Compendium by Rachel Simmons
"’Compendium’ contains three main components: stones, shells and minerals from my collection, printed representations of my experiences framed as specimens, and a three-part notebook which poses questions about the compendium's purpose and meaning.
“The watercolor illustration on the lid came from sketches of objects I collected (and left behind) at recent residency in Iceland. I printed the letterpress elements at Springtide Press in Tacoma, Washington, using Jessica Spring's incredible collection of plates and ornaments, and in the process, forged a connection between one collector/collection and another.
“It was after a bone-chilling plunge into Puget Sound, when we gathered a few interesting pebbles from the shore that I began to examine my life-long habit of picking up rocks and shells. This project was an opportunity to examine this habit in a new light, and to pass objects from my personal collection to other collectors, reframing the purpose of my compendium as a vessel for both individual and collective memories.” - Rachel Simmons:
Processes, Dimensions, and Edition Information
By Rachel Simmons
Orlando, Florida: Rachel Simmons, 2023. Edition of 8.Box with blizzard divider. Letterpress with digital prints and typewriter on paper. Includes stones, minerals, and shells collected by the artist. Closed dimensions 5" x 7" x 1". Display dimensions approximately 15" x 10" x 5". Removeable lid. Signed and numbered by the artist.