My great-grandmother Berta, from Hungarian Transylvania, taught her four daughters to embroider; just as generations of mothers before her had learned from their mothers. As I grew up, the embroideries of my great-grandmother, along with those of my grandmother and great aunts punctuated our home, grounding those of us living in the United States in the traditions and expressions of our ancestors’ homes. Here in Argentina, where two of my great-aunts settled, and where Berta herself passed away, the homes of offspring also are enlivened with this link to our identical heritage. In the newer generations, across the continents, the ability to embroider, design, sew—the ability to express oneself—has expanded and evolved just as our grandmothers’ designs and embroideries expanded and evolved in their new homes. The stitches not only hold us to our heritage, they inspire us into our futures.
About this Book
Archival ink jet prints of digitally produced collages bound in a hardback flat back binding. Pages are sewn onto linen tapes. 8 x 8 x .5 inches. 6 pages. Open edition.
Artist Biography
Alex Appella (born in Oregon) began bookbinding as a way to share her writing and collage art while traveling. What began as a temporary solution within a nomadic lifestyle has turned into a way of life. Alex now writes and binds from her home in Córdoba, Argentina. Alex’s self-published artists’ books can be found in numerous private and public collections throughout the US and beyond.
All images and text copyright the artist. All rights reserved.
23 Sandy Gallery • 623 NE 23rd Ave • Portland, Oregon 97232 • 503-927-4409 • www.23sandy.com
Laura Russell • 23sandygallery@gmail.com
