A Vein of Prayer
Steve Godwin, USA
| A Vein of Prayer;
Steve Godwin, Carrboro, North Carolina, USA, February 2013 Artistic expression contends with the inconceivable act of random slaughter. It grapples with the paradox that the inconceivable has become commonplace. This is the starting point for the poem and the book A Vein of Prayer. The image of smoke is intended to evoke both the aftermath of atrocity and the plea of spirit that goes up in such a devastating circumstance. Linking the murder of human life to the murder of the book is a plea for the culture of connection, abundantly symbolized by the neighborhood of Al-Mutanabbi Street. The book contains prayers solicited from a large number of collaborators in response to the bombing. They are written from a multiplicity of perspectives, both religious and non-religious, in English, Spanish and Arabic. A Vein of Prayer is a plea for humanity. Dimensions: 7.75" x 9.75"; Medium: archival inkjet print (giclée); binder's boarc, used teabags, acrylic color; linen thread; linen tape; tyvek spine reinforcement. Steve Godwin is a graphic designer, book artist and poet, with a BA from UNC-Chapel Hill and a BFA from Corcoran College of Art and Design in Washington, DC. He studied book binding at The Penland School of Craft in western N.C. in 2005. His artist books have been included in exhibitions at Bookworks in Asheville and at The Design Gallery in Burnsville, N.C. Steve was awarded poetry residencies at The Vermont Studio Center in 2006 and 2008. In 2010 he co-published a book of his poems coupled with photographs by Rick Ruggles. Steve currently is working on a collaboration with a photographer focusing on the N.C. Museum of Art. stvgodwin@gmail.com www.artistbooks.ning.com/profile/SteveGodwin |