Michelle Ray – The Kashash and the Archivist
This modest book has had more than modest impact on me. It is skillfully executed of materials well suited to its weight, scale and structure. The text written collage style speaks of things both within and outside my own experience, giving me an opportunity to reminisce alongside reflecting on new ideas and information.
The text begins with an Eco paragraph that concludes “We like lists because we don’t want to die”. The text continues on to define and address the role of the Kashash (a corrupt character who gambles and hoards nuisance birds), to reflect on the nature of collecting and archiving, with various personal and historic observations on birds, primarily pigeons. All this richness in a just a few pages, accompanied by drawings of birds, both soaring and held captive in constructed an chosen habitats.
Michelle Ray is currently a graduate student in The University of Alabama’s MFA in the Book Arts program. Before coming to Alabama, she worked as an art subject specialist librarian and adjunct studio arts faculty in New England.
In an edition of only 15, and priced at $175, I expect this edition to sell out quickly.
Artist statement, images, descriptive details and ordering information here:
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