Thielen, Beth – About My Mother.
(Thielen, Beth) About My Mother. An Artist’s Book by Beth Thielen. Los Angeles. 1991. Revised edition – 1996. Accordion fold book with 8 openings, including title page and colophon. 13.5″ x 6.25″. Dry point with Handschy 2-part gold on black Arches. Black cloth boards. Matching black slipcase. Each double-page spread has a further 3″ x 7″ cutout accordion fold where the illustrations tie up with the large page surface, or they can be opened at random to create a further dimension to the viewing of the book. No. 1 in an edition of only 5 copies signed by the artist. Fine.
Thielen decided, after some years of grieving, to make available a small edition of a visual diary she created a week after her mother’s death. An artist’s outpouring of memories, in this case that of a departed parent – and this work stands as a moving testament to a daughter’s grief.
Related items: Artists' Books, Catalogue 37 - Summer 2009, Catalogue 40- Spring-Summer 2011, Pop-up, Structure, Beth Thielen