2003
Poetry of Chance Encounters
COLOPHON
The Poetry of Chance Encounters is a contemporary book of devotions, an illuminated manuscript of surrealist games of chance. It brings together in evocative pairings of image and text, the artist's love of the written language and her passion for the found objects that have been part of the iconograpy of her sculpture for years.
In this book, Harriet Bart presents a collection of texts drawn from many sources, both common and obscure. The poetry of Rimbaud, an autograph manuscript by Emily Dickinson, an excerpt from the human genome. These are but a few of the fragments illuminated by gilded icons. A bowl. A chalice. A hand mirror. An amphora . . . . . a collection of quotidian objects drawn from throughout the ages.
The Poetry of Chance Encounters is a stunning book of visual poetry. From its sumptuous full leather binding to the visual pleasure of each printed page, this is a book of rare beauty that pays homage to the printer's art, the binder's craft, and the artist's vision.
Poetry of Chance Encounters
COLOPHON
The Poetry of Chance Encounters is a contemporary book of devotions, an illuminated manuscript of surrealist games of chance. It brings together in evocative pairings of image and text, the artist's love of the written language and her passion for the found objects that have been part of the iconograpy of her sculpture for years.
In this book, Harriet Bart presents a collection of texts drawn from many sources, both common and obscure. The poetry of Rimbaud, an autograph manuscript by Emily Dickinson, an excerpt from the human genome. These are but a few of the fragments illuminated by gilded icons. A bowl. A chalice. A hand mirror. An amphora . . . . . a collection of quotidian objects drawn from throughout the ages.
The Poetry of Chance Encounters is a stunning book of visual poetry. From its sumptuous full leather binding to the visual pleasure of each printed page, this is a book of rare beauty that pays homage to the printer's art, the binder's craft, and the artist's vision.
The
book contains sixteen visual poems on multi-color fields, each
imprinted with an icon in 22 karat gold. Each page has a total
of five press runs, including a varnish over the icon and field
with the impression of the gold leaf imparting an embossed effect
to the icon. Although very complex in its assemblage, the overall
treatment of the book is spare – more in the manner of turn
of the century livres
deluxe than the contemporary artist book.
The basic typface is Lydian, a stressed sans serif chosen to complement the treatment of image and type throughout the book. The paper is Rives BFK (180gsm), heavy enough to accept the multiple press runs, but light enough to allow for a supple binding that opens easily.
The Poetry of Chance Encounters is 6.25 inches wide x 9.5 inches high, and is bound in full leather. The slipcase is covered with a gold paste paper by Claire Maziarcyzk. The binding was designed and executed by Jill Jevne. The book was produced in collaboration with Philip Gallo at the Hermetic Press. Published by Mnemonic Press in an edition of 35, press-lettered 1 - 35 (plus five artist proofs hors commerce).
The basic typface is Lydian, a stressed sans serif chosen to complement the treatment of image and type throughout the book. The paper is Rives BFK (180gsm), heavy enough to accept the multiple press runs, but light enough to allow for a supple binding that opens easily.
The Poetry of Chance Encounters is 6.25 inches wide x 9.5 inches high, and is bound in full leather. The slipcase is covered with a gold paste paper by Claire Maziarcyzk. The binding was designed and executed by Jill Jevne. The book was produced in collaboration with Philip Gallo at the Hermetic Press. Published by Mnemonic Press in an edition of 35, press-lettered 1 - 35 (plus five artist proofs hors commerce).
