What is love? What is PTSD without Love? What is the terrain between Love and PTSD?
I have been making artist books for a long time, but never anything as personal and deeply connected to ‘me’ as this one. This book was both rewarding and challenging. … A few years ago I wrote about an artist book idea bubbling inside my head, and heart; and about my role as a Wife, a Carer and a Printmaker. Now I am proud (and nervous) to share with you the haptic realisation of my artist book “PTSD… A Love Story”.
An artist friend, whose artist book work I admire greatly, shared with me an excerpt from an essay by Johanna Drucker “The space of a book is intimate and public at the same time; it mediates between private reflection and broad communication in a way that matches many women’s lived experience.”
My book is a collection of my personal thoughts, my own, very personal call-and-response. Intimate words that reflect my personal lived experience, fighting and surviving as a partner of a war veteran and first responder diagnosed with PTSD and other mental health conditions.
If you want to read more about my thoughts and details behind the content of this book, click through to my blog post PTSD… A Love Story.
Colophon
Words by me
Papers
Cover – Magnani Etrusca 600gsm
Text – Tiepolo Bianco 290gsm
Interleaving Kozo pages – Awagami Tengucho 9gsm
Printed
Letterpress printed using my Showcard Proof Press with wood and lead type (fonts unknown)
Imagery
Hand printed blind embossing with carved linocut plates
Binding
Hand-stitched, coptic binding
Casing
The book is stored in a custom-made clear acrylic slipcase
Edition Size – 4
Completed October 2019
Exhibitions
November-December 2019 – Today is not tomorrow: PTSD Understories, curated by Dr Robin Rodd, College of Arts, Society & Education, James Cook University, and hosted by Umbrella Studio Contemporary Arts, Townsville
June-September 2020 – Libris Awards 2020, Art Space Mackay
March-April 2023 – March to Art: Create, ANVAM, Melbourne
Awards
‘PTSD … A Love Story’ was selected as a finalist for the Libris Awards 2020.
Collections
In June 2021, ‘PTSD … A Love Story’ was added to Australian National Veterans Art Museum’s (ANVAM) collection.
The book was added to the State Library of Queensand Artist Book Collection in September 2021.
If you would you like to read more about the thoughts and process for this book, click through to a blog post I wrote that details my thoughts some of the content in my book PTSD… A Love Story, and shares the words of the story.
I have no words to describe what I feel while I’m reading and looking at this book. It is a work of Art, healing and teaching. A declared belief and testimonial what loving unconditionally means, what LOVE really means. Thank you, Kim!
Joy, thank you ?? thank you so much for your kind words, and for taking the time to investigate the book (‘investigate’ here meaning to read, see, feel, experience). Kim ??
This is a beautiful way to work through your thoughts and feelings. I think perhaps it helps to cement our convictions, to help us live our beliefs and values, when we create something as you have about your experience. An extraordinarily difficult life experience becomes something that this book helps to guide you through? I hope I’m saying this well. I want you to know that I think your book is very powerful in the way that you quoted, very private yet communicating to the world. Thank you for sharing, it’s very meaningful to me.
Hi Laura, thank you so much for your considered feedback to my book ? You shared your thoughts beautifully – they made complete sense. Yes, the book was ans is a grounding reminder of the how, what and why I, we, live our life. I love the intimacy and honesty an artist book can create and portray. And I is a very special moment when someone experiences it and you know they connected with and understand it. Thank you so much for sharing you thoughts ? ? Kim