Title from box spine. Limited edition of fifty copies, signed and numbered by the artist. X Collection copy #1 is copy 31 of 50. IaU "This set of books was screen-printed in 2015 at Spudnik Press in Chicago. The edition was made possible by generous funding from: The Caxton Club of Chicago and the Albert P. Weisman Award. Although this edition is dedicated to those who worked most intimately to ensure its success, namely: Kristin and Kurt Batsel and Lauren Berg, its author also owes debts of gratitude to the following readers, advisors, editors, champions of the arts, meddlers, skeptics, printers, bookbinders, chauffeurs, and general rabble: Sherry Antonini, Ruby Figueroa, Alex Gilbert, Julia Goodman, Angee Lennard, Woody Leslie, Jenny Magus, Drue McCurdy, Miriam Schaer, and the Center for Book, Paper, and Print at Columbia College Chicago"--Colophon. "Magnets embedded in the spine of each book hold them in place for display or easy reading as a set"--Artist's website, viewed on March 17, 2016. Four nested books, all screen printed by hand in color. Housed in a black cloth-covered drop-spine box with tiger illustration screen printed on front and title and author's name screen printed on spine. Screen printed colophon sheet in envelope attached to inside box lid.
Contents:
Maneater -- Corbett gets too close -- The capture of Pasha -- Ra-Kan.
Summary:
"The set consists of four stories whose physical and narrative structure nest within one another like Russian nesting dolls. The books can be read separately, but when taken together, reveal a legacy of greed and colonialism across generations. Every time a new character’s name is spoken, a new book begins that follows that character’s life story. The first book’s protagonist is a wealthy shut-in who becomes obsessed with an exotic deity; the three enclosed books reveal this retired businessman’s colonialist past and the history of the deity’s native land. With every book, the narrative as a whole moves backwards chronologically in time. The visual style echoes that of 19th-century children's mass-market hardcover adventure books, whose bright and captivating illustrations belied the troubling imperialist messages conveyed within"--Artist's statement at the Vamp & Tramp Booksellers' website, viewed on June 22, 2016.
OCLC:
(OCoLC)935228528
Locations:
OVUX522 -- University of Iowa Libraries (Iowa City)
This resource is supported by the Institute of Museum and Library Services under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act as administered by State Library of Iowa.