Casey Gardner
Threshold , 2012
Artwork Shop
Handbound Letterpress printed book structure with pop-out turkish map. Rives Heavyweight and Rives bfk, Elephant Hide
Dimensions Closed: 5.75 x 11.5”
Dimensions Open: 11.5” x 11.5”
Edition Size: 65 Price: 750
Threshold is a book about approaching and moving through transformation. The piece explores several aspects of change and revolves around a story inspired by Ovid’s tale of Daphne and Apollo in The Metamorphosis. Daphne is a nymph with a passion for hunting; she is pursued by Apollo, the god of sunlight, music, poetry, and healing. His Delphic edict is gnothi seautón, know yourself. Despite all his interesting traits, Daphne prefers her freedom. He chases her through the forest and rather than be caught, she pleas for a transformation and is turned into a laurel tree. (The laurel becomes Apollo’s sacred symbol.)
"Whenever I read Ovid’s tale or see Bernini‘s Baroque sculpture of Daphne’s transformation, I wonder, why a tree, so I wrote the story about her to explore this question. It’s tragic to see the wild huntress rooted to the earth, yet I find her grace and strength inspiring as she reaches and grows into the sky. I admire her determination to remain free, yet her call for change had an unexpected outcome, as do many thresholds we cross." - Casey Gardner
Written, drawn, printed and bound by the artist.
$750