Jan Owen
Belfast, ME
www.JanOwenArt.com
Words to the World, Walt & Emily
2024
Handlettered coptic sewn book
22.5 x 11 x 14.5
Artist Statement
“Words to the World, Walt & Emily” began with 3 sheets of Cave Paper, 2 black, 1 brown and these became the 3 signatures of the book. Inside each signature are layers of different sized papers that reflect the poems. I chose Walt Whitman and Emily Dickinson because they are iconic American poets who lived through the Civil War in a divided country like today. They wrote about nature, the universe and Whitman also wrote about the country and the War. Since Whitman worked as a printer and loved typography, I used more formal calligraphy for his poems. Dickinson’s poems were written in a loose Italic on wispy white papers. The other openings have a brush mark, a line of poetry and my letter to Walt or Emily about their poetry.
Artist books displayed in cases are always frustrating as we wish to turn the pages to see more. I wanted to make each of the signature openings interesting and complex. Still missing would be the ability to touch these handmade papers and feel the weaving—the real pleasures of holding a book.