Dark River of Stars
Paulann Petersen, Barbara Mason and Laurie Weiss
Book Launch and Exhibition
February 3 – March 10, 2012
Celebrate Valentine’s Day a few days early this year by attending the book launch for Dark River of Stars at 23 Sandy Gallery. A completely hand-made artists’ book in a limited edition of 50 copies, Dark River of Stars is the collaboration of three Northwest artists: Oregon Poet Laureate, Paulann Petersen; printmaker, Barbara Mason; and bookbinder, Laurie Weiss. Poems collected in this volume were gifts the poet sent out individually each Valentine’s Day to friends and family over a period of nine years. The book’s title is taken from a line in one of the poems; it’s a metaphor for a signature, for the uniqueness of each human sensibility.
About the Book
Dark River of Stars, the limited edition artist book is available for purchase. Drum-leafed bound text block is case bound and presented in a single-tray clamshell box covered in book cloth. Etchings are hand printed on BFK Rives paper using solar plates. 12 pages. Limited edition of 50. $350.
ABOUT THE ARTISTS
Oregon’s sixth Poet Laureate, Paulann Petersen has five full-length books of poetry: The Wild Awake, Blood-Silk, A Bride of Narrow Escape, Kindle, and The Voluptuary, published by Lost Horse Press in 2010. She was a Stegner Fellow at Stanford University, and the recipient of the 2006 Holbrook Award from Oregon Literary Arts. A current Associate Fellow at the Attic Institute, she serves on the board of Friends of William Stafford, organizing the January Stafford Birthday Events.
Barbara Mason is an artist and printmaker working in her own studio west of Portland, Oregon. A lifelong artist, she began studying printmaking in the early 80’s and was immediately enamored with the medium. Barbara made viscosity monotypes almost exclusively for 20 years until she discovered Solarplate etching. She has been an enthusiast of this process since 2001 and has taught the process in workshops since 2002. Barbara is also an arts advocate and active in the community, teaching and serving as a local resource.
Laurie Weiss became hooked on book structures in 1991, and worked to expand her knowledge and understanding of the principles and methods for binding books. She makes books that are both artistic and functional, creating journals and artist books that meld the visual with the tactile. Laurie is also the director of the biennial Focus on Book Arts, a 5-day event held in Forest Grove, Oregon encompassing workshops, keynote address, artists’ shop, exhibit, and evening receptions.