viii Jerome Fellowship Books 2004:
A series of four books with case: Echo Trail, Fledgling, Battle Creek and Hello,
Beauty
20 pp. each, 3 5/8" x 5";
Edition of 25 copies
In 2003 I was privileged to receive a
Jerome Fellowship Book Arts Grant. Over the course of 18
months, I wrote, illustrated, printed, and bound a
series of four books with case: Echo Trail, Fledgling, Battle Creek and Hello, Beauty; 20 pp. each, 3 5/8" x 5" in an edition
of 25. Printed on Rives Lightweight paper using photopolymer
relief plates. Each book is illustrated with four intaglio
etchings and chine collé. Text was letterpress printed
at the Minnesota Center for Book Arts on a Vandercook flatbed
cylinder press. The books are hand-sewn and bound in boards
covered with Fabriano Ingres, which is also used for endpapers.
Spines are covered in black silk, with titles stamped in bronze
foil. Headbands are hand-wrapped in contrasting silk cords.
Slipcase covered in matching black silk cloth.
Each book centers on a symbol/theme
pairing -- Echo Trail pairs woodland imagery with a sense of
awakening, awareness, calm. The bird imagery in Fledgling conveys
fragility and resilience, birth and rebirth, anticipation. Battle Creek is a
meditation on the prairie, what it teaches about acceptance of
the past, and the ability to flourish amidst a harsh cycle of
change. Moths, butterflies, and wings figure in Hello, Beauty --
a celebration of everything fleeting, serendipity, of reverence
for small, beautiful moments.
- Kari Finkler
all images and text © copyright 2004
kari finkler