iDyegress

iDyegress is a coloring book realized in 2020 in the home studio. Although handcrafted in a humble edition of 5, it was clear from the start the book would need to grow into becoming a vehicle for a participatory art project. Upon its realization, four* artist working in different mediums were invited to take part in this project and offered copies as gifts. The fifth copy remained in my possession solemnly as a proof of the book’s original state. By becoming a common denominator, the book is elevated to its innate state of being a democratic multiple (a gift) and generating the platform for tolerance and peace, open to different readings.

Pages draw direct ties to the art history books that were at my disposal during lockdown of 2020. Overprinting of the images in some cases created a double-effect -one of the global confusion and moreover as an impetus for coloring book

Each box set consists of 28 lithographic prints, 2 linocuts, 6 handmade watercolor paints and the unused Stangren’s Arabesque paintbrush #6 made in West Germany. Foreword and the colophon were xeroxed.

The book is cased in a 10.5 x 6.25 x 0. 875 inches slip-case covered with black paper decorated with black ink Suminagashi. The title was hot-stamped with silver foil.

* The four participating artists in this project are: Stephanie Pierce, Iva Radivojevic, Sheryl Oppenheim and Oswaldo Garcia.