The Oxford American Music Issue

The 2010 December issue of the OXFORD AMERICAN magazine has just hit the book stores. It's the annual southern music issue and this year Alabama music is featured. A free CD is included. My contribution to this issue is a linoleum block relief print of Sister Gertrude Morgan.

When asked if I'd be interested in tackling the job of creating a block print to accompany an article on Sista', my first thought was to say no. My plate was already full and I was just a few days away from driving to DC to participate in a Book Arts fair. I honestly didn't think that I could give the subject enough time and attention, to achieve a successful outcome. Thankfully, the design and production manager at OA forwarded an image of Sister Gertrude as a reference. That was a huge jump start for me and it shortened my time, significantly, in researching Sista'. The challenge was on!


At the end of my 9 to 5 work week, I drove directly home, pulled the shutters, locked the doors and flew into overdrive. I designed, cut and printed the block in two days. INSANE! By noon, the following Monday, the digital files were in the hands of the magazine. I made two impressions of the block. One image was printed on a bright white BFK Rives paper and a second printing was pressed onto chip board. The most difficult task was hand cutting the letters. Ouch!

Thanks to my friend and fellow printmaker Charles Buchanan for the referral.

**Note to all of the magazine editors out there. If you're looking for a lino block artist AND IF you can match the professionalism and flexibility of the design and production manager at OA . . . I'm available.