Memory of a Book
Belfast, ME: Jan Owen, 2025. Softcover. A beautiful and unique work from this noted calligrapher and book artist. Signed and dated by Jan at the back of the book. With this intricate work she has created a sculptural book that is sewn with a layered signature. She used acrylic and ink on polyester, marbled paper, linen thread, with a paper wrapper cover, and is housed in a drop spine case. The case is covered in beige linen cloth with a calligraphic title label on the front cover. The case is held closed by thin white strings that are tied. The inside covers of the case are decorated with multi-colored marbled paper done on cloth in shades of brown, orange, and yellow. The same marbled paper design is used for the book's cover. The book's pages have calligraphic texts printed on yellow papers using several calligraphic fonts and are affixed on translucent papers.
On her website Jan 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. I like planning the pacing and arrangement of pages, words and images." She also writes: "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."
In fine condition. Measures 9 x 10.25 x .5 inches open. Unpaginated. ARTB/072125. Fine.
Item #38159
Price: $1,000.00