Ice Walk (2001)

“My father is gone and BooBoo is here. And I stand somewhere in the middle, between them both.” writes Guest, recalling her father’s illness and death as she accompanies her young granddaughter on an ordinary wintry outing. Slipping and sliding over sidewalks layered with thick ice, this bright day — still a month from spring — offers opportunity for deeper contemplation of existence and loss. Ice Walk brings expression and solace, through its simple sentient narrative, to the mysterious journey of life.

Bound in traditional western codex form, Ice Walk is available in deluxe, standard and chapbook editions designed by Michael Lizama under the direction of Mar Jo Pauly; standard and deluxe editions are signed by the author and include nine original fine-art prints executed by book artists/printmakers nationally recognized for their interpretive vision and technical skill.

The Deluxe Edition (lettered A through Z) is a 7″ x 10″ hard-bound volume with leather spine and board covers wrapped in pale blue hand-made paper (w/fiber and silver inclusions) by MCBA Artist-in-Residence Jeff Rathermel and endsheets of pearlescent vellum; both book and prints are housed in a wooden case measuring 8-1/4″ x 11-3/4″ x 1-3/4″. Deluxe edition binding and box are designed and fabricated by Jill Jevne.

The Standard Edition (numbered 1 through 125) is a two-section fabric covered portfolio, 7-1/4″ x 10-1/4″ x 7/8″, containing in a verso pocket of black Fabriano Murillo paper the single-signature sewn book, with cover of hand-made paper by Jeff Rathermel. Artists’ prints are held opposite inside a slender basswood frame surrounded by flaps of layered translucent vellum. The standard edition is designed and executed by Steven Filler.

The Chapbook, or readers’ edition, presents the text in a single-signature pamphlet sewn binding with covers of Domtar Kaos Tsunami Blue, relief printed with layered transparent images, and pearlescent endsheets.

Text by Judith Guest
Illustrations by various artists
Designed by Michael Lizama under the direction of Mary Jo Pauly
Printed under the direction of Jana Pullman
Deluxe edition bound by Jill Jevne with hand-made paper by Jeff Rathermel