Orpheus through the Rear-Vision Mirror — another exuberant typographic masterpiece from Wayzgoose Press

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(Wayzgoose Press) Orpheus through the Rear-Vision Mirror. Poem by George Alexander. Introduction by the poet. Katoomba. 2002. Book conceived and designed by Mike Hudson and handset in a variety of 14 point types by Jadwiga Jarvis. 32p. 13.5” x 9.5”.

Profusely illustrated with collographs and monoprints hand-inked on the press thus making each copy in this edition unique. Multi-colored word panels, each hand-inked. All printing is letterpress, including the background, in numerous colors on cotton-alpha Magnani Incisioni. Graphic devices also hand inked. Several passes were needed to execute each procedure, with the total number of passes per page averaging a dozen. Contained in a thick paper ‘envelope’, and housed in a box covered in red cloth, printed with the title in blue. No. 14 of only 27 copies for sale in a total edition of 32 numbered copies, signed by the poet, designer and printer. Prospectus laid in. Fine.

“Since the early 1970s George Alexander has worn a diagonal path between literature and the visual arts, writing for performance, radio, and the printed page, as well as a diverse array of art criticism, … [His] work has been translated into French, Italian and German, and he has been the recipient of Fellowships from the Australia Council and the New South Wales Ministry of Arts. … He has published three literary texts, one of which was awarded the NSW Premier’s Award, 1999.” – Prospectus.

“This Wayzgoose Press production is the fourth in a series of contemporary Australian poets, and is, as usual, not only textually exciting, but typographically inventive and layered.

“The page is designed to resemble the ‘fold-out’ function of a route map (as with the Orphean journey narrative), and the whole work can be viewed when fully unfolded and laid open. There are cut-out shapes that camouflage themselves according to what, by chance, will insinuate itself behind them. An angry paint splatter … punctuates the stream of [words] and gives an edge to the growing sense of alienation suggested by the poem’s descriptions of reality.”- Prospectus.

The poem was specially commissioned for this truly exciting and unique work. Highly recommended as a great exhibition piece – a work that vividly demonstrates what is still creatively and technically possible using 500 year old methods of printing in a digital age!

When the poem is completely revealed the book opens up to approximately ten feet in length.