MATERTERA, The Sisters of the Mothers, is an artist book by Jennifer Nagle Myers in collaboration with R Press.

The artist book includes four original lithographs made by Myers printed on hand dyed Torinoko Paper. The edition is comprised of fifteen books, five artist’s books, five artist’s proofs and one printer’s proof. Lithographs were printed by James Miller at Downstairs Editions. The publishing, book design and binding is by R Press.

Matertera means “maternal aunt” in Latin, and the work is inspired by the sisters of the mothers who “are acrobats, magicians, lovers, confidantes, friends, believers, companions, adventurers, and divine mysteries” and was made in dedication to the artist’s aunt Patti and Marguerite, one had recently passed away in 2013 and one was just turning 100.

The artist thinks of this project as a dedication to the women, related by blood or by friendship, alive or now as ancestors, who surround and inspire us to keep the flame burning, carry the torch, illuminate the way.

Jennifer Nagle Myers is an interdisciplinary artist based in Virginia. Her visual artwork has been shown at the Carnegie Museum of Art, The Sculpture Center, The International Print Center, The Institute of Contemporary Art at MECA, and MUDAC in Lausanne, Switzerland – among others. Her original performance works have premiered at The New Hazlett Theater, The Festival for New Music, and the Kelly Strayhorn Theater. She has received support from the Pittsburgh Foundation, The Heinz Endowments, and the Foundation for Contemporary Arts and continues to collaborate with artists and visionaries in other fields.

R Press is a small independent press project by Aurora De Armendi and James Kelly. We invited artists to collaborate and create limited edition artist’s books and prints.