| Title | Family Secrets |
| Artist / Creator | Elizabeth Sanford |
| Place of Publication | Nashville, Tennesee |
| Publication Date | 2015 |
| Structure / Binding | Tunnel accordion |
| Medium / Materials | Watercolor, acrylic, ink, wood, walnut shell slice |
| Paper Stock | Fabriano hot press watercolor paper |
| Number of Pages | 6 pages |
| Dimensions (WxHxD) | 5 x 6.5 x 1 inches closed. Extends out to 29 inches. |
| Edition Size | Unique |
| Signed & Numbered | Signed by the artist |
My accordion tunnel book invites the viewer to wander into a visual fairy tale. Like many childhood stories, this one involves a young girl and an adventure in the forest. The wooden covers suggest a certain amount of mystery and offer a preview of what's inside. Opening the book reveals the word Family and 2 figures that appear to be reaching toward each other through a halo of leaves. Further extending the pages changes the story dramatically to one of pursuit. The last page contains the word Secrets. Viewer participation is an important part of my work. I invite the audience to explore the wonders and mysteries of my woods, to look carefully enough to find the other creatures hiding there. How the story ends is up to the viewer.
Artist Bio
Elizabeth Sanford (Nashville, Tennessee) is a watercolor painter who was seduced by the book arts and now creates watercolor sculptures. Her work is in many collections including the Bainbridge Island Museum of Art, Savannah College of Art and Design, John Hopkins University, and Ringling College of Art and Design. She has been teaching art for more than twenty years and holds an MFA in painting and drawing from East Carolina University.