Broadside by CJ Martin

No. 1 in the Fragments series (see below)

Collagraph and metal type

11” x 18.75”

Edition of 100

2024

This is the first in a new series of experimental broadsides. Writers/artists are asked to send a “fragment” of something: parts of a larger whole (that may or may not be published, that may or may not exist); fragmentation from acceleration, cropping, magnification, damage, decay, palimpsest, editing, translation/mistranslation, etc. That fragment is used as a space to play with printing as an open process, as opposed to making a final design for rigid replication.

The colors for the text came from photographs of the sky at dawn and sunset, and I made a rule that I could use any color except blue. In terms of design I printed all of the different “moves,” the temporary positions of each element as I gradually improvised them into place. Those “moves” would normally be hidden away in the process of proofing and not visible in the final print. The large text is printed from handcut matboard, the counters are gel medium collagraph, and the small text is 12 pt. Garamond metal type. Printed on a Vandercook SP-15, the first print in my new home of Louisville, KY.

This broadside was sent out as part of the 2023 NLP Subscription.