The cave protection act of 2013.BA-30University of Richmond Book Arts Studioarchives@richmond.eduThis finding aid was produced using ArchivesSpace on 2025-10-16 07:03:48 -0400.Description is written in: English, Latin script.
University of Richmond Book Arts Studio
The cave protection act of 2013.
Ray, Michelle (Book artist)
Small Craft Advisory Press
BA-30
/repositories/6/resources/89
2 Items
1 volume : includes illustrations + slipcase
20 cm
2013
"'The cave protection act of 2013' explores the meaning we insert into situations where direction in the form of signifiers is missing. The idea for the project came from a documentary about Centralia, Pennsylvania. This mining town was destroyed when an underground fire broke out, creating sinkholes and sucking the town into the earth. I reference these events in the text ... I respond to how Centralia developed a strong identity because of its erasure ... I worked from the text of 'The Federal Cave Protection Act of 1988', an oddly poetic bureaucratic document created to give sanctuary to bits of earth no longer present ... The piece's aesthetic echoes that of government documents in its tabbed pages, hierarchical information organization, and machine generated illustration"--Artist's statement at the Vamp & Tramp Booksellers' website, viewed on April 22, 2015.
Four leaves of different lengths are sewn together to create two spines with a cut-out, pop-up structure between them creating a step-book. Housed in a three-flap wrapper with letterpress printed pressboard covers.
"Written, designed, [letterpress] printed and bound by Michelle Ray at Small Craft Advisory Press and formLab, Facility for Arts Research, Florida State University"--Colophon. Rare Book Room copy is 27 of 35.
English
Caves
Mine accidents
Poetry
Artists' Books
Pennsylvania -- Centralia
Mine accidents -- Pennsylvania -- Centralia
United States