books in case, partially unfolded
unfolding, one
unfolding, two
unfolding, three
fully unfolded
Five fundamental features of the Joshua Tree National Park landscape are examined one by one, visually distilled into swatches of color and texture. Following the rotation indicated by the arrows on its pages, the book can be experienced spread-by-spread, like a traditional book, or it can be fully unfurled and viewed all at once.
At the book’s beginning—also its center—is a depiction of water, which nourishes all life in this dry place. From there, other aspects of the landscape (plant, rock, land, and sky) spiral outward. The book’s form echoes the coiled baskets that have been made here for eons—some of which are so finely crafted they can be used to store and transport the desert’s precious water.
Additionally, each of the five topics is translated into languages that have historically been spoken by residents, rulers, explorers, and stewards of this land: Chemehuevi, Cahuilla, Serrano, Mohave, Spanish, and English.
This is the second artist’s book in a series called elementals: fragments of the original landscape. The first was elementals: river. Subsequent books will also focus on a particular geographic feature, such as coast, island, mountain, or lake. As with desert, each of the books will draw its imagery from the actual environment and history of a specific parcel of the American landscape that has either been preserved in its original form, or has slowly begun returning to it, thanks to the National Parks Service.
Elementals: Fragments of the Original Landscape
Joshua Tree National Park
Digital Print on Paper
30 pages
6″ x 6″ (closed)
30″ x 36″ (fully opened)
