Oaxaca and the Saguaro Cactus"
by Joseph D'Ambrosio.
Phoenix, Arizona: D'Ambrosio Press;
1996.
urator Gary E. Strong’s private
collection focuses on the integration of text and image in the book form.
It includes contemporary books that push the boundaries of the traditional
form, as well as handbound limited editions and printed broadsides (a limited-edition,
letterpress poster). The samples of handmade and marbled papers, and books
about the printing process provide a context for understanding the different
components used by book artists. The importance of craftsmanship and structure
in Mr. Strong’s collection suggest a passion for tactile books that please
the senses and transport the viewer.
A wonderful example of this playfulness in form and craft is Oaxaca and the Saguaro Cactus by Joseph D’Ambrosio. The title page of Mr. D’Ambrosio’s work states, “This book is not only for children but also for the child in all of us.” Indeed true, the book playfully combines colorful images, woodcut prints, sculptural pop-ups, mixed-media collages and even sheet music with an entertaining story, making the reading process a highly interactive experience.
Set in the region between Arizona and Northern Mexico, Oaxaca and the Saguaro Cactus is a coming-of-age tale about a Mexican youth who must journey to the North in order to fulfill a promise to the goddess Coatlicue and god Quezalcoatl. Mexican mythology blends with Indian folklore, and Mr. D’Ambrosio’s book becomes a circular tale.
This edition of Oaxaca and the Saguaro Cactus has been letterpress printed on two colors of Confetti paper using a Vandercook No. 4 printing press, Antique No. 14 type, handmade “paper” printing plates and a multitude of printing inks. The edition is limited to 125 copies, with the first 25 of those being specially bound in leather and containing textual upgrade variations. This is copy No. 4, and is signed by Joe D’Ambrosio.