True to life
By: Julie Chen
Contributors: Flying Fish Press; Press Collection (Library of Congress)
Publisher: Flying Fish Press
Published: 2004
Place of publication: Berkeley
Language: eng
Number of pages: 12
Notes: Title and publication information from portfolio box.

"True to Life was written, illustrated, and designed by Julie Chen. It was letterpress printed using a combination of pressure plates, woodblocks, & photopolymer plates. It was assembled and bound at Flying Fish Press with expert assistance from Macy Chadwick. The image that appears on each page is one section of a long, continuous visual timeline that can never be viewed all at once. In an edition of 100 copies, this is number ... "--Colophon.

The 12 leaves of color plates are manipulated by the reader.

Book made from 2 cloth-covered pieces fastened at the corners. The front is made of a plexiglas panel through which book pages are viewed. Along the sides of the book are numbered wooden levers corresponding to the leaf of the book to be revealed. Levers are slid, moving 7 panels on the page surface, overlaying one page upon the next, creating "a patchwork narrative of events." Each leaf contains images and text.

Book is housed in a complex folding box (measuring 39 cm.) which acts as a stand to support the book for reading. Details of "How to work this book" attached to book support. Folding box has centered cutout to reveal image; title and author on second flap of box. Definition of symbols included on second flap. Magnetized closure.

LC copy is no. 68.   Artist's autograph copy.