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handmade BOOKS |
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The assignment was to create a book on the theme of Time. I chose to do this in the form of a book within a book. The first, larger book is a museum catalog from an exhibition that takes place about 800 years in the future. One artifact in that exhibition is another museum catalog from a museum exhibition that took place 400 years previously (which is 400 years from now.) That museum catalog, which is the smaller book within the larger book, looks back 400 years to today.  Unholy Wars Japanese stab binding, book size: 10.5" x 14.5", 28 pages, printed on Rives BFK  Unholy Wars First spread, after vellum sheet and title page. Story is in the form of a museum catalog from Athens Greece, dated about 800 years in the future. The catalog tells of a catastrophic worldwide religious war that took place 800 years prior, in 2048. Among the artifacts in the Athens museum show is a museum catalog from a exhibition titled, "Fallen Empires," which was on display in the Baghdad Cultural Museum on the 400th anniversary of 9/11. That museum burned to the ground, and only one volume of a 100 volume catalog survived the fire; all other volumes, plus the artifacts on display were destroyed.  Unholy Wars Another page of Unholy Wars, telling the story behind the "exhibition."  Unholy Wars This page shows a picture of the "Fallen Empires, v. 66/100" museum catalog from the Baghdad Cultural Museum, a catalog that survived a fire at the Baghdad museum about 400 years prior, in 2401, on the 400th anniversary of 9/11. The Baghdad exhibition displayed artifacts from the American Empire, destroyed nearly in its entirety during the Religious Wars of 2048. The catalog was included in the Athens "Unholy Wars" exhibition because it contained rare photographs of American Empire artifacts no longer in existence.  Unholy Wars Close up of the above page. The year "400 EM" refers to a numbering system instituted after the Wars.  Unholy Wars When you turn the page, the actual Baghdad Museum catalog is hidden inside the book. It's seen through a vellum page in this photo. The smaller book is Japanese stab binding, book size: 6" x 7.25", 20 pages  Inside Book: "Fallen Empires" The "Fallen Empires" catalog, inside "Unholy Wars" The black ribbon is used to lift the smaller book out of the larger book. The larger book is 28 pages: 10 pages of content, plus 18 pages hollowed out for the smaller book.  Fallen Empires A spread inside "Fallen Empires"  Fallen Empires Another spread inside "Fallen Empires." Most pages feature artifacts of early 21st c. American life. This page describes a "sports ball," but the rules and purpose of the game are unknown.  Fallen Empires A spread inside "Fallen Empires," showing an incinerated computer keyboard.  Fallen Empires A spread inside "Fallen Empires." This picture shows a newpaper fragment announcing the election of a conservative Christian bishop as President of the United States, which led to the eventual breaking down of the separation of church and state, setting the stage for wider religious conflict worldwide. The fragment shown survived because it was printed on a digital polymer substrate, which has not yet been invented.  Fallen Empires Each book has a small diagram in the back indicating that it is one book of a two-book set.  "Unholy Wars" with inset book, "Fallen Empires" Unholy Wars and Fallen Empires  Unholy Wars A page from "Unholy Wars"  Unholy Wars A page from "Unholy Wars"  Unholy Wars A page from "Unholy Wars"  Fallen Empires A page from "Fallen Empires"  Fallen Empires A page from "Fallen Empires" All illustrations and sketches in this site Copyright ©1990-2007 Michael Gibbs www.michaelgibbs.com |