Item Details
The Book of Penumbra.
Tacoma, WA: [Artist Book], 2016. Limited Edition. Hardcover. A book of small stories of death gods from around the world. "Death has always fascinated me because it happens to all of us yet no one talks about it. I wanted to see what other cultures personified death as through myths and legends. The gods in this book are very hushed and for some, even if you speak the name, you'll be cursed. I wanted this book to be shadows, to be played in the light. I chose a delicate paper so one could see through to the page behind it. The text is in all sorts of shapes because I wanted each story to represent the god being told about. For instance, Sedna is in the shape of drowning, Anubis is his eye, Mac is a pit with someone at the bottom. The borders are all plants, roots, and things found on the earth. Some represent death like the poppy, and the yew tree." [artist statement]
"These stories are told using pen and ink, then tidied up in Illustrator. Photopolymer plates were combined with handset Packard, then letterpress printed and hand colored." [colophon]
Thai Mulberry Black and Tenju-jo Japanese Kozo. Photopolymer plates from sketches; handset metal type. Signed and numbered by the artist. Fine in Fine Box. Tight, bright, and unmarred. Black paper boards, grey lettering; hinged wooden box, inlaid metal coffin in lid, ribbon lift. 8vo. np [19pp]. Illus. (b/w with gilt plates). Numbered limited edition of 23. Item #9157
Price: $1,000.00