“Mark began dying of AIDS long before I began trying to conceive, both of us racing against the inevitability of time” begins the story of a lesbian couple trying to get pregnant through artificial insemination, while their best male friend is dying of AIDS. The two couples’ trip to Bali becomes a metaphorical journey between birth and death and a moving account of what it means to create an alternative family. The poignant text combines with lush imagery of Balinese scenes and colorful woven, batiked and dyed fabrics that were scanned on a flatbed scanner. A pouch made of multi-colored Balinese sarongs contains this artists’ book whose design is inspired by traditional palm-leaf books. Indonesian teak covers are held together by a central red cord and batiked wooden beads.-- Artist's website