Barbara Tetenbaum
Walter Tisdale
Portland, OR
www.slowread.org
IG:  barbtetenbaum

Fish in River
2023
Handmade papers, relief printing, hand set type, photopolymer plates, letterpress
6.5 x 9.25 x .5″ closed, 45.5 x 9.24 x .25″ open

Artist Statement

This contemplation on the longevity of Humankind’s Earthly existence was created by Barbara Tetenbaum and Walter Tisdale. It is part sequel to FishTales, our first collaboration (1993), and part Tisdale’s ongoing interest in extant Anglo-Saxon texts from the Exeter Book.

We used these historic woodcuts and texts: Genesis verses, translated John Wycliffe, c. 1395; Anglo-Saxon riddle from Exeter Book, c. 960-80, translated by Karl Young; Adam and Eve in the Garden and First Sign of Judgement Day, Antoine Verard, c. 1490; Bretherton Diagram, from Earth Science Systems: An Overview, NASA, 1986; “Buxheim” St. Christopher, c. 1450.

The cover, riddle spread and Atlantic Salmon print papers were created by Katie MacGregor in Whiting, Maine. Elliot Fishbein made the watermark stencils for the answer to the riddle hidden within Tetenbaum’s Salmon print. The edition is ninety copies.