Alicia Bailey
Euxoa Auxiliaris
© 2012
limited edition of 12 copies
A rigid page book with text and natural specimen artifacts recessed into each page. Strap bound across the spine. Housed in a custom box with removeable lid.
Materials:
Book - wood, book board, plain and pasted papers, museum board, laser print, moths, epoxy casting resin, mica, acrylic paint, wenge wood, wax, book cloth, brass.
Box - book board, shellac, pigment, wax, book cloth, magnifying lens.
box dimensions: 4.5 x 5 x 3.75 inches (closed)
This book was begun during a summer when my studio was over run with those plain brown moths we always called Miller moths. One morning I found a moth floating on the top of an open glue pot; that beautiful moth reminded me that even the peskiest of critters have their engaging moments. Inspired, I began to draw, then did a bit of research, then figured out ways to present moth snippets and specimens in book form. I wrote the text, recruited friends to gather specimens and designed the book and box. One of my favorite features is the detachable lid with magnifying lens built in, so one can roam around and examine other pesky critters more closely.
Bio: Alicia Bailey is a studio artist working across multiple disciplines. Since the mid-nineties her primary focus has been on book arts and box works. Bailey's work has been featured in dozens of solo and group exhibits throughout the world and is held in numerous public, private and special collections. An archive of her work in the book arts field is under development at University of Denver, Penrose Library, Special Collections.