Editioned Artist Books
JEANNE BARET: THE WOMAN BEHIND THE NATURALIST, 2019
When Jeanne Baret stepped on-board the Etoile ship in 1766, she didn’t set out to be the first woman to circumnavigate the globe. Alongside her colleague, accomplice and lover, Philibert Commerson, she took on many roles during the expedition as a botanist, herb woman, nurse, and cataloger of the more than 630 specimens they brought aboard. . Commerson. This limited edition artist book traces the expedition of the first woman to circumnavigate the globe, through the lens of the botanical discoveries she made along the ship’s journey. Jeanne Baret was not able to document the expedition herself, due to the forbidden nature of her passage on this journey, but her legacy has inspired many, and spurred the creation of this book.
There are 40 signed and numbered copies in this edition created by Rhiannon Alpers, Gazelle and Goat Press in 2018.
REMNANTS, 2015
The artist book and specimen enclosure of Remnants brings the world of four women naturalists to life, and re-frames their stories in a more personal context. The four women explored and honored in this artist book are Maria Sibylla Merian, Mary Anning, Clara E. Cummings and Marianne North. The natural found and collected specimens included and documented in the box inset piece open the door into the world these women wandered and wondered in.
The narrative of this book centers around their lives and the fascinations that fueled their passions and imaginations. Remnants also offers a tangible and personal connection to the discoveries and observations these women made, scientifically and in strides for all women interested in the field of science. Remnants is a quest to find a new perspective on the accomplishments of early female naturalists not recognized by society, by viewing nature through their lens, in order to better understand their world by examining our own. Each signature entails a personal look into an individual woman’s life passions as well as a biographical chart of her accomplishments. Photographs accompany the narrative to create a unique relationship between specimen and naturalist, inviting the viewer to make connections between the two.
LAC LUNAE, 2016
Artist book collaboration between Rhiannon Alpers and Penelope Anstruther in 2016. The artist book is in an edition of two, mono-printed on the letterpress. Poem written by Penelope Anstruther. Each spread has a unique monoprint surface referencing nebulae like surfaces. The type is hand lettering which has been letterpress printed and the binding is a flush mounted style board book with slate stone covers. The fore edge was handpainted and contains pared leather inserts in between to refer to the sedimentary layers discussed in the book itself.
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A THOUSAND STARLINGS, 2017
This limited edition book was created in an edition of thirty signed and numbered copies with artist’s proofs. Written, illustrated, and printed by Rhiannon Alpers. Letterpress printed with photopolymer plates and monotype, with an under layer of hand painted stars beneath, on Somerset Velvet Black. The endsheets are Fabriano Tiziano Anthracite and bound in Asahi Grey Crepe bookcloth. Foil stamped birds and title, this false accordion is masquerading in a Secret Belgian binding with Italian film yarn.
The book explores an imagined journey, being carried through the comfort of one’s dreams. A journey guided by a murmuration of a thousand starlings, undulating and wisping through the evening sky, their soft voices calming and cooing as they head into the unknown. Murmurations themselves have an astonishing and dreamlike effect. Their immense rhythm and flow symbolizes the thin line between the dream and day.
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