Production Narrative

by B. Freeman

The Journal of Artists' Books (ISSN 1085-1461) is published twice a year, once in Spring and once in Fall. JAB17 is a book by Seana Biondolillo. JAB was founded in 1994 in order to encourage lively and serious debate about artists' books. Our mission is to develop the field of artists' books by means of critical discourse and creative exploration of the intersections of book arts, artists' books, poetry, photography, experimental literature, and other book related creative endeavors. As a forum for the study of artists' books, JAB publishes articles, reviews of artists' books and exhibitions, and commentary on conferences as well as other book arts-related activities. JAB also documents current activity through interviews with artists, showcases creative work in the form of artists' statements and artist-designed pages, inserts, and covers.

Critical Analysis

by B. Freeman

Design Features

typographic: Several typefaces and styles are utilized, including woodtype, ransom notes, and handwriting, consistent with the collage style of the imagery. In several compositions, existing signage is used in conjunction with placed text as a narrative device. The concepts contained within the imagery are further woven together typographically by the inclusion of the word PATRIOTISM, introduced at a pace of one letter per page. Bookending the collaged section are two pages laid out in a traditional two-column style. Biondolillo utilizes within this format the typographic techniques of size and weight variations to create a visual texture in addition a hierarchy of information.

imagery: Utilizing both personal and appropriated images, Biondolillo creates a collage that serves as a commentary on the history and present situation of politics, power, and racism in America in addition to serving as a meditation on the extreme political measures too often taken as justification. Although primarily one-color images, Biondilillo has chose to print them in red, pushing the creation of an appropriately enraging and bloody environment for her narrative and commentary.

JAB17: The Journal of Artists' Books

Agents

Brad Freeman

type: initiating

role:
artist
author
binder
designer
photographer
printer
publisher

nationality:
born: United States

location:

dates:
birth: 1951-01-23

Brad Freeman

type: initiating

role:
publisher

Seana Biondolillo

type: other

role:
artist JAB17 is a book by Seana Biondolillo

Publication Information

edition type: editioned

publisher: Nexus Press

place: Atlanta, GA

dates:
publication: 2002-00-00 Spring 2002

edition size: approximately 750

Measurements

horizontal: 8.5 inches closed

vertical: 11 inches closed

Production Information

production means:
offset (local)

binding: saddle stitching (AAT)

media:
ink (local)

Appearance

general description: Pamphlet with offset printed pages and cover on Opus Dull.

format: pamphlet (AAT)

cover: JAB17 is a book by Seana Biondolillo. The exterior front cover is a collage of a female face obscured in part by an American flag in a state of ill repair. JAB17 appears at the top of the page and the text, “the American spirit has not been extinguished it only dimmed while we were sleeping,” appears in a script font at the bottom. The flag is repeated on the back cover and juxtaposed with an image of two lynched black men and a gesturing hand emerging from the bottom of the page. The text on the back cover reads, “truth forever on the scaffold. lies forever on the throne.”

color: yes The exterior and interior front and back covers are in color. The majority of the text pages are one-color printed with red ink.

enclosures:
item: There is a small, saddle-stitched book bound into the journal. It contains several of Seana Biondolillo's sketches executed during the planning of JAB17.

Content

pagination: paginated 32 pages

numbered?: unnumbered

signed?: unsigned

Colophon

JAB17 - a book by Seana Biondolillo Publisher - Brad Freeman Special thanks to Mandy Mastrovita, Mandy Freel, Yvette Spradlin, Tricia Buckley, Aaron Disner, Gary meres. Printed on the Heidelberg KORD at Nexus Press, 535 Means Street, Atlanta, GA 30318, USA tel 404.577.3579