| Title | Sacrament of the Unknown |
| Artist / Creator | Bonnie Stahlecker |
| Artist's Nationality | United States |
| Place of Publication | Plainfield IN |
| Publication Date | 2025 |
| Process / Technique | Intaglio |
| Number of Images | One that runs across the accordion |
| Structure / Binding | Case Binding with Pull-out Accordion |
| Medium / Materials | Ink, Paste Paint |
| Paper Stock | Somerset Paper, Jazz Paper, and Hahnemühle Ingres |
| Number of Pages | 7 |
| Dimensions (WxHxD) | 8.75 x 5 x 0.25 inches. Opens to 38 inches. |
| Edition Size | Limited edition of two |
| Box / Wrapper | Library style paper enclosure |
| Signed & Numbered | Signed and numbered edition |
Sacrament of the Unknown by Bonnie Stahlecker
$700.00
Sacrament of the Unknown is an accordion book housed in a case binding. The pull-out format was chosen to allow for river currents and floating boats to flow. The negative boat shapes signify hope for the future alongside one’s full knowledge of the past. Like a meditation mantra, the repeating boats progress in a single direction yet firmly stay within their current. There are occasional glimpses through the openings of a different and hopefully better future. The book is my way of holding on to a secure belief of receiving mysterious grace by the repetition of positive action.
Artist Bio
Bonnie Stahlecker is a studio artist working in books and sculptures. She was involved with the early Paper and Book Intensives, where she met and worked with internationally known bookbinders and papermakers. Over the years, she has taken private bookbinding lessons and researched historical book models, printing/painting on leather, and innovative book structures. Stahlecker has been an artist in residence at the Frans Masereel Centrum, Belgium; the Banff Centre, Canada; and the Auvillar Cultural Exchange Program in France. Her work is in numerous public and private collections and has been exhibited in international and national exhibitions. The artwork can be found in many publications including Masters: Book Arts; The Penland Book of Handmade Books; and 500 Handmade Books. She holds a BFA from the University of South Dakota and an MFA from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.