Gloria
Gloria
Twenty-eight poems by Bill Berkson with twenty-five etchings by Alex Katz, signed by the artist, 2005. $2,500.00
Publication 73
ADD TO CARTThis livre d'artiste pairs twenty-eight poems by Bill Berkson with twenty-five etchings by Alex Katz. About the poet, Bernadette Mayer has written: "Berkson's poetry emerges with an elegant reticence from the rooms of the traditionally sublime to greet the present moment with unexpected splendor, ease of observation, metaphysic wit." Alex Katz is a world-renowned artist who is adept at every scale, as is evident from the works that appear in this book, etchings on plates measuring just four inches square. The imagery for Gloria spans the subject matter of his entire career, from people to landscapes, to bobbing boats, to a munching cow. The figures, be they fauna or flora, seem to exist in a sophisticated environment, as urbane and glamorous as the poems they face. The etchings are varied in technique and effect: black on white or grey, white on black or grey, grey on black or white or grey.
FORMAT
The book is printed on one side of the sheet only, in the French-fold manner, where the folds at the top edge of the book remain uncut. The paper is thin white Ingres, a mouldmade paper from the Zerkall mill in Germany. Thus, the inner pages are blank and hide the impression of the etching plate. The format is 12 by 9 inches, 56 pages, not counting the inner blanks. The etchings appear on the left-hand pages, the poetry on the right-hand pages. The intaglio plates were prepared by Simmelink/ Sukimoto in Kingston, New York, and were editioned by Robert Townsend and Kate Hanlon of R. E. Townsend, Inc. in Georgetown, Massachusetts. The type is Futura, also known as Twentieth Century. It was cast by Mackenzie & Harris and printed by letterpress at Arion Press, where the book and suite were also bound. The binding is hand-sewn over tapes. The cover has a grey goatskin spine with a wider area on the front with the title letters stamped alternately in red, green, and blue metallic foil and the names of author and artist on the spine stamped in black foil. The sides are covered with lighter grey cloth. The book is limited to 100 numbered copies for sale, all copies signed by poet and artist.
POSTAGE: Additional postage may apply; please inquire for details.
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