A Fine Arts Limited Edition Book Publication Project
“The goal of this project is to create a first edition set of hand printed illustrations printed from the original woodcuts of a series of filmstrips produced for Encyclopeadia Britannica in the early 1960’s. Over 180 blocks were used to create the six “Classics of English Literature,” including “Sir Gawain and the Green Knight,” “Morte d’Arthur,” “The Nun’s Priest Tale,” “Beowulf,” “The Second Shepherd’s Play,” and “Everyman.” The text that accompanied the original slides was often one or two simple sentences given the limitations of the technology of the time. Our efforts includes selecting excerpts from the original translations that can convey the power, sentiment and poetry of these classics. Following the example of Bronislaw and Hedi Bak’s hand published limited editions of similar work in their lifetime, we intend to use Old English fonts and the conventions of medieval printing to lend support to the artist’s vision in the work.
Having the original hand painted prints produced for the filmstrips also allows us to mount the illustrations with the new text, where it can be exhibited and viewed by future generations. While the Red Onion Press has the equipment and talent to publish these classics, we will be seeking funding and support from local as well as national sources. As the video below demonstrates, there is significant interest in the project and as time and the current challenges due to the pandemic has interrupted the work, the Red Onion Press is committed to pressing forward.
