Bonnie Stahlecker

Directions for a Successful Life

This unusually shaped, tall and thin accordion fold book uses relief printing, monoprint and stencils to build meaning from symbols through layers of ink and color. Images including a ladder, a frond, a fence fragment, a wheel with spokes and a primitive map were created from ink washings. Shades of gold from golden brown to ruddy brown form a natural palette. Simple shapes are scratched into the build-up of color.

Directions for a Successful Life was printed letterpress on Somerset Book paper with an exposed spine sewing on linen tapes slotted into boards covered in brick red paper. Futura wood type letters are printed along the vertical line of the page.

Press: Constructed by the Artist
Date: 2000
Number and Edition: 10 of 10
Size: 15.5” x 2.625”