Albino Bestiary: A Remembrance
Freeport, ME: Rebecca Goodale, 2012. Hard Cover. Fine binding. Item #10176
13-3/4" x 12-1/2" x 3-1/2." 24 pp., illus. Limited edition, number 5 of 5 copies. Signed by Goodale at the colophon. An interesting structure, with cloth covered boards opening in alternating direction forming an elaborate compound dos-à-dos binding with 12 openings. Each opening presents its own form of display: from codex to according, from fold-out to pop up. Hand-colored silkscreen prints with patterned pastepaper. Text is letterpress printed by Scott Vile at Ascensius Press. All housed in a drop-spine box with magnetic closure.
Of this project, Goodale writes: "This is a book I [had] been working on since 2010. In its 11 chapters it conjures up memories of white animals (and plants). Although this book is not specifically about flora and fauna protected by the Endangered Species Act, the book brings to mind how human impact has created islands of territory that limit DNA pools and lead to such anomalies as albinism, leucism, melanism, and piebald. In fact, two piebald white tail deer in our neighborhood were the start of my poetic remembrance in chapter 5. So, although there isn't a specifically labeled threatened or endangered species in this collection, I feel I am still working from the same point of view with this volume."
Like so many of Goodale's books, this engaging structure prompts exploration: at every turned page a viewer must "discover" how the material is to be opened or displayed; that discovery and exploration is invariably rewarded by surprise and wonder. The book can be stood up and many of the page-spreads can be opened for display.
Price: $4,700.00