'Pause Artist's Book by Tia Blassingame
This piece is featured in the November 2024 issue of The Fore Edge, a quarterly newsletter from MCBA that highlights new artist’s books and zines for collections, universities, and libraries. If you are interested in receiving this newsletter, there is a sign up available here. Past featured pieces can be viewed here.
“2024, offset lithography, letterpress printing, laser cut, Somerset paper, 200 copies.
‘Pause was offset printed at the Borowsky Center for Publication Arts by offset printer Erica Honson, letterpress printed in the letterpress studio, and laser cut in the Albert M. Greenfield Makerspace at the University of the Arts in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania over an unseasonably warm week at the end of April/start of May 2024, and was funded by the von Hess Visiting Artist Program. This artist’s book is signed and numbered by Blassingame.
With its three-color, offset printed imagery and metallic, letterpress-printed text, ‘Pause consists of the octagonal accordion text block, which is held in a locket-style container with a printed cameo cover. The container contains a letterpress-printed, script-style dedication and colophon reminiscent of jewelry engraving. For this project, Blassingame selected a small group of Black women to complete a questionnaire about their awareness of, feelings and memories related to menopause. In the laser-cut, accordion text block, the quoted and excerpted responses were letterpress printed in a blackish-gold ink color in Bitter typeface, which plays upon the stereotype of the bitter or angry Black woman. Serving as the offset-printed backgrounds, scanned materials represent intimacy and vulnerability, softness and strength. ‘Pause is meant to celebrate Black women, extend grace to those on the journey, and normalize the discussion of menopause and changes to women’s bodies.“ - Tia Blassingame
2” x 2” x ¼” (closed) accordion inside a 2.5” x 2.5” container
*Consignment item. Not eligible for 10% membership discount. All consignment purchases are final and non-refundable once shipped.
This piece is featured in the November 2024 issue of The Fore Edge, a quarterly newsletter from MCBA that highlights new artist’s books and zines for collections, universities, and libraries. If you are interested in receiving this newsletter, there is a sign up available here. Past featured pieces can be viewed here.
“2024, offset lithography, letterpress printing, laser cut, Somerset paper, 200 copies.
‘Pause was offset printed at the Borowsky Center for Publication Arts by offset printer Erica Honson, letterpress printed in the letterpress studio, and laser cut in the Albert M. Greenfield Makerspace at the University of the Arts in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania over an unseasonably warm week at the end of April/start of May 2024, and was funded by the von Hess Visiting Artist Program. This artist’s book is signed and numbered by Blassingame.
With its three-color, offset printed imagery and metallic, letterpress-printed text, ‘Pause consists of the octagonal accordion text block, which is held in a locket-style container with a printed cameo cover. The container contains a letterpress-printed, script-style dedication and colophon reminiscent of jewelry engraving. For this project, Blassingame selected a small group of Black women to complete a questionnaire about their awareness of, feelings and memories related to menopause. In the laser-cut, accordion text block, the quoted and excerpted responses were letterpress printed in a blackish-gold ink color in Bitter typeface, which plays upon the stereotype of the bitter or angry Black woman. Serving as the offset-printed backgrounds, scanned materials represent intimacy and vulnerability, softness and strength. ‘Pause is meant to celebrate Black women, extend grace to those on the journey, and normalize the discussion of menopause and changes to women’s bodies.“ - Tia Blassingame
2” x 2” x ¼” (closed) accordion inside a 2.5” x 2.5” container
*Consignment item. Not eligible for 10% membership discount. All consignment purchases are final and non-refundable once shipped.
This piece is featured in the November 2024 issue of The Fore Edge, a quarterly newsletter from MCBA that highlights new artist’s books and zines for collections, universities, and libraries. If you are interested in receiving this newsletter, there is a sign up available here. Past featured pieces can be viewed here.
“2024, offset lithography, letterpress printing, laser cut, Somerset paper, 200 copies.
‘Pause was offset printed at the Borowsky Center for Publication Arts by offset printer Erica Honson, letterpress printed in the letterpress studio, and laser cut in the Albert M. Greenfield Makerspace at the University of the Arts in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania over an unseasonably warm week at the end of April/start of May 2024, and was funded by the von Hess Visiting Artist Program. This artist’s book is signed and numbered by Blassingame.
With its three-color, offset printed imagery and metallic, letterpress-printed text, ‘Pause consists of the octagonal accordion text block, which is held in a locket-style container with a printed cameo cover. The container contains a letterpress-printed, script-style dedication and colophon reminiscent of jewelry engraving. For this project, Blassingame selected a small group of Black women to complete a questionnaire about their awareness of, feelings and memories related to menopause. In the laser-cut, accordion text block, the quoted and excerpted responses were letterpress printed in a blackish-gold ink color in Bitter typeface, which plays upon the stereotype of the bitter or angry Black woman. Serving as the offset-printed backgrounds, scanned materials represent intimacy and vulnerability, softness and strength. ‘Pause is meant to celebrate Black women, extend grace to those on the journey, and normalize the discussion of menopause and changes to women’s bodies.“ - Tia Blassingame
2” x 2” x ¼” (closed) accordion inside a 2.5” x 2.5” container
*Consignment item. Not eligible for 10% membership discount. All consignment purchases are final and non-refundable once shipped.
Tia Blassingame (she/her) is a book artist, printmaker, educator, and curator exploring the intersection of race, history, and perception. In 2019 she founded the Book/Print Artist/Scholar of Color collective to bring Book History and Print Culture scholars into conversation and collaboration with BIPOC book artists, papermakers, letterpress printers, and printmakers. Blassingame is an Associate Professor of Book Arts at Scripps College and the Director of Scripps College Press.
PrimrosePress.com / BookPrintCollective.com | Instagrams: @PrimBookArt / @BookPrintCollective
