BOCA RATON, FL (BocaNewsNow.com) — Florida Atlantic University’s Arthur and Mata Jaffe Center for Book Arts at the Wimberly Library has received 18 copies of “River of Grass,” a limited edition portfolio-style book made by Dorothy Simpson Krause, who is the Helen M. Salzberg Artist in Residence.
“River of Grass” pays homage to environmentalist Marjory Stoneman Douglas and her book “The Everglades: River of Grass,” which redefined the popular conception of the Everglades as a treasured river. The book’s cover is made of a saddle brown handmade paper and folded into a 7” x 10” envelope resembling a portfolio that an early settler might have carried. Resting inside are 10 folios of historic and contemporary photographs of the Everglades, maps and documents. A native mahogany tree seedpod tied with rawhide and thread fastens the envelope. Proceeds from the $875 book will be used to help finance the program.
Krause presented the first copy of her book to Helen M. Salzberg, the poet and artist who in 2011 established the semester-long residency at the Jaffe Center to enable book artists to work and teach there.
“In having been chosen as the inaugural Helen M. Salzberg Artist in Residence, I was given a unique opportunity to be a part of a collaborative creative environment,” said Krause. “The experience has far exceeded my wildest dreams.”
In addition to being a bookmaker, Krause is a professor emeritus at Massachusetts College of Art, a painter and collage artist. She developed an affinity for the water during her childhood in Mobile, Alabama, where her parents trapped alligators and traded the skins during the depression. About 10 years ago, Krause became fascinated with the Everglades.
Krause collaborated with the Jaffe Center’s staff to understand how to incorporate productions from the antique presses and other resources at the library into her project. She searched the center’s cabinets and drawers, finding such jewels for her book as vintage packages of both heavy and sheer Yo Kou paper that was handmade in China. Outside the library, she gathered the native mahogany seedpods for the envelope’s closing. Krause also befriended visiting artists and conducted workshops, including a private one-on-one with Salzberg. She chronicled her residency on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/dotkrause.
“The sense of community at the Jaffe Center is very special,” said Krause. “I hope artists who apply for the residency will value the opportunity to contribute to the ongoing work there.”
Instead of giving 10 percent of her finished work to the Jaffe Center, as the residency requires, Krause donated 50 percent of the books that she printed.
“I don’t think we could have wished for a better first artist in residence,” said John Cutrone, director of FAU’s Arthur and Mata Jaffe Center for Book Arts.
Applications are being accepted for the fall 2012 residence, which runs August 18 through December 7. The deadline is June 19. For details, contact John Cutrone at 561-297-0455 or visit http://www.library.fau.edu/depts/spc/JaffeCenter/AIR.php.
Artist and poet Helen Salzberg (right) receives a copy of “River of Grass” from artist Dorothy Simpson Krause (left), FAU’s Helen M. Salzberg Artist in Residence.
