A Bee Press

A Bee Press ~ Texas (Alisa Banks)

Storm Sequence By Alisa Banks Dallas, Texas: A Bee Press, 2011. Edition of 5. 11 x 14 x 1" shutter-shaped wooden tablet with inclusions. Alisa Banks: "Katrina non-withstanding, Louisiana weather history is fraught with floods, tornadoes, hurricanes, and other violent storms causing much damage and loss of life. Modern technology can offer little protection for those caught in them. This book outlines the spirit of a ritual that my aunt would perform when the weather turned ugly. On an approaching storm, all would be called inside and though natives would consider the ritual a normal occurrence giving it little attention, being a visitor, I considered it to be a dramatic performance. Years later, I learned that my aunt was not alone in performing the Storm Sequence – it was practiced in some form by many in Pointe Coupee parish and possibly beyond. More recently, my aunt informed me that she still performs the sequence, though in an abbreviated format. "The book is loosely patterned after the homemade shrines observed at some of my relatives homes. The numbers on the inside of the doors are years of documented significant damage caused by storms in the area. The blinds contain sequence steps and open to show a rainy view." $625	Click image more


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	Click image for more



A Bee Press Out of Print Titles: • Island Girl • Poule Aye

Page last update: 11.26.11