Lincolnville, ME: Dudley Zopp, 2017. Hardcover. Number 10 of 25 standard copies, issued with an archival pigment print in a slipcase. There is also a deluxe edition of 25 copies. Signed and numbered by the book artist. This book considers our relationship to the Earth in a sequence of annotated watercolors. It was originally presented digitally for a 2014 exhibition "Turning in Your Hand: The Blue Marble Project,” at Waterfall Arts in Maine. Twenty artists were given a blue marble and asked to respond to the pale blue dot we call home. Dudley's images and notations provide a unique look into the oldest of concerns: our place in this world (artist's statement). The illustrations began with a month-long daily ritual of erasing an earlier charcoal drawing and, using watercolor and ink, creating a new drawing in its place. As part of this Dudley noted the weather and the color of the ocean as seen from her studio. She also added a few lines adapted from ancient Buddhist texts that relate to human interactions with the earth. A few examples include: "As a mother watches over her child, so with a boundless heart should one cherish all living beings, suffusing the whole world with loving kindness", "All beings tremble before violence", and "You too shall pass away." The resulting 31 watercolors were collected in a mystical and magical book that beautifully captures Dudley's artistic consideration of our place in the world.

In her foreword, Dudley states: "Current science tells us that our planet is a speck that travels in one of many universes. It would be foolish to say that we humans can get our heads around this fact. In spite of that, or in the face of it, a good course of action is to live mindfully, with compassion and consideration for our fellow beings."

Design, typography, and assembly of books and cases are by Richard Reitz Smith. Text and images are printed as offset lithography by Penmore Lithographers. Typeset inFutura on Cougar Opaque Smooth paper. Covers are blue Dover book cloth.The book is presented in an accordion format and can be read in the round or displayed as sculpture. The book is housed in a dark blue cloth slipcase with an archival pigment print of the drawing for Day Sixteen. Book measures 5 x 7 inches. 82 pages. In fine condition.

Ms. Zopp graduated from the University of Kentucky with a B.A. and M.A. and completed postgraduate studies in Drawing and Painting at the Hite Art Institute, University of Louisville. She now lives in Lincolnville, Maine. Zopp finds inspiration in geological processes and cultural histories of place. Her engagement with restoring habitat where she lives feeds directly into her work, which ranges from site specific installations to paintings, woodcuts and limited edition books. She has completed residencies at geologically significant sites in Newfoundland, Spain and Italy. She has exhibited widely at galleries, universities and museums in New England and the Midwest. Her work is included in university and museum collections nationally. (#31483) ARTISTSB/110717. Fine.

Item #31483

Price: $585.00