Wonder and Flow / for the Kresge Foundation. Book development, art direction, design, layout, print management, photography, photography direction, calligraphy.
Wonder and Flow is the 2020 Eminent Artist Monograph, to honor the work of ceramicist Marie Woo.
For this book, I created a style of rough-hewn calligraphic lettering to engage, but not compete, with the artist’s unique approach to form and tradition. All of the calligraphy in the book was made with a series of handmade folded-nib pens.
I also directed a studio photo shoot, commissioning a photographer and an art handler to capture publication-quality photographs of the artist’s work. These photographs were used in the book, and also made available to scholars and the media.
8 x 8 in, 112 pages, perfect bound.
Copies of the Eminent Artist Monographs are available free to US residents, by completing this form.
The calligraphic forms of the title are embossed, along with a subtle emboss running along the “teeth” of the ceramic bowl. My calligraphy for the book pushed traditional form to rough edges, complementing the artist’s work. I made the letters with a handmade folded-nib pen.
Opening spread of the gallery section, showing one of my detail photographs as well as my calligraphy.
Gallery section spread. Photograph by Haakim Walker.
Essays from Marie’s community, interspersed with “flow” pages, consisting of Marie’s thoughts about her creative process, superimposed over photographs of her work.