Because I Like You. - 2016

[North Vitzroy, Victoria, Australia]:: Gracia and Louise,, 2016.. Edition of 10. 9.5 x 8" loose leaves; 11 (1 title + 10). 10 individual woodblock engravings by Louise Jennison and 10 unique state collage with pencil and paint additions by Gracia Haby. On Fabriano Artistico 640gsm traditional white hot-press paper. Housed in a black linen Solander box with inlaid print and collage. Bound by Louise Jennison. Numbered. Gracia & Louise: "Because I Like You is based on the concept of a love letter to ten mammals. Each of the edition is housed in a black fabric Solander box with inlaid windows featuring one of the ten mammals enclosed. Each page has one mammal lemonwood block print portrait and one mirrored original collage of the portrayed mammal. The mammals featured range from a Greater bilby (Macrotis lagotis) to a Sea otter (Enhydra lutris) by way of a Royal antelope (Neotragus pygmaeus) and a gruff Polar bear (Ursus maritimus). "This artists’ book has been over a year in the making, based on a back and forth notion we have been toying with more and more (a collage in response to a print this time). The printed portrait shows nature, as intended (close to), and the collage shows the animal in different (and often less than ideal) surrounds. "It is also our first book to feature woodblock prints."Animals featured, in order of appearance: Greater bilby (Macrotis lagotis); Black-and-gold howler monkey (Alouatta caraya) ; Rufous mouse lemur (Microcebus rufus); Polar bear (Ursus maritimus); Royal antelope (Neotragus pygmaeus); Californian sea lion (Zalophus californianus); Snow leopard (Panthera uncia) ; Greater stick-nest rat (Leporillus conditor); Eurasian red squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris; Sea otter (Enhydra lutris).