Artist Catherine Mc Cue Boes

Letting go and accepting change! Nine months have elapsed since my husband suffered a stroke. I believed that our world and his would disintegrate into endless hours at the hospital, filled with dread as each passing day brought uncertainty about his survival, ability to walk, or speak again. We have returned to a life that is altered, challenging, and at times, heart-wrenching. Each day presents new difficulties, and my victories and defeats are uncertain. His progress is gradual; walking is arduous for him, and his speech is reduced to indistinct mumbles, accompanied by frustration. He comprehends his desires but struggles to articulate them. As time passes, we will make the most of each day, regardless of its nature. The absence of friends is noticeable, and only a few remain in touch. It is unsettling for others to comprehend that he remains the same man—he still requires companionship. Big Kate..my Albion printing press has gone, no doubt the first of many things to leave us, sad ...

 Artist book, experimental linocut, hand coloured digital background. 

New work, titled, 'The Secret Lives of Girlfriends' over the next few months I plan to create a new work,  using linocut the  images printed on my very  Hopkinson & Cope, this work will be developed over two years and when finished will be in the style of the early manuscripts. The project will include short stories/ poems, these will be supplied by an arts writer who without any other information will create the words for each image. When complete the work will hand bound in leather.

Ok the day finally came when we moved the rest of my Hopkinson & Cope in place, using a small crane and the help of Mr P we put all the pieces  back and after a clean up, we printed the original poster that came with the printing press 40 years ago, printed on proof paper it came up very nice.

Dusty and neglected, hidden behind lots of other garage stuff, my great iron printing press sat waiting. Given that its only one hundred and seventy years old, a few more years resting in my garage would not be such along time. Heavy with great iron feet, moving it across the patch of grass seem impossible.  The only thing to do was to take her apart, bit by bit until only the main frame stood alone in the garage. Remembering how to put it back would be another problem. My first step was to take as many pictures of the various  parts that made up this great press, my Hopkinson & Cope. It was love at first sight, standing proud in the main hall of a private museum belonging to Rasmussen Boyd. Boyd's Antiquatorium was a huge building containing  many fine collectables one of which was my Hopkinson & Cope. On arriving in Bundaberg Queensland I approached Mr Boyd about the press  and  asked if he wanted to sell it, the answer was  a stern no. Twenty y...