Artists’ Books

I took my first artist book workshop in 1994 with the luminary teacher and artist Sas Colby at Split Rock Center for the Arts in Duluth, Minnesota. My orientation for where I was in the world, when I was in Duluth, on Lake Superior, was my shower curtain back home, which was a map of the world.

Making books has integrated my interests in words, stories, image making and reading. It’s a way to develop a bigger idea than what is possible with just one print.

My books are simple forms and are hand printed using various labor-intensive printmaking techniques. They are grand, large projects, which are also exercises in problem solving, and hopefully successful interplays of form and content. There are few copies and many are unique examples. I have participated in large, international projects like El-Mutanabbi Street Starts Here (2016), and have ongoing book collaboration with Cuban printmaker and surrealist poet Norberto Marrero. Paper is extremely scarce in Cuba and to help my friend in his work I have given him papers that I have already printed on so he can use them for his books. We have to date complete 2 books and another is in process. The projects take several years, since it is unknown when the opportunity will arise to have people bring things either to Cuba or to the United States.

I taught an elective course in Artists’ Books at Massachusetts College of Art and Design in Boston for 15 years, have participated in artist book exhibitions in New England and the East Coast, and have books in the MassArt Library and in Jack Ginsberg’s collection of artist books in South Africa.

Ladder Dance
multiple plate woodcut printed accordion book with letterpress
8” H x 6.5” x 40” L
2 copies in series
2018

The Arrival (Collaboration with Cuban Artist Norberto Marrero)
Spanish and English rendering of William Carlos Williams’ poem “The Arrival”
multiple plate woodcut prints
13.2 “x 7.2” x 5”
2019

Kids in Costumes
Artist-derived text/imagery from antique photo cards of children in costumes from the 1870’s
multiple plate Polyester plate lithographic prints
8’ x 10”
2 copies in series
2013

Danish Spoons
oil of wintergreen transfer prints from photocopies of Danish spoons with artist written text
printed in polyester plate lithography
9” H x 4.5” W x 66” L
Unique
2013

Associative Miscellany

Red Bird