Freedom 2012
Julia Seko, USA
| Freedom
Julia Seko, PS Press, Longmont, Colorado, USA, May 2012 I wanted to do a book for the children of Baghdad. In the poem “Freedom,” by Iraqi poet Saadi Youssef and translated by Khaled Mattawa, I was struck by the vivid imagery of sky and earth, of the joys and responsibilities of those fortunate enough to be free. I kept the design simple, in keeping with the concept of a children's book. Inspired by my research into a wonderful land and culture, I felt hope and a desire to share that hope. Julia Seko has been involved in letterpress printing and book arts for over twenty years, originally training at the Women's Building in Los Angeles. She helped establish Naropa University's letterpress printshop and is adjunct faculty in the Writing and Poetics department. She has also taught through the University of Colorado Continuing Education, Naropa University's Summer Writing Program, and the Book Arts League, a community arts nonprofit organisation. She is proprietor of PS Press. Her letterpress work is in university and private collections and has been exhibited in the United States and abroad. Dimensions: 5” x5½” x ½” Medium: Letterpress printed with metal type and linoleum carvings Illustrator's Statement (Vivian Jean) I have always loved making things from many different art materials. Currently I am focusing on drawing and relief printmaking. Each linoleum block that I carve reveals to me a progression in my carving skill. I see that I can control the outcome through my own hands. In the end it's the process that provides the best feeling - the making, the doing. I hope that this active creative process runs parallel to my self-discovery, and that the resulting images convey the joy I feel in making them. sekoja@gmail.com |