APE MADE
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Mantra / Encyclopedic

2025

This series is: mantra / incantations / energy bolstering for these wild times. Sprinkled with some lyrical / astrological (Cancer, Scorpio, Leo) / animal reference. πŸ¦‚ πŸ¦€

I created the backgrounds with vintage engravings from the 1800s - before letter pressing the text with large wood type while on artist residency at Directangle Press in NH.

One version is letterpress + screen print, another recreated as risograph prints.


 

RISOGRAPH:

I created the Mantra series in three color combinations on a single-color risograph machine. (Prints are unique in each, not merely reproduced in a different color combo.)

Each print measures 11’’ x 17’’.

 

RISO: Sunflower + Scarlet

11’’ x 17’’ each

 

RISO: Bright Gold + Mahogany

11’’ x 17’’ each

 

RISO: Light Lime + Kelly Green

11’’ x 17’’

 

 

LETTERPRESS:

I screen printed these poster backgrounds back at my studio before heading to NH. Once there, I used wood type on the Vandercook No. 4 to letterpress text onto the posters.

Each poster measures 12.5’’ x 19’’.

 

Nobody’s Free Until Everybody’s Free

Often attributed to many others, these words are believed to have first been said by Fannie Lou Hamer.

 

Get Up, Stand Up!

Hearing Bob Marley on this one.

 

Dreams Have Power.

 

If You Want To Fly, You’ve Got To Give Up The Shit That Weighs You Down.

Words from Toni Morrison’s, Song of Solomon.

 

Bring Da Ruckus!

Words from the Wu-Tang Clan.

 

Protect Ya Neck!

Another Wu-inspired phrasing.

 

Open Eyes Steady Heart

 

Think For Yourself. Question Authority.

Words from Timothy Leary.

 

Loud & Proud!!

 

Don’t Start No Shit, Won’t Be No Shit.

Lil’ Jon said it best.

 

FUCK ICE!

We Keep Us Safe.

 

Do Not Obey In Advance.

Advice from historian Timothy Snyder - in his book, On Tyranny.

 

Stay Safe.

 

Get Free

 

Eat The Rich.

 

Plant A Garden

 

Takin’ Time To Make Time.

Hearing Dusty Springfield on this one.

 

Waste Not, Want Not

 

Tough As I Must, Soft As I Can

 

Tend & Befriend

 

I Don’t Need Drugs. I Am Drugs.

Words from Salvador Dali.

 

Don’t Be A Hard Rock, You Really Are A Gem.

Lyrics from Lauryn Hill.

 

Oooooh Baby I Like It Raw

Wu-Tang again? Aww yeah, again and again!