Production Narrative

by K.Bucher

As the form of the book came together, I struggled with writing the text, trying to find a balance between my own memories and emotions, and my mother's, to create a kind of dialogue. There were so many themes and issues I wanted to address that I spent a long time editing and regrouping images and text. I was also concerned about producing a book that would be a record of my family's history, albeit one that represents the view of one member of that family. This whole process happened gradually over more than 10 years as I was working on other projects during this time. I visited my mother 3 or 4 times a year, and each time I would take with me ideas for more photos and questions to ask that spun off from where I was with the project at the time. Early in this process when I thought I had enough photographs and some writings for a book, I sent out proposals, and after no concrete results, I created a dummy and contacted various curators and publishers, both non-profit and for profit. Again there were no offers and I realized that Sunnydell Farm just did not fit into the usual categories and had to be published as an artist's book, especially if I wanted to stay true to my vision. Joan Lyons offered to help me have the book printed through VSW if I found some funding. She connected me to Express Press in Rochester and I worked at home in New Mexico on my computer for prepress and then correcting the proofs, communicating by email and using FedEx for sending proofs back and forth. Since funding was limited there were few choices available for the type of printing process, the paper and the cover, but when the book was finally printed, I was pleased that it remained close to the aesthetic I had in mind early in the process. I think that the book is accessible on multiple levels to a wide audience, and it has been very gratifying that the responses to it have been so positive.

Critical Analysis

by T. Shaw

Design Features

typographic: The type is digitally set on top of photographic and digitally collaged imagery adding a narration or "voice over" component that oftentimes provides context for the pictures

imagery: Ranges from the artist's photographs and family photos to images of object relics and collaged illustrations

graphical: A constant graphical devise is transparency of multiple layers of photographic imagery and many pages utilize rythmic background patterning like wallpaper

openings: Each opening consists of full bleed imagery

Sunnydell Farm

Agents

Karen Bucher

type: initiating

role:
artist
author
photographer
publisher

nationality:
active: United States

dates:
publication: 2004-00-00

Visual Studies Workshop Press

type: other

role:
publisher

Publication Information

edition type: editioned

publisher: Visual Studies Workshop Press

place: Rochester, New York

dates:
publication: 2004-00-00

edition size: 300

Measurements

vertical: 8 inches closed

horizontal: 10.5 inches closed

Production Information

production means:
offset (local) HP Indigo Press digital offset

binding: spiral (AAT)

substrate:
bookBlock: paper Heavy, coated paper

media:
ink (local)

Appearance

general description:

format: codex (AAT)

cover: Laminated card stock

color: yes

Content

pagination: unpaginated 58 pages

numbered?: unnumbered

signed?: unsigned