Mar 15, 2021 Book of the Week — Half Life, Full Life

Half Life, Full Life
Wilber H. Schilling
Minneapolis: Indulgence Press, 2009
N7433.4 S34 H35 2009

Book artist and photographer Wilber “Chip” Schilling uses the Doomsday Clock to explore relevant political events juxtaposed with random cultural events of the same period, creating a timeline marking the estimated total annihilation of humankind. This book debuts two of Schilling’s photographic series, Dog Run and Evidence, studies of the erosion of urban environments.

Schilling is the artist/owner of Indulgence Press, established in 1992. Schilling’s bookworks combine design, photography, letterpress printing and binding. Schilling often works in collaboration with other artists. Schilling’s works integrate form and content through art and craft.

On March 15, 1981, forty years ago today, Ronald Reagan was the President of the United States, Margaret Thatcher was the UK Prime Minister, and Pope John Paul II was leading the Catholic Church. Four United States soldiers lost their lives in training accident in South Korea. “Keep on Loving You” by REO Speedwagon was no. 1 on the American pop chart.

In a statement about his work, Schilling said, “Experimentation is key to my work and I’m always learning — embracing new technology while continuing to master the traditional book arts. Because of this, my work is varied, reflecting the never-ending possibilities that book arts provide for artistic expression. I try to make all aspects of the books I create integral to the whole. For me, this is the essence of book arts. I open myself to the relationship that develops between the content and the structure of the book. I use the structural form of the book (design, materials, printing, and binding) to bring the content (the essence and the ‘feel’ of images, a story, or text) to life.”

Currently, Schilling works as the Managing Director at American Academy of Bookbinding in Telluride, Colorado, an internationally known degree-oriented bookbinding school offering opportunity to participants to initiate or improve their bookbinding skills.

On March 15, 1991, thirty years ago today, George H. W. Bush was President of the United States, John Major was the UK Prime Minister, Pope John Paul II was leading the Catholic Church. Four officers of the Los Angeles Police Department were charged with excessive force over the beating of Rodney King. The no. 1 song on the American pop chart was “Someday” by Mariah Carey.

Bound in dry mount adhesive, a variation on a structure developed by Hedi Kyle and Claire Van Vliet. Binding strip printed letterpress on Tyvek, pages were printed on an Epson using Ultrachrome inks and coated twice with varnish. Edition of sixty copies, signed by the artist.

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