Sunday, November 4, 2007

new artists' calendar: poseidon 2008

Every year for the annual PCBA Calendar Show, I enter a design that reflects the thoughts I've been brewing over the last year and incorporate a calendar into the design. The 2008 Lizard Press artists' calendar is based on the lure and the lore of the sea.


Represented by a photograph of a modern day sailor, Poseidon rules over 2008. Poseidon's chariot is pulled by an old etching of a hippocampus, half horse, half sea creature and accompanied by a quote from Jacques Cousteau, "The sea, once it casts its spell, holds one in its net of wonder forever."


To give a sense of timelessness, a photograph of a 1695 explorer's map, I took at the San Francisco History Center, San Francisco Public Library, is used as a backdrop. The original map was completely hand illustrated, including the rendering of Poseidon and his wife Amphitrite, and an ontourage of nymphs.

The calendar is a linear one, for reference, outlines are supplied for Fridays, the day sailors avoid for beginning an ocean voyage (and also the day to look forward for the rest of us to start the weekend!) The sea gulls are included to guide the sailor home to land after a long voyage at sea.


Poseidon 2008 is printed on Kitakata, a handmade, tree free paper from Japan of 100% Philippine gampi. Kitakata has a delicate and subtle natural laid pattern and in the design, the bottom natural deckle has been maintained. It is a very strong paper, adding the perfect texture for a map.

The calendar is a limited run of 150 and can be purchased while available at lizardpress letterpress.

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

I received my calandar today. I must have stared at it for a good half hour, taking in all the details. I absolutely love it! Thanks, Elisa