True to life

Access and use

Location of collection:
University of Richmond
Rare Books and Special Collections
Boatwright Library
University of Richmond
28 Westhampton Way
Richmond, VA 23173
Contact for questions and access:
POC: Lynda Kachurek
Phone: (804) 289-8458
Fax: (804) 287-1840

Summary

Extent:
1 Volumes
Creator:
Chen, Julie and Chadwick, Macy
Abstract:
"True to Life was written, illustrated, and designed by Julie Chen. It was letterpress printed using a combination of pressure plates, woodblocks, & photopolymer plates. It was assembled and bound at Flying Fish Press with expert assistance from Macy Chadwick. The image that appears on each page is one section of a long, continuous visual timeline that can never be viewed all at once. In an edition of 100 copies, this is number ..."--Colophon. "This latest bookwork from Julie Chen is about the subtle yet powerful influence that memory has on daily life. Personal history, while seemingly rooted in fact, may contain more meaning as narrative than it does as documentation of truth. In the form of a tablet with sliding pages, True to Life offers an innovative physical structure which corresponds to the shifting nature of memory, allowing the reader to create different combinations of text and image and thus alter the content of the piece, deliberately or by chance, with each reading"--Publisher's website.
Language:
English

Background

Physical description:
Text "block" has 12 leaves of color plates that are manipulated by the reader. The book is made from 2 cloth-covered pieces fastened at the corners. The front is made of a plexiglas panel through which book pages are viewed. Along the sides of the book are numbered wooden levers corresponding to the page of the book to be revealed. Levers are slid, moving 7 panels on the page surface, overlaying one page upon the next, creating "a patchwork narrative of events." Each page contains images and text. The book is housed in a complex folding box which acts as a stand to support the book for reading. Details of "How to work this book" attached to book support. Folding box has centered cutout to reveal image; title and author on second flap of box. Definition of symbols included on second flap. Magnetized closure.
Physical facet:
12 leaves of plates, includes illustrations
Dimensions:
38 cm
Material specific details:
Rare Book Room copy is numbered 94 of 100.