The Offering, a limited edition flag book by Don Widmer

Title: The Offering, a limited edition flag book by Don Widmer

Description: The sculptural flag book is an artist book with image and text attached as strips of paper (flags) to the accordion spine. When opened, the image fragments combine into a panoramic spread. The Offering was inspired by the sounds and sights of Bali. Both the text and imagery are musical in nature. The text is an original poem by Don Widmer. The images featuring the instruments and dancers of the Balinese gamelan orchestra. When the book is fully opened, the moving flags create an additional flapping sound. In addition, if the fore-edges of the book are placed together so that the front and back covers of the book lie face-down, the accordion spine will form an arch depicting a Balinese landscape. If one peers beneath the arch and into the book, a lotus shape can be seen. The dancer images are from historic photographs located in Amsterdam's Tropenmuseum and available in the public domain on Wikimedia. The title on the inside image translates as "Three Young Balinese Dancers in a Graceful Attitude." The title of the photo on the back of the book translates as "A Legong Dancer in Pilatan." Traditionally, the Legong dance was performed by young girls who aspired to become the wives of royalty. One legend says the dance originated in the dream of a prince who arranged for it to be performed upon waking. The dance is highly refined and characterized by intricate finger movements, dramatic facial expressions and other expressive gestures. It is performed to the shimmering accompaniment of the gamelan orchestra consisting of percussive instruments such as gongs and cymbals. The largest gong, called the gong ageng, keeps cyclic time during the performance. This bronze gong is pictured on the front of the book. Comes numbered and signed by the artist with a one-page colophon detailing the materials used to construct the book. Of special note is the cotton paper used on the front and back covers, which was hand made by the artist. Edition of 20, ink-jet printed.

Color: black, gray, white

Material: Paper

Style: Contemporary

Dimensions: 5 inches wide, 7 inches tall, 1 inch as its depth

Shipping: $0.00

Price: $190.00