The Veil.
Flying Fish Press. Chen, Julie.
Berkeley, CA: Flying Fish Press, 2000. One of 100 copies, all on Wyndstone Marble papers, each signed and numbered by Julie Chen. Page size: 10-1/2 x 4-1/4" at widest part, 2-1/4" at narrowest; four page spreads. Bound by Julie Chen and Anna Sacramento: hand-sewn rust and tan cloth with green paper lattice on front board; four layers of cut paper (green, blue, silver blue, and tan) each unfolding to oval shape from the half-oval of closed book. The book can be displayed as a standing sculpture with all four pages facing outward, with the front and back covers touching. Covers embedded with magnets to keep book open in this position. The papers have been cut using a Universal Systems Lasercutter. The printing was letterpress using a combination of photo-polymer plates and collagraphic blocks. Ms. Chen's poem reads, "An obstructed view of the world / The unheard story / The unseen face / A conscious decision to shield our eyes / Hiding behind words, Protecting our fears / Wearing a veil of untold sorrow". These words appear printed in brown on a gold banner on a green ground printed to resemble lace. Behind that is a blue paper cut to resemble lattice, behind that a globe and behind that on tan printed in brown, words from the preamble to the Charter of the United Nations which was written, in part, by Virginia Crocheron Gildersleeve (1877-1965), American academic, the sole female US delegate to the San Francisco United Nations Charter Conference in 1945. Housed in dark blue, rust, and tan cloth box with green paper lattice print inlaid to mimic gates, with title printed in silver on green and silver printed paper. Box opens in the middle to reveal the book laid into a half oval cutout, the title, press, and date printed in brown on gold paper completing the oval on the left of the inserted book. The colophon is printed on the inside of the box below the book, in silver on dark green paper. The inside of the box flaps are lined with green and silver printed papers, in lace-like pattern, which is the same decorated paper on the cover of the box. An extraordinary production from Flying Fish Press. Ms. Chen's beautiful book - which can be displayed as a three-dimensional piece - is a strong feminist statement expressed with words and images. (Item ID: 9229)
$1,000.00
