Visit Alphabet of Desire

alphabet of desire

the original “alphabet of desire,” created in 2004, consisted of 26 mono screenprints. The text was written spontaneously on a typewriter in my studio; the prints then pulled a few days later at the Sotto Editions print studio. Intended to be installed as one piece, unframed, the prints were sealed in clear encaustic wax.  The installation of “alphabet of desire” has been shown in several galleries, with each installation taking on a new configuration. 

Before applying for the Regional Artist Project Grant in 2005, I was talking with my fellow Spondere partner Alicia about various project ideas. She casually mentioned how natural “alphabet of desire” would be as an artist book. As so many of our brainstorming conversations go, I suddenly found myself applying to print an edition of 26 artist’s books. Alicia was to design the layout and the binding.

In 2005 I then received the Regional Artist Project Grant (North Carolina Arts Council & Madison County/Toe River/Asheville Area Arts Councils) which provided funding to print the pages for an edition of 26 artist books. I had no experience neither printing editions nor working with layouts for books. Alicia painstakingly talked me through the entire process, explaining details over and over again. Sotto Editions helped me with the technical printing specifications. Donna and my friends provided endless hours of patience and support. Since I knew this would be a long printing process, I set up a screen printing station in the Spooks Branch studio.  But was I ever in for a big surprise of how long the process of printing multiple colors and an edition of 26 would take.

The final result still amazes me. Alicia’s stunning binding and her attention to detail just make the bound / boxed books sing.  Without Alicia, this project would never have been possible. And without love, this poem would never have been written. So I thank all of those involved in the long process from creation to printing to binding, and I thank my love for the years of inspiration.

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