Maricela Guerrero (trans: Stalina Villarreal), Kilimanjaro, Cardboard House Press Cartonera Collective, Pheonix, 2018

A bi-lingual cartonera book in a rare accordion format with writings by the Mexican author who's published a number of books of poetry. In collaboration with Paula Abramo and Xitlalitl Rodriguez they authored Ropa Sucia, where they exposed the difficulties & problems that women writers encounter and how these issues work to render them invisible.

The cartonera publishing movement originated in Argentina in 2003, and utilizes one of the most available of materials, cardboard with which they create wildy creative and varied handmade covers for their publications, all of which are priced affordably for the person in the street - you could call it the democratization of literature.

I particularly like the hand painted and stenciled front and back cardboard covers to this accordion. However, it also illustrates that large amounts of text are not necessarily best suited to this format which requires a greater visuality in order to make the most of this unique folded format, as well as engaging the viewer.

19 double-sided pages, individually 8" x 8" and fully opened 12' 8".

reverse side

back cover

Stéphane Calais, The Wall, Editions Hoëbeke/Havas, Paris, 2012

accordion with slipcase

A very fancy production for this accordion that documents Stéphane Calais' monumental painted mural that takes up 30,000 square metres of wall space in the new offices of the esteemed French international advertising & public relations agency Havas, that was founded in 1853 by Charles Havas.

The mural is a series of interlocking works that create a lively and stimulating environment without overwhelming the space of the office's corridors. Calais in a text in this book explains this work writing, "The extensive wall paintings created for the Havas building are interlinking landscapes. Each location has its specific nature; each place is unique and shows it. The link between them is made in line and color, of course, but also by allusions to shapes and space." Calais concludes "This project expresses a single idea, that of a specific, completely new, innovative and vibrant space."

34 double-sided pages, 10.5" x 8.25" and when fully open 23' 4.5".

reverse side