To the One Who's Gone
2023. Copper plate etching and drypoint, photo emulsion screen printing, and linoleum block printing on vellum, mulberry paper, and Bristol 1ply vellum. 22 pages. Mixed media.
For To the One Who's Gone (2023), I combined printmaking with installation while reflecting on the loss of my grandfather earlier in that school year. I encouraged the viewer to turn the pages of the book, pulling each print along the thread connecting each arm and the half of the book that lays in its hand. In combination with distancing the two halves of the book, the intention was to make this installation feel as disconnected and unanchored as one feels whilst grieving.
Select pages:
second page. text reads: "until it became the highlight of your day". image is of elderly hands by a paper cup of cranberry juice
third page. text reads: "Even if you didn't realize what it was". image is of pair of hands holding the glass of cranberry juice from earlier. the viewpoint is from someone looking down into their glass, and you can faintly see the reflection of the person in the juice.
9th page. text reads: "It takes billions of years for a dead star's light to snuff out in our sky". image is of three figures stargazing. one figure is pointing at the brightest star. the sky is filled with angular, jagged lines.
10th page. text reads: "I'm having trouble thinking of you in the past tense. in the back of my brain, i have all the things I'll never show you filed away". image is of a phone in the narrator's hand with off-brand google photos open. in the images, this message is readable: "...granddad. look at this thing i saw. what do you think? ...grandad?"
15th page. text reads: "but I hoped to bring some of those things back to you". image is of my grandad and I having coffee together at a table. the next page is visible underneath
21st page. text reads: "i am learning". image is of me standing in line with other with people with baggage. purple baggage on my back is labeled: "this was his," and the hat on my head is labeled: "and this."
22nd page. text reads: "to let you go." image is of my family in a group hug with the baggage left behind. this is the last page
In order shown:
As seen on first photo on this page:
Page 1. Photo emulsion screen print on mulberry paper. 11” x 7.5” (27.94cm x 19.05cm)
In gallery view:
Page 2. Copperplate etching on vellum. 11” x 7.5” (27.94cm x 19.05cm)
Page 3. Photo emulsion screen print on mulberry paper. 11” x 7.5” (27.94cm x 19.05cm)
Page 9. Copperplate etching and drypoint on mulberry paper. 11” x 7.5” (27.94cm x 19.05cm)
Page 10. Reductive linocut on 1ply bristol vellum. 11” x 7.5” (27.94cm x 19.05cm)
Page 15. Copperplate etching on vellum. 11” x 7.5” (27.94cm x 19.05cm)
Page 16 (visible underneath). Photo emulsion screen print on mulberry paper. 11” x 7.5” (27.94cm x 19.05cm)
Page 21. Copperplate etching and block print on vellum. 11” x 7.5” (27.94cm x 19.05cm)
Page 22. Copperplate etching and block print on vellum. 11” x 7.5” (27.94cm x 19.05cm)