Bound by Coleen Curry using Faircalf

Five Poems by Toni Morrison
Illustrated by Kara E. Walker
Published by Rainmaker Editions
Printed by Peter Koch, Berkeley, CA
Date Printed: 2002
Limited Edition: No. 79 of 399 / Signed by Author, Illustrator and printer
Binding Completed: 2025
Size: 33 x 22 x 2cm (13" x 9" x 0.75") Binding

Full calfskin binding sewn on linen cords, laced-on boards with calfskin edge-to-edge hinged doublures. The leather is undyed vegetable tanned fair calfskin from J Hewit & Sons hand-dyed in multiple layers using a variety of techniques. Palette predominantly green, red, and gold tones. Image transfers of portions of Walker's silhouettes, and a selection of Morrison's poems handwritten by binder. Gold leaf, 24 carat gold foil and bronze foil applied, sanded and burnished. Final embossing using a texture etched plate. Light burnishing. 'FIVE POEMS' hand titled in gold leaf 'Chinois' style down the spine. My design inspiration is fueled by Morrison's poems and her engagement with the themes and ideas at the forefront: love, mortality, empowerment, and the complex relationship between women and desire. The poem Eve Remembering, has a dreamlike, non-linear feel and cherishes memories of lost innocence with choice words such as 'lost its green', 'fire red', and 'I bit sweet power to the core'. The palette proposed gives rise to love, energy, and female empowerment.

Coleen and her work can be found at Coleen Curry Fine Bookbinding and on Instagram @book.thug