WHERE SEA & SKY MEET II

The first time I saw Venice I was struck by the image of the narrow ribbon of land running between the expanse of water before it and the stretch of sky overhead. I examined this concept of the line running along the horizon in two other artist’s books, but found I still wasn’t finished exploring this initial, lingering impression that Venice has imprinted on my mind. While the imagery is nearly identical to that of Where Sea & Sky Meet (I), the structure—and therefore the emphasis—is different...

In this version, the elements I chose to highlight in the earlier books—pleated folds mimicking the “sweeping curves of the Grand Canal,” accordion structures sewn together to recall “the way in which Venice’s lacy urban fabric is stitched together by hundreds of little bridges” and draped beads recreating the “movement of the famous Venetian chandeliers”—all recede. The focus shifts fully to the “narrow ribbon of land.” This central theme is expressed through a progression of horizontal imagery as the book is experienced by the reader.

Organized around a single line of text that runs through the entire accordion structure are one-hundred-and-twenty-seven images of Venice. As the pages unfold, the mosaic of photos lengthens, recreating the line on the horizon while alluding to the rich layers found within the “ribbon” of land that is Venice.

I have a feeling this latest photographic exploration of the city will not be the last book about bella Venezia... In the meanwhile, I have designed a POD version inspired by Where Sea & Sky Meet; I will post photos soon.

A few notes on process can be found here.