Ornography, 2023. 3.75” x 5.25”, 56 pages.Published by Russell Maret.
Ornography was created out of relative necessity. During my time as an apprentice with Russell Maret, I needed something to occupy my time while he was away from the studio for travel. The idea was hit upon to create a specimen book of sorts for the cases of neglected ornamental type in his studio. Made from a single parent sheet of Zerkall (RIP), Ornography is the result. I was given relatively free reign on the individual designs, which were all hand set using antique metal type as well as some of Russell’s original designs. While constructing the forms, I thought to myself what an obscene amount of ornamental material was hiding in those cases, and thus the title came to be.
Ornography caps nearly three years of apprenticeship in Russell’s Brooklyn studio, during which time I was the primary printer for Three Constitutions (2020), A Pattern Book of Càdiz Ornaments (2021), LX Checklist (2022), Dispatches from the Lizard Brain (2022), Colored Objects (2023), and This Wisp of a Thing Called Civilization (2023). Additionally, I was the binder for A Pattern Book of Cadiz Ornaments, LX Checklist, and This Wisp of a Thing Called Civilization.
Ornography was designed, printed, and bound by me in Russell’s studio. It was long-stitched by hand into stiffeners and covered with antique Japanese katazome paper. The book is housed in an archival paper slipcase. While the majority of pages were printed with black ink, a handful of two-color prints are scattered throughout. Ninety-five copies have been printed, with each copy signed and numbered.
This book is currently in print. Please inquire directly to purchase. $250 + shipping.
