"Girl Struggles" - An Artist's Book

"Girl Struggles", written by Sue Huggins Leopard, was published in 2011 by Leopard Studio Editions. This copy of the book is No. 1 of a Limited Edition of 3, and is signed by the author. The book contains 18 double-sided pages bound in a stiff leaf accordion structure, housed in a clamshell box that measures 7 inches wide by 7 inches tall by 2 1/2 inches thick. There are 36 individual collages made from etchings, lithographs, ink jet prints and photographs by the artist on various Italian and Japanese papers, mounted on 2 ply buffered rag and hinged with book cloth in a double sided, stiff leaf structure that allows for a sculptural presentation. The text is by the artist; ink jet printed on Moriki paper. The item is in as new condition.

The clamshell box is made of Cave Paper with blind stamping. A blue pocket on the front inside cover of the box contains what, at first glance, appears to be a slim book, but that opens up into a three dimensional structure containing the handwritten letter, to "My Dear Girl", conceived as an artifact that might be passed down to future generations of women.

Quoting from the letter, "My Dear Girl, I am getting to be an old woman now. Old enough to have imagined what it might be that comes after me. It must be you…". In a personal email message from the author to this reader, which is also contained in the blue pocket, the author goes on to state that "This message to my imagined girl, continues on to address personal & universal themes of love and loss and to offer a backward glimpse. The book has evolved from this instinct, in this spirit, and tries to give a palpable sense of one person speaking to another across yhe vastness of time as all books do. Other girls and other ideas have swirled their way into the visual and written narrative alluding to qualities and states, fears and joys that we most likely all share.".

The illustrations accompanying this description show the closed clamshell box, the open clamshell box with a blue pocket on the left side and the folded pages on the right, the folded pages unfolded, the open clamshell with the letter from the blue pocket unfolded, and the colophon page.

Sue Huggins Leopard has been working full time as a printmaker and book artist for the last four decades. In recent years she has concentrated on making artists' books. Leopard Studio Editions was established in 2002. She has been exhibiting its works at numerous fairs and exhibitions.