds oranges et le nez à la place de la bouche...

Daniel Depoutot

[journaldeflohr]

The Landing Party

Flag book structure with collage and watercolor, wooden box. - 1/1

One of the biggest upheavals a person can undertake in a lifetime is to move countries. Daniel Flohr did not only relocate from Europe to America he also took the decision to fight in the war of Independence for and against countries he was not born into. This resonates with me on a very personal level because last year I became an American Citizen. I had to promise, if called upon, to bear arms against perceived enemies. This was really difficult. It intrigues me that Daniel Flohr was willing to enter into a battle for which he had neither inherited allegiance nor national obligation.

I was first introduced to the concept of Artist’s books at a thesis exhibition of Book Arts in London. It opened a whole new world to me and since then I have used that form as one of the platforms for my work. The interaction of structure, image and text presents a satisfying challenge.

Jan Powell

[journaldeflohr]

Eloges pour les scientifiques “flohriens”

Enquête sur les traces de Flohr, vendredi 5 mai 2017 : dans une ambiance ludique et dynamique, les chercheurs ont dévoilé au public le fruit de leurs recherches scientifiques autour du manuscrit de Georg Daniel Flohr, pour le plus grand plaisir des auditeurs, dont nous vous livrons quelques remarques très encourageantes pour la poursuite des recherches “flohriennes”  :

“Je vous remercie pour l'excellente soirée de vendredi qui nous a permis de prendre connaissance du travail des chercheurs”.

“Merci à tous pour la conférence d’hier. C’était formidable, stimulant, joyeux. Une belle présentation scientifique. La meilleure soirée que j’aie passé dans la salle de conférences de Malraux, et ce n’est pas peu dire”.