INTO THE FIRES & THE STARS (2017)
Artist Book by D.D. Aspiras
In art, I appreciate subtlety, restraint, attention to detail, and the touch of the hand. I am strongly drawn to the tactile and meditative process in letterpress printing and book arts. I value how these processes help me incorporate nuance, detail, and texture to bring a project alive.
This artist book is printed on Crane’s Lettra with Bernhard Modern type. 20 original poems are featured and each one sits behind a hand-cut window in each spread. The backgrounds were printed using a blended/rainbow roll printing process. Covers are bound in cloth-covered board using Duo, a two-colored book cloth chosen for its texture and lively color interaction between the fabric and background. Drum leaf binding was used, an adhesive-based structure that allows for full page spreads and opens flat much like a child's board book. The book was started at Bay Park Press and completed at Rotunda Press with guidance from master printmaker, Sibyl Rubottom.
Haiku is an ancient form of poetry invented in Japan. I like this short verse format and its focus on capturing the feeling and image of a moment. This book is a dreamscape reflecting moments of wonder, restlessness, and longing - feelings that drive us to seek something outside of ourselves.
Here are a few select poems from the book:
under amber stars
flying over dark high tides
rushing home to you
a storm is coming
with whom will I find shelter?
lights flicker ahead
the storm did not come
but in our preparation
hearts were awakened
The Earth and this Moon -
sunlit partners in orbit.
Giant rocks that dance!
SKY WOMAN CREATION MYTH (2007)
Artist Book by D.D. Aspiras
The Sky Woman creation story is a Native American myth which explains how the earth was first created. Original illustrations were painted on five 12 x 24 inch wooden panels. Stylized drawings and vivid gem-like colors were used to accentuate the dreamy fairy tale quality of the myth. Scans of the illustrations were made and printed to create a handmade book. Rich mahogany-stained wood panels and ornate decorative paper were used to complement the images.
