Whispering Stones

Whispering Stones
2022
Edition of 20
Book measures 5” x 9” x 1” closed and 5 x 9 x 36" when open
7 spreads 
Mediums and Materials: letterpress, monoprint, laser cutting, watercolor  Materials: handmade paper, printmaking paper, kozo, mica, indigo cave paper with mica inclusions, ultra suede

Book Description:

“Whispering Stones” explores love, friendship, sisterhood, and the passage of time through the poetic metaphor of two stones, symbolizing sisters who remain connected across great distances. The stones whisper to each other, mirroring the intimate phone calls my sister and I share from far-off places.

Through these whispered conversations, exchanged under the vast night sky, we offer each other stories as gifts—moments of connection and solace in the quiet hours. Whether we are stones or human beings, the night sky becomes a powerful symbol of wonder, comfort, and the enduring bond we share.

A recurring blue theme flows through the narrative, the binding, and the box, representing the depth and balance of emotion. To us as artists, this color evokes a sense of hope and perseverance. The saturated blue on the poem’s pages is intentional, designed to draw the viewer in and offer moments of calm and peace—like whispers of serenity amidst the chaos of life.

Book Production Details:

The night sky constellations depicted in “Whispering Stones” were created using advanced mathematical software. This software maps the night sky from specific geographic locations at precise dates and times, creating a faithful rendering of the cosmos.

These constellations correspond to the times and places of the sisters’ whispered calls, captured over five months. By charting the sky from their respective locations, the book transforms these shared moments into visual representations of their connection.

The scientific precision of these maps adds depth to the narrative, grounding the emotional resonance of the sisters’ bond in the rhythm and cycles of the natural world. Just as the sisters find comfort in their whispered exchanges, readers can find solace in knowing the night sky is a faithful witness to their connection—a reflection of the vast, enduring universe we all share.Book production details:
Whispering Stones is a limited edition of twenty signed and numbered copies with artist proofs. The book was created using a combination of letterpress polymer plates and mono-printed forms. Using hand paper-cutting in double-layer carousel-style false accordion binding.

The poem included in the book in the images area above.

Additional Details:

The papers used in this book are handmade Khadi Natural Cotton, Thai Kozo Natural for the back layer, and cave paper to create a carousel-style accordion binding. Covers are made of Ultrasuede panels with a natural mica stone inlay. The clamshell box is made with two styles of indigo-dyed Cave Paper, one includes dispersed mica flecks.

Written in collaboration with Julia Alpers. Illustrated, designed, and letterpress printed, and bound by Rhiannon Alpers of Gazelle and Goat Press.