BOOM!

Tempe, Arizona:: Cabbagehead Press,, 2011.. Edition of 30. 7.5 x 9.25" closed; 7.5 x 140" extended. Accordion book with leatherbound covers. Letterpress and relief on shaped, variable paper handmade from the clothing of landmine victims, minefield plant fibers, and currency of mine-producing nations. Printed two sides in ten sections. Paper title label on front cover. Signed and numbered by the artist. John Risseeuw: "The subject is landmines and landmine victims. From 2001-2007, The Paper Landmine Print Project involved making paper and printing landmine images, facts, and stories of victims on it. In hand papermaking, we make paper from cotton, linen, or silk clothing - rags - as well as plant fibers and other sources of cellulose. I collected articles of clothing from landmine victims (this means only a representative piece of clothing - something the person wore - not from the accident itself), fibrous plants from mine locations, and shredded paper currencies of nations that use or make landmines. "I visited Cambodia, Bosnia-Herezgovina, and Mozambique to gather background information, interview victims, obtain donations of clothing from some, speak with deminers, and take photographs. Through contacts, clothing and information sent from Northern Iraq, Nicaragua, and Angola were obtained. In addition to fifteen relief prints on handmade paper, a series of dimensional paper pulp castings were made and now this book on paper made from clothing, fibers, and papers left over from the prints. "This artist's book, hand printed on shaped, variable, handmade paper, summarizes and updates the prints with data from the Landmine Monitor and other sources. The twin purposes have been always public education to the problems fundraising for the organizations that assist the victims. Proceeds from the sale of this work have been and will continue to be donated to the Landmine Survivors Network Cambodian Handicraft Association for Landmine and Polio Disable, Vietnam Veterans of America Foundation, Mines Advisory Group, Adopt-A-Minefield, and Handicap International. To date, over $22,000 has been raised.