Bess, Emilie: Home

Limited edition of 55 copies, signed and numbered by the authors. Art Library has copy 39. "Dirt animated with life in the form of fungus, microbes, and bugs, is transformed into soil, the substrate upon which we reside. 'Soil Dwellers' is a collaborative work inspired by insects that work the earth. Emilie Bess served up insect lore and language while carving what's below. Emily Van Kley's words lifted what's underneath into view. Wondering what kind of sound comes from underground, Melanie Valera burrowed below the surface to write the musical score. Catherine Alice Michaelis marked paper with plants and handset type. She designed a structure, segmented and articulated, a place for our broodings to dwell. Like insects sharing tunnels, we moved through each other's worlds: Bess stole words from Linnaeus, Michaelis deposited them into verse; Bess dissected the vernacular of Collembola for Van Kley to reassemble"—Artist's statement, Vamp & Tramp Booksellers' website, November 9, 2016.