Belfast, ME: Jan Owen, 2025. Hardcover. One of two copies of this splendid new book by the celebrated calligrapher, Jan Owen and signed by her on the last page. She says about this work: "I was taught Civics in 8th grade so remember nothing and have been making up for that by lettering artists books of the Constitution, the Bill of Rights and other documents. The founders studied historical democracy while assuming the integrity of future leaders. In this artist book, instead of 'We' I substituted 'I' for the beginning in 'I hold these truths...' and cobbled together what I think is self-evident. Now in a divided country, what truths do each of us believe are needed or a more perfect union?" This book couldn't be more timely for the times we are living through in the United States currently. The text on the covers is that of the Preamble to the Constitution. The text inside the book are the famous opening words from the Declaration of Independence. This calligraphic book is accompanied by a separate page in a folder giving the text of the inside of the book and its cover. This beautifully realized work of calligraphy from Jan, is an accordion fold book on paper, hand lettered in ink with acrylic. With paper wrapped binders board covers and housed in a drop spine box. The box is covered in light gray cloth covers with the title label "I HOLD"on the front of the box. the box also has black cloth ties at the top and bottom. The book measures 12.5 x 9.25 x .5 inches. It measures 28 inches open.

On her website she states: "My day begins with brushstrokes to music, on to lettering and then to the words. I played string bass with a symphony orchestra for many years and the music always kept moving forward. I wanted my art to be still and include brush strokes and layers of words all visible at once. Now I like planning the pacing and arrangement of pages, words and images." She says on her website about her calligraphy: "The page is silent until I mark it, a line is abstract until I make a letter. The letters become words; ideas, poems and history. In this transitional age of digital communication we still need touch and movement, metaphor and music. The hand, eye and brain work together turning the pages of a book. I write with brushes and metal dip pens using inks and acrylic. The words might be layered like a palimpsest, weaving added for touch, colors and patterns for the eyes and binary code for transliteration. I choose texts by various authors and more often now, add how the words resonate with me as marginalia." This stunning new book is in fine condition. ARTB/012126. Fine. More

Belfast, ME: Jan Owen, 2024. Hardcover. A lovely unique work from renowned calligrapher Jan Owen that celebrates love and connection. Signed and dated by her. On her website she states: "I was born in New York City, grew up in Hastings-on-Hudson, New York and loved to draw and read as a child. Now I live in Belfast on the coast of Maine with long winters to write and beautiful summers. I walk to the beach to watch the sun rise and the tide come in. My day begins with brushstrokes to music, on to lettering and then to the words. My first books were long, hanging accordion fold books, large pieces that could be seen all at once and then folded away. I played string bass with a symphony orchestra for many years and the music always kept moving forward. I wanted my art to be still and include brush strokes and layers of words all visible at once. Now I like planning the pacing and arrangement of pages, words and images."

Jan writes about this book: "My Love features Marlowe’s, “The Passionate Shepherd to His Love,” Raleigh’s later response, “The Nymph’s Reply,” and I wrote an updated, “Hey” about modern love, social media and new customs. This was fun to make. The papers were made by Kate FairChild. She and I took paper making classes at Haystack on Deer Isle, Maine. Working on the back deck of the graphics studio, her bright, funky papers sometimes got sprinkled with spruce needles and raindrops. She gave me her paper when she moved and for years I had no idea what to do with it. Now I love the challenge of the wrinkles and especially her colors.

This beautifully crafted book with the three poems about love by Christopher Marlowe, Sir Walter Raleigh, and by Jan Owen herself. The stanzas of the poems were each hand written in Jan's elegant calligraphy along with small illustrations on the FairChild handmade paper in various colors as described by Jan above. Created using gouache and acrylic. The pages are in a coptic binding using colorful linen thread, with vivid decorated boards and title on front cover. A separate pamphlet also in handmade paper covers has the texts of the three poems. There is a separate printing of the poems without covers. All three are housed in a clamshell case covered in cream cloth with a multicolored title label to front cover and to the spine and thin tie of woven string. In fine condition. Measures 8.5 x 5.5 x .75 inches. Unpaginated [48 pages]. ARTB/073124. Fine. More