Shepherdess of Monument Valley
Danny Pierce.
Shepherdess of Monument Valley. Shorewood, Wis.: Red Door Studio, 1979. 32 x 41 cm.
Call Number: (BKRT)(FOP) NE1325.P5x S5 1979
COLOPHON: This is the ninth limited book-folio to come from the press of the Red Door Studio. Printed from the original wood blocks on Karma, a coated paper by Pottatch Corporation. Press work by the Artist-Author on a Gordon Platen Press. Boxed in linen and natural calf. Designed and constructed by the Artist-Author. End papers Parousel's Canyon Red by Weyerhauser. Volume 6/30.
"This book was inspired by seeing a little Navajo girl tending sheep in the valley. I planned on a much longer stay, but in one day, half day actually, I had seen enough to make an outline for the woodcuts to tell the story. One is not allowed on many of the roads in the valley without an Indian guide. Fortunately the shepherdess's brother came along and he offered to guide us to the pictographs on the rocks. Everything in the story we saw in one day and we left for home the next.
"I had trouble with the ink not drying. I was told the ink was very good, but not told it would not dry on coated paper. The ink is made with a rubber base. I ended up putting the sheets on a cookie tray and baking each one for three minutes in the kitchen stove. The house stunk of rubber for days, like a tire shop, much to the family's disgust. One of the learning experiences. I have since used the ink on uncoated paper without problems."