What do you know about your history?
Letterpress printer and book artist Jessica Peterson will pose this question as she brings her creation to the GCAE for a discussion and book release.
Originally intended to retrace the history of slavery and racism in her current home of Alabama, the focus of "Cause and Effect" evolved when Peterson became aware of the race riots that occurred in Rochester in 1964.
Join us for a glass of wine and hor d'oeuvres as Peterson discusses the production process, research methods, and unveils to a Rochester audience for the first time the finished product.
The Process
"Cause and Effect" is made of three different types of handmade paper over the course of two weeks. Printed on a Vandercook SP-20 in Gordo, Alabama, its text includes both news article clippings and original stream of consciousness journal-style writing, punctuated by rhetorical questions. Cause and Effect is a drum-leaf binding in an edition of 55.
About the Artist:
Jessica Peterson grew up in Rochester on Vassar Street and started making books about 18 years ago at School of the Arts. She now lives in Gordo, Alabama and is a member of the Crossroads Arts Alliance which includes Proceed and Be Bold documentary subject and letterpress artist Amos Paul Kennedy, Jr.
Read what Amos P. Kennedy Jr. has to say about Jessica:
"I encourage anyone who is interested in the development of the book to attend Jessica's talk. You will have the opportunity to learn first hand about techniques of book production that are taught at the book arts program at UA.
Jessica is devoted to the exploration of the book as a vessel of social change. Her approach to the design of "Cause and Effect" gives you a glimpse into the development of book artist."