2007 Winter Book
vispoeologee is
an eclectic amalgamation of visual literature — a broad term for the
disciplines of visual poetry, concrete poetry and post-language writing. In
the spirit of Fluxus publications, vispoelogee is
a hands-on, gloves-off experience. Inside a utilitarian shell lies a rich array
of colors, printing techniques, papers and visual interpretations. MCBA’s
nineteenth annual Winter Book publication is more than a collectible. It’s
also an adventure not soon to be forgotten.
About
the editors:
The work of more than
20 international poets was selected by editors John
Bennett, Thomas Cassidy and Scott
Helmes. All three poets, who met via mail art,
have corresponded with one another for decades. They are not only
scholars of the literary art form, but also practitioners with international
reputations.
Artists in vispoeology include:
Edition Descriptions
The 2007 Winter Book is available in Deluxe,
Standard and Chapbook editions, each designed by MCBA Artistic Director Jeff
Rathermel. Printers Allison Chapman and Monica Edwards Larson used a variety
of methods to reproduce the work, including letterpress, digital printing
and relief printmaking. Binders and collaters arrived from across the artistic
community, fulfilling the tradition of relying on volunteers for the final
touches of another magnificent Winter Book.
The Chapbook,
numbered 1 through 225, is a 60-page,
7” x
9” hardcover volume with a multi-signature binding. The original
pieces from the poets have been reproduced using letterpress
or digital printing. Included in the chapbook are a variety of tip-ins,
fold-outs, centerfolds and inserts on a variety of paper: Mohawk Superfine,
Niddigan, Bienfang parchment, black Bugra, lava red Tiziano. The chapbook
contains at least one work from each of the Winter Book artists, as
well as essays by the editors.
The Standard Edition, numbered 1 through 100 and signed by
the editors, includes the Chapbook with a special relief-printed jacket
on Italian
patterned paper plus three supplemental folios, each
7” x 9”. All elements are housed in a custom archival
phase box with string enclosure.
Folio 1, She Says, is a limited edition print of Mathew Rucker’s
visual poem, a striking, highly embossed
letterpress black print on black Arches Cover.
Folio 2 is a selection of John M. Bennett visual poems created
using wood type and calligraphic letter forms, reproduced
digitally in full color.
Folio 3 contains reproductions of two scores by Scott Helmes:
Incantation for 6 Voices and Alphabet
Haiku for 3 Voices Simultaneously,
accompanied by an audio CD recording of the works
being performed.
The Deluxe Edition, lettered A through Z and signed by the
editors, includes all elements of the Standard Edition plus many scintillating
extras, all housed in a black archival drop front metal edged box
(12.5” x 9.5” x 3”):
Folio 4: Serge Segay’s Pig
Concert Suite “16” (with
quotations)
Folio 5: color digital reproduction of do
(not) #5 by Wendy Collin
Sorin.
The Deluxe Edition also includes the complete Kolsyrat,
Vatten, Citronsyrat by Hartmut Andryczuk, a set of 10 digital prints housed in an archival
rigid mylar box, as well as four “micro archives” housed
in tan metal-edge archival boxes:
Micro Archive 1: a selection of 25 one-of-a-kind
found poems created by artists associated with the project;
Micro Archive 2: John M. Bennett’s 28 text
poems that comprise
Historietas Alfabeticas, letterpress printed on individual
Rives BFK cards;
Micro Archive 3: The Vispoeologee Visual Poetry
Generator, a do-it-yourself kit for creating your own anthology,
including custom imprinted pencils, dice and workbook;
Micro Archive 4: a set of Thomas Cassidy trading cards: digitally
reproduced altered text pages and book covers, mounted on book board.
Order Information
To place an order, visit The Shop at MCBA or call 612.215.2520. Winter Book purchases help support the project as well as MCBA's programs and services for artists.
Download a PDF of the order form
