Belfast, ME: Jan Owen Art, 2022. Hardcover. A charming unique book by the celebrated calligrapher, Jan Owen. 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. Amanda Degener of Cave Paper gave me a large, already bound book of her walnut paper which forced me to think about progression and it became Requiem. Now I like planning the pacing and arrangement of pages, words and images."
Jan writes of this book: "Esther & Vashti was made for a book arts exhibit about women in the Hebrew Bible at the Maine Jewish Museum in Portland. I was given a children's version of the Purim story and then read the Bible story. It made me think of my Sunday school days being told modified Bible stories and the joy in coloring Joseph's coat of many colors. I made bright patterned past papers to collage and hand lettered the text. While Esther is the Purim star, Vashti was powerful in saying 'No!' to the king so I gave them equal space. The back has collaged weapons for the adult version" Esther and Vashti emerge as clear foils to each other in the Purim story. Vashti is headstrong and assertive, which she is heavily punished for, while Esther is docile and submissive — the perfect queen. She dutifully obeys the commands of Mordecai and Ahasuerus, the two men in her life, until their conflicting expectations are at odds with each other and the jeopardy of her freedom demands action. However, Esther acts with care in her own measured way, saving the Jewish people while remaining in good graces with the king [from the "Harvard Crimson" March, 2023].
This is an accordion fold book with red paper covered binders board covers, with a multi-colored title label. Jan's exuberant collaged figures illustrate the hand-written text. Acrylic, sumi and walnut inks on paper were used. Housed in a light gray drop spine clamshell box. In fine condition. Measures 7.5 x 10.5 inches closed, 10.5 x 42.25 inches open. Unpaginated [4 pages]. ARTB/031924. Fine. More