Keana by Jody Arthur
Jody Arthur: "The tiny Synemporion keana was a species of native Hawaiian bat that went extinct after humans settled the islands. Very little is known about keana. This artist's book evokes an antique specimen case, with three interior drawers, containing woodblock prints of bones discovered by archaeologists, a letterpress booklet containing a lyrical essay written by Hawaii-based poet Laurel Nakanishi, and a ghostly bat silhouette printed with a linocut of the native Hawaiian forest on handmade paper. “
Laurel Nakanishi, Bio: "Laurel Nakanishi was raised in Kapalama, on the island of Oahu, Hawaii. She is the author of the award-winning poetry book, Ashore and the chapbook, ‘Manoa|Makai’. She has been fortunate to receive grants from the Fulbright Foundation, the Japan-US Friendship Commission/ National Endowment for the Arts, the US embassy in Nicaragua, and the Greta Wrolstad Foundation. … She received her MFA in poetry from the University of Montana and her MFA in creative non-fiction from Florida International University.
“Laurel has taught poetry writing to children in Hawaii, Nicaragua, Montana, and Miami. In 2012, she founded a community arts organization in Nicaragua, NicaArts, which she continues to direct. Focusing on the intersections between teaching, writing, and community organizing, Laurel collaborates with non-profits and schools in her home state of Hawaii to bring creative writing opportunities to underserved children and young adults."
Processes, Dimensions, and Edition Information
Essay by Laurel Nakanishi
Wailuku, Hawaii: Jody Arthur, 2019. Edition of 10.Height 3.75 in, width 5.5, depth 4.25 inches. Handmade box with three drawers covered in bookcloth. Three woodblock prints. One linocut on handmade paper. A letterpressed accordion booklet on Rives BFK. Type letterpressed with polymer plates. Printed on a Vandercook Universal III at the In Cahoots Residency. Signed and numbered by the artist.