Meskel Demera. The Finding of the True Cross.
Khelcom Press. Bogardus, Peter and Zelalem Haile Michael.
New York: Khelcom Press, 2009. Artist's book, one of 52 copies all on Kochi Mashi paper, each signed by printmaker, photographer / designer / publisher, Peter Bogardus. Page size: 9 x 6 inches; 60pp. Bound by Gray Parrot: tan linen over boards with original woodblock by Peter Bogardus on front cover within insert, endpapers of Kochi Mashi, yellow headbands, binder's ticket on rear left turn-in, housed in custom-made matching tan linen clamshell box with title and artist in gold gilt on tan leather label on spine. MESKEL DEMERA is the first in a trilogy of hand-rinted books inspired by the spiritual life in Habesha, Ethiopia. Peter Bogardus, after visiting this mountainous land, has collaborated with local religious elders in witnessing ritual gatherings and pilgrimages and making photographs to be combined with their words. The result is MESKEL DEMERA - The Finding of the True Cross. There are 16 original copper plate photogravures made and printed by Peter Bogardus, who also carved the 14 woodblocks of imagery and sacred text drawn from Ge'ez scrolls and books. Takuji Hamanaka printed the blocks with hand-levigated mineral pigments. The text by Selalem Haile Michael was printed by Art Larson at Horton Tank Graphics using Perpetua type which was cast by Michael Bixler. This is an extraordinarily intimate look at a contemporary Christian celebration which dates back to the early days of Christianity in a remote region rarely seen or documented. (Item ID: 10309)
$3,500.00
