These books are in the permanent collection of the Museum of Printing in Haverhill, Massachusetts, USA. They are on view as part of the “Bible Bound” International Juried Exhibition from May 1 – September 1, 2026.
They explore the legacy of the Bay Psalm Book which was co-translated by my 13th generation grandfather Rev. Richard Mather in 1640 AD in Cambridge, Massachusetts.The first book printed in British North America, it has had a lasting impact on a broader society and my own family values of knowledge and education.
I spent time studying the handwriting in the diaries of Richard, Increase, and Cotton Mather at the American Antiquarian Society, trying to understand their thinking and their mission to interpret the Bible. Creating these pieces is my way of communing and connecting with these ancestors.
Note: materials include India ink, acrylic paint, collage, gold foil, shibori textile, linocut overprint, leather binding, and fiber cover board. Shibori textile elements by Amy Nguyen, Saboneta gothic blackletter typeface by Kevin Cantrell, and photography of the finished books by Gulnara Niaz.
Keywords:
artist book, accordion book, handmade book, abstract printmaking, contemporary book art, sculptural book, experimental design, fine art book, mixed media book, art object, mather, new england, religious art