Anita Singh

Bug Book

Bound in three different styles, this collection of quotations and images honors the insect world. An assortment of wood and lead types were used to print on a variety of papers, including handmade Nepalese, Passport Genesis cardstock, Opus archival and Japan Carlyle. The artist incorporated handmade paper on the covers made from abaca, California poppy flowers, corn husks, seed pods, rose petals, seaweed and dead bugs. The pages are sewn together with green thread.

“Elaborate Social Communities,” “Insecta is by far the largest group of animals,” “Been on Earth 20 million years,” “Crawly creepy creatures cool” and “May inherit the Earth” are a few of the quotable passages from Bug Book.

Press: Constructed by the Artist
Date: 1999
Number and Edition: 3 of 6
Size: 5” x 5”

Paper Recipe Book

Composed of natural, experimental handmade papers using such materials as wasp nests, bugs, seaweed, hay, shrimp shells, corn husks, carrot pulp and other similar materials, the Paper Recipe Book has a list of ingredients and a method of preparation for each page included in the book.

Wood and lead typefaces were used for printing, along with ornaments and silkscreen illustrations. Printed letterpress on a Vandercook SP 15 and hand-bound in a Japanese binding, the recipe book is both decorative and utilitarian, allowing the would-be papermaker the chance to incorporate various and unusual natural items in their own work.

Press: Constructed by the Artist
Date: 1997-1999
Number and Edition: Unnumbered of 30
Size: 5.75” x 11.4”