Vanishing

Vanishing is a collaboration Rhiannon Alpers, Holly Downing, and Jane Hirshfield
2021
Edition of 20
Book measures 7.25” x 7.25” x 1” closed and 140” fully open
Custom magnetic clamshell box with plexiglass window houses the book

About the Book:
The poetry and imagery in Vanishing revolve around insects currently considered threatened or endangered. They are part of the quote-unquote insect apocalypse. Threats to their survival include habitat loss and fragmentation, invasion of non-native species, pesticide application, and global warming.

The poetry and imagery in "Vanishing" shine a spotlight on insects that are currently considered threatened or endangered - species that are tragically on the brink of disappearing from our world. These creatures are part of the so-called "insect apocalypse," a growing crisis driven by a confluence of dire threats to their survival.

Through lyrical verse and evocative visuals, the book explores the precarious state of insect populations globally, including habitat loss and fragmentation as human development encroaches on natural spaces, the introduction of invasive species that outcompete indigenous insects, the devastating impact of widespread pesticide application, and the disruptions caused by global warming and climate change. By bringing these threatened species into sharp focus, "Vanishing" aims to foster greater awareness, empathy, and action around the insect apocalypse.

The artists hope this work will inspire readers to learn more about the plight of insects, support conservation efforts, and make lifestyle changes to help protect these vital components of healthy, thriving ecosystems. Ultimately, "Vanishing" is a poignant elegy for the insects we may lose, as well as a call to preserve the biodiversity that sustains all life on our planet.

The insects included as mezzotints are: Monarch Butterfly, Red-Winged Grasshopper, Delta Green Ground Beetle, Rusty Patched Bumblebee, Stag Beetle, Bay Checkerspot Butterfly, Hawaiian Green Sphinx Moth, American Burying Beetle, Smith’s Blue Butterfly, Southern Damselfly, and Valley Elderberry Longhorn Beetle.

Book Production Details:
Holly Downing engraved and hand-colored the eleven 3” x 3” mezzotints. She was assisted in the editioning process by Toni Stirling in her Sebastopol studio. Rhiannon Alpers designed, letterpress printed, and bound the edition in San Francisco. She also made the handmade paper for the interleaved pages.

The papers are Rives BFK from France, Arjowiggins Kea Kolour Vellum Sombre Grey, and a handmade cotton rag that was created by Rhiannon Alpers for the edition. The enclosure is a drop spine magnet box with a museum glass panel in Dubletta bookcloth.

The edition of twenty was produced with six additional artist’s copies, which are not for sale.

About the Poems:
Jane Hirshfield’s poems first appeared in the following books: “Heart Starting and Stopping in the Late Dark,” from The Lives of the Heart (NY: HarperCollins, 1997); “Bees,” from The Lives of the Heart (NY: HarperCollins,, 1997); “Downed Branch,” from After (NY: HarperCollins, 2006); “Love in August,” from Come, Thief (NY: Knopf, 2011); “Rock,” from Given Sugar, Given Salt (NY: HarperCollins, 2001); “Ghazal for the End of Time,” from Ledger (NY: Knopf, 2020).

All poems © Jane Hirshfield, used by permission; all rights reserved.

Photo credit: Luz Marina Ruiz 2021