R.O.W. (Right of Way) A Consideration of the Right of Way Rules for Sailboats by Pacific Editions. Hobson, Charles M - 2006

San Francisco: Pacific Editions, 2006. One of 12 copies only, all on Rives BFK paper, each signed and numbered by Charles Hobson and Kay Bradner (who collaborated on the design of the linoleum block print). Page size: 18 inches x 9 inches when closed and folded into 8 leaves and when opened fully 7-1/2 feet. There is a title page and page of text and a colophon page as well as the 8-page folded print. Bound: blue cloth spine, coastal map over boards on covers with white label printed in black on front cover, housed in translucent plastic slipcase fastening with cleat and sailing line on foredge, fine. The central image of this book is a three foot square relief print that was created as part of a program at the San Francisco Center for the Book. It was original printed in 2005 by a steamroller at Carolina and 16th Streets, San Francisco. Kay Bradner cut the linoleum block and printed it; Charles Hobson designed the book and assembled it with the assistance of Alice Shaw. The print, at first glance, seems to show a pleasant Sunday afternoon of sailing on the San Francisco Bay. However, the position of the sailboats has been established to illustrate some of the most basic right of way rules. The rules themselves are actually embedded in the image in small window openings cut into the print. As usual with books from Pacific Editions, all is meticulously crafted, disparate elements aesthetically incorporated into a beautiful book. Both artists have a passion for the water and the vessels that move on it. Charles Hobson's extensive output has, as a base, the juxtaposition of word and image. He is a faculty member at the San Francisco Art Institute and at one time raced a Cal 20 sailboat on the San Francisco Bay where he had first hand experience with the application of the right of way rules. As with other books from Pacific Editions, this, too, must be experienced. Turning the pages, opening the "rules" windows, and reveling in the deep blue of the print brings a land-locked person as close to the water as is possible.