I can't believe I haven't made a blog post in over a month! I did take some time off at the end of May to plant my garden, which is growing despite the unseasonal heat and drought. Since early May I've mostly worked on the text pages, choosing and placing text excerpts from all my readings that portray different perspectives and experiences of the colonization history of the Chaco. I feel the text component is a rather important component for this project, but I still feel so unsure about some of the selections I've made, the quantity, and the ordering of the narrative content. I finally sent a first draft to a friend for feedback and I can't wait to talk to her later this week about her suggestions.
Last week, I spent most of my days at the print studio and I was finally able to re-etch my copper plates. They seem to have turned out well this time. I got much smoother and richer tones on my aquatints and I the proofs I pulled printed just the way I want. That means, I can finally start printing!!!
I'll have to do some more switching back and forth between the text and printing. The text will still need re-working, I imagine, then some editing by the project researchers, translating into Spanish since I'd like to create one artist book in English and one in Spanish. I'll also work with a graphic designer on the layout and design of the text. I imagine all that will take a fair amount of time and I hope I will be able to get it done by September.
I'm happy my project is finally taking on a more concrete shape. This project has grown in scope considerably since my initial ideas, but I'm enjoying it very much, the way it challenges me and gives me the opportunity to investigate and ponder issues I have carried with me since childhood.
(New proofs at the bottom. The difference between top and bottom doesn't show well in the photo, but trust me, the prints at the bottom are much richer than the ones at the top. Now the layering can begin!).
