A Bee Press ~ Texas
(Alisa Banks)

Afro Centric
By Alisa Banks
Dallas, Texas: A Bee Press, 2007. One-of-a-Kind.

Circular bookwork with 13" diameter. Materials: synthetic hair, handmade paper made of recycled paper and human hair, thread, linen cord, unknown commercial paper. Circular coptic binding. Housed in circular lidded black hat box with ribbon tie closure. Bookwork sits on 10.4 x 8.5" oval wooden base with 7" center dowel. Bookwork slips over dowel to remain stable in box.

Colophon: "Afro Centric is a celebration of artistry in black hair culture. It symbolizes the physical transformation of the outward appearance in order to make a statement. This statement moves beyond natural physical attributes and traditional 'rules' about hairstyle and texture and often conveys political attitudes within micro social structures.

"In Afro Centric, I intended to create a book about hair that moved beyond written statements about hairstyles. Synthetic hair 'extensions' were added with the purpose of moving the piece beyond the traditional book structure."

Alisa Banks: "Afro Centric is part of an on-going series that addresses my interest in studying factors that shape identity including the physical body, science, culture and society as well as statistics and stereotypes. When confronted with standards of beauty that lie outside one's physical attributes, a decision is made to either come to terms with that difference, or to make alterations in order to move closer to the ideal. The focus of this series is the intersection of judgment and acceptance. This piece mimics a hairstyle as well as fashion. Making this book was a real joy. I think it must have a special personality because it still makes me laugh whenever I remove it from the box!"
$1,100

Bone Straight
By Alisa Banks
Dallas, Texas: A Bee Press, 2007. One-of-a-Kind.

11 x 14 x 1" wooden tablet with inclusions. Accordion book: 5 x 7"; 12 unnumbered pages. Carved wooden tablet with synthetic hair and hot comb inclusion. Wrapped in black linen cloth. Housed in archival box.

Alisa Banks: "At a very young age, many black women in particular receive messages that their hair in its natural state falls outside the accepted standard of beauty. Though natural hair is currently accepted in broader circles, and straight hair is just another option, the underlying message often remains that natural hair is unacceptable. This book consists of excerpts of conversations with women about their hair straightening experiences including some of my own.

"Originally, I wanted the piece to allow the viewer to go through the motion combing hair, but scratched that in favor of a more sculptural form. The conversations in this piece are primarily from an informal gathering of friends and acquaintances and are typical of many that I have had, some with complete strangers, regarding hair experiences. Though the experiences are sometimes traumatic and loaded with subliminal messages, the tone of the conversations are lively and rarely sad."
$1,500

Emergence
By Alisa Banks
Dallas, Texas: A Bee Press, 2006. Edition of 10.

14.5 x 7 x 3.5"; 14 pages. Materials: Magnani Pescia and Tengucho White commercial papers, handmade gampi and fig leaf papers, wood, beeswax, metal, linen, Plexiglas, ribbon, foam core. Digital prints, linoleum print. Typefaces: Century Nova, Caslon Open Face (letterpress); Century, Century Schoolbook, Castellar (digital). 2 accordions with closed spine. Housed in wooden box with sliding lid.

Alisa Banks: "Emergence is a book about examining truths in order to develop self-truths. The book consists of three pieces: Litany, a series of sayings that my sisters and I heard while growing up; a candle containing an embedded medallion of St. Michael the Archangel; Election, a symbolic culmination or creed.

"Emergence is about self-realization - about examining truths (which may actually be myth, or misinformation) presented in order to develop self-truths.

"The book is in three parts and each part is symbolic: Litany a book that features sayings that my sisters and I heard while growing up symbolizes a novena; Exorcism, a candle embedded with a medal of St. Michael the Archangel, dispeller of demons, symbolizes cleansing superstition; and Election symbolizes the 'Rite of Election,' or decisions exercising free will.

"I really wanted the book to take the form of a lectern because the truth is often delivered or associated in a religious context and also because of the way in which Catholicism is intertwined in the cultural fabric of southern Louisiana. Text is hidden behind the images to symbolize subliminal messages.

"Difficulties? There were many, including the mess I made with the beeswax! I initially attempted to make the candles completely from scratch, but after a couple of messy spills, I gave up on that and dipped some ready-made candles (vanilla) in beeswax. It was important to me for the piece to smell like 'church' when it's opened. Another difficulty was in making the box; I was required to use a table saw to cut the channels for the sliding top. My husband (bless him) assisted me with this part because I was too nervous to cut them alone."
$850