Amanda Burns | Tales from The Salon Fabula

Tales From The Salon Fabula

(Art book project)

“I am the teller of the tale, not the creator of the story” (Michael Powell)

Tales from The Salon Fabula is a participatory book project based around themes of story telling and collaboration. It is open to all women (and anyone identifying as) from age 0 to 100+.

What is it About?

The Surrealists developed a game called Exquisite Corpse, based on the parlour game Consequences. Players each take a turn drawing on a section of a sheet of paper, folded to conceal the drawing, the player passes it on to the next contributor. Once unfolded, strange (surreal) images are revealed. In the parlour game of Consequences, each player contributes to an ad-lib spoken word story. Both games allow us to leave things to chance. No one can predict how the story unfolds or how it will end.

This collaborative project is the second to emerge from The Salon Fabula. The idea originated from the desire to have women (and anyone identifying as) of all generations talking with each other, working together, creating together and developing creative dialogue in a positive, proactive, non-competitive way. Contributors don’t need to be artists or of any artistic persuasion, they are simply required to make and do (using hands, feet or any other applied technique they wish).

How Does it Work?

It works in a similar way to the Travelling Moleskines, but here, the invitation is to “read” the previous pages first, then continue the story as the 'reader' (you) has interpreted the story so far: be it drawing, painting, photography, text, video, collage, mixed media, sound, sewing, found. There is no singular theme and there are no rules except that the contribution is a response to (interpretation of) the previous pages as the reader has read them.

Interim exhibitions at stages of the book’s journey will serve as a way to showcase the work of the participants and hopefully engage more women to take part…

Take Part

If you would like to take part please get in touch via the Contact Page or email amanda@amandaburns.com

PROJECT NEWS >>

Book cover

Pg 1

By Amanda Burns - UK "Once Upon A Time..."

Pg 2

By: Joni Belaruski - London, UK "8 Years. That's when I blew it all away" www.jonibelaruski.com

Pg 3

By Tigger - London, UK "I stole... ...and had to let go"

Pg 4

By Ella Guru - London, UK "My house of cards. Down down the tower goes..."

Pg 5

By Magpies Three - Leeds, UK "There were two women who liked to take tea. They'd tell a few tales to you and me. They'd sit and chat about this and that. Sitting drinking not really thinking. Passing a thought without a thought passing. Saying a thing that should not be said, that thinking about it may have been a thought by you or by me." www.magpiesthree.com

Pg 6

By Helen Clayton - London, UK "What are my construction strings??? Think. dissect. Discuss. Simplicity. Beauty. Share. Collect. Indulgence. Embrace. Capture. Strangers passing every day. Life..."

Pg 7

By Amanda Mae Steele - London, UK "It's only when I'm truly naked am I truly myself. It's only when you see me Naked that you choose to love or leave me. When we both are truly naked we both are truly free..."

Pg 8

By Beryl Brewis - High Wycombe, UK " It was dark when my wings appeared. The stillness of the night punctured by my goddess, my warrior queen, she's come to set me free, give me strength, uncompromising yet compassionate. I step forth woman."

Pg 9

By Jessica Laljee - Leeds, UK "To get together. To tell stories. And spin a good yarn"

Pg 10

Michelle Sanzi-Kermes - Baltimore, USA http://www.sanzistudio.com/ To see text strips, click on link below.

Pg 11

By Belinda Schofield - Leeds, UK "Orator, narrator, teller of tales, fact and fiction. To disturb or delight, words that send you to sleep or keep you awake at night..." www.fallout-photography.com

Page 12

By Alice O'Grady - Leeds, UK There are things known and there things unknown, and in between there are the doors of PERCEPTION. and so life became a series of door jambs and window frames from which I pushed myself off into new worlds made of passion, adventure and light...

Pg 13

By Maisie O'Grady - Leeds, UK In this world there is beauty, wonder, amazement, disbelief and most importantly, Friendship!!! "Help me!!!" "I'll help you!"

Pg 14

By Ann O'Grady - Leeds, UK "I count myself in nothing else so happy As in a soul remembering my good friends (Richard II) (Collage of mixed text. Names from Christmas cards)

Pg 15

By Sarah Hamburg - London, UK Please click on link to see transcribed text from this page

Pg 16

By Laura Ellis - Paris, France

Pg 17

By Karen Fozzard - Argostoli, Greece

Pg 18

By Dish Haugsdal - London, UK www.gurdish.com

Pg 19

By Michelle Connolly - Leeds, UK

Pg 20

By Amy Ridler - London, UK (clearer picture to follow)

Pg 21

By Bethany Paine - London Do you see the woman? Take your time. Observe every detail. What is she thinking about? What are her adjectives? What is her truth? And then suddenly, without warning, before you can look away, make an excuse, she sees you. Now you can't breathe. Your lips are dry. Any words or explanations you had falter and fail. Now what? Will you tell her how you saw her? Will you explain her truth to her? Do you dare lift your eyes to meet her silent stare? No, of course not.

Pg 22

By Charlotte Emery - Leeds, UK

Pg 23

By Jelena Zindović - Leeds, UK идиот = Idiot (Serbian) www.jelenazindivic.com

Pg 24

By Amanda Burns, UK Etched into mirrored card, text reads, in no particular order: You are the viewer and participant. A new horizon or a shattered vista. You are the driver and passenger. You are implicated. Another dialogue. Replace it with another language. Propositions of what might have been. Propositions of what might be. Propositions of the present. Propositions of your past. Propositions of your future. Let it play a role. www.amandaburns.com

Pg 25

By Artista Eli - Malaga, Spain "A role? Yes, a roll, Let love fill our souls, as we dance through our lives, Out of darkness, creating light." Eli '14 www.artistaeli.com

Pg 26

By Emma Harvey - London, UK "I can but dream of you..." www.evh-art.co.uk

Pg 27

By Amanda Barokh - Oxford, UK "We are connected, you and I By thin filaments of time. Still we have not met But I recognise you fleetingly. A visceral flashback To another life Once lived."