Red Butte Press:
Oracle Bones

Terry Tempest Williams, author
Gaylord Schanliec, printing plates
Crane Giamo, lead printer and papermaker
Marnie Powers-Torrey, master printer and production manager
Amy Thompson, designer
Emily Tipps, lead binder and papermaker

In the fall of 2015, Gaylord Schanilec and Terry Tempest Williams ventured into southern Utah’s desert and returned to the studio with juniper and sandstone artifacts from the author’s land. Gaylord built and proofed printing blocks from the found elements; around and through these images, Terry shaped her text. The Red Butte Press designed and crafted an artists’ book out of a vision shared with author and artist.

In the summer of 2019, the press team made cover paper from cotton, abaca, and locally-sourced yucca. Sage leaves were added to the sheets used for the paper spines, which were then dyed with prickly pear and Ephedra (Mormon Tea). Wood and stone blocks were printed on a Vandercook SP20 on Goyu. Text—handset in Bell cast at the Bixler Type Foundry—was printed on a Columbian handpress on Magnani Pescia. Single sheets were hinged then sewn with a pamphlet stitch through a folded spine piece with attached covers.”