On the slates
Artist's Book
1992 (published)
1992 (published)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
Flockophobic Press state in their 1992/93 prospectus that they 'celebrate non-narrative writing in stunning objects that happen to be books'. This notion is nowhere more evident than in the bookwork 'On the slates' designed by A.S.C. Rower.
When first encountering this closed white shoebox, the reader would be forgiven for not recognising it as a book. Upon opening the box, this feeling may still linger as the contents of this shoebox is indeed a shoe. On closer inspection it is revealed to contain a scroll-like bundle of paper, or cash roll - leaves of paper rolled inside a facsimile dollar bill, tied with a shoelace.
The 31 'bills' contain the text of the poem, 'On the slates', by Clark Coolidge printed in black text on the front, and green text on the back of each bill. As the roll of 'bills' or 'pages' is so tight, once unfurled, the process of reading the poem is impeded both by the pages curling back up, and the text being fragmented over so many separate leaves. This makes the reading of the poem a physical as well as an emotional experience, adding to its meaning.
NAL copy is no. 42 in an edition of 250, signed by the author and designer
When first encountering this closed white shoebox, the reader would be forgiven for not recognising it as a book. Upon opening the box, this feeling may still linger as the contents of this shoebox is indeed a shoe. On closer inspection it is revealed to contain a scroll-like bundle of paper, or cash roll - leaves of paper rolled inside a facsimile dollar bill, tied with a shoelace.
The 31 'bills' contain the text of the poem, 'On the slates', by Clark Coolidge printed in black text on the front, and green text on the back of each bill. As the roll of 'bills' or 'pages' is so tight, once unfurled, the process of reading the poem is impeded both by the pages curling back up, and the text being fragmented over so many separate leaves. This makes the reading of the poem a physical as well as an emotional experience, adding to its meaning.
NAL copy is no. 42 in an edition of 250, signed by the author and designer
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Title | On the slates (assigned by artist) |
| Materials and techniques | Book object of printed paper, leather, cardboard and tissue paper |
| Brief description | Artist's book, 'On the slates', text by Clark Coolidge, design by A.S.C. Rower, Flockophobic Press, New York, 1992 |
| Physical description | Book object. Text is a poem, printed on loose sheets of papers, resembling dollar bills in size and paper texture. The first one is printed with a facsimile of the United States dollar design. The "bills" are rolled up, tied with a leather shoelace, and placed in a second hand leather shoe which is housed in a plain white cardboard shoebox, lined with tissue paper. Edition 250, signed by author, designer |
| Dimensions |
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| Summary | Flockophobic Press state in their 1992/93 prospectus that they 'celebrate non-narrative writing in stunning objects that happen to be books'. This notion is nowhere more evident than in the bookwork 'On the slates' designed by A.S.C. Rower. When first encountering this closed white shoebox, the reader would be forgiven for not recognising it as a book. Upon opening the box, this feeling may still linger as the contents of this shoebox is indeed a shoe. On closer inspection it is revealed to contain a scroll-like bundle of paper, or cash roll - leaves of paper rolled inside a facsimile dollar bill, tied with a shoelace. The 31 'bills' contain the text of the poem, 'On the slates', by Clark Coolidge printed in black text on the front, and green text on the back of each bill. As the roll of 'bills' or 'pages' is so tight, once unfurled, the process of reading the poem is impeded both by the pages curling back up, and the text being fragmented over so many separate leaves. This makes the reading of the poem a physical as well as an emotional experience, adding to its meaning. NAL copy is no. 42 in an edition of 250, signed by the author and designer |
| Other number | X930044 - NAL Pressmark |
| Collection | |
| Library number | 38041993100486 |
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| Record created | May 14, 2014 |
| Record URL |
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