May Day Press ~ Washington
(Catherine Michaelis)

The Science & Spirit of Leaves
By Catherine Michaelis
2000. Edition of 10
Letterpress and linoleum on acrylic stained veneer. Bound on a waxed linen cord and wrapped in bamboo, silk and nylon.

Science and religion have commonalties and differences. A reverence of nature seems required for both, and yet the perspective of nature differs greatly. While science dissects and names, religion includes and thanks. Science usually sees humans as superior in intelligence over other living species, while the spirit of nature teaches that all are one and interdependent, equally alive. While science is founded in "fact" it is the interpretation of "fact," the bias of scientist, and the as yet unexplained mysteries of the universe they seek answers to, that varies the science.

Michaelis juxtaposes these two views while looking at leaves. Science is represented by the classification and identification of leaves while Spirit is represented by the medicinal plants of the Cherokee classified by its
nature of healing properties in relation to that direction. Science is meant to be viewed page by page; while, Spirit is viewed by fanning the pages around in a circle producing a medicine wheel.
$240 (Last Copy!)

Signs of Rain
By Theophrastus
2004. Edition of 70
6.5 x 5" with 13 leafs. Printed letterpress on Arches Text Wove with Arrighi and Centaur typefaces. Borders and emblems were designed and cut in lino. Excerpted from "Enquiry Into Plants and Minor Works on Odours and Weather Signs" by Theophrastus, translated by Sir Arthur Hort and published by Heinemann, London, and Putnam's, New York in 1916.

Aristotle bequeathed his books, writings, and his garden at the Lyceum to Theophrastus. In this garden Theophrastus began the first systematic botanical study of plants. He was dedicated to learning, teaching, and the advance of science. His inquiry into the essential nature of plants led the field in the western world.
$85

May Basket
By Catherine Michaelis
2002. Edition of 200
5 x 7" Accordion folded basket shaped book with six flower inserts. Each "flower" has a short printed text regarding May Day and the "flower's" background regarding the Day. Housed in protective hinged plastic case. Hand cut leaves and flowers were painted with acrylics and letterpress printed. The basket fold is a Hedi Kyle design.

Halfway between Spring Equinox and Summer Solstice, May Eve marks a night when the door opens between worlds and spirits pass through. Catherine Michaelis has made Maypoles and baskets since she was a child. This is her favorite basket so far.
$80

Lost in Japan. A Souvenir Scrapbook
By Catherine Michaelis
1999.
3.25 x 5" with Japanese dyed and stenciled papers. Letter-pressed printed. A gingko leaf colograph printed. Includes a kirigami crane pop-up.

In 1995 I took care of Alice, a dying woman who had lived in Japan in the 50's and early 60's. We shared many stories. This book features the now vintage papers (dyed, stenciled, and store wrap) saved by Alice from her time living there. Papers from my own collection are blended in along with pages from 'Japanese in 10 minutes a day' (from which I actually studied) and section[s] from maps. [Catherine Michaelis]
$145

How Seeds Travel
By Catherine Michaelis
1995. Edition of 175
5.25 x 8" with 10 pages. Printed letterpress with Goudy and Garmont types on Rives Lightweight and folded into covers of Kuzuryu Green, an endsheet of olive dyed paper, and a label printed on Hagakure Brown. Leaves are accordion folded. With reduction lino cuts by Michaelis.

Text snakes down the page, suggesting the swirling wind and the seed pod descending. Michaelis describes the highly evolved and myriad ways that seeds are dispersed, from winged seeds, like the maple, called Samaras; to water plants with cork in or around the seed to help them float; yet sensual, evoking the unseen circus of the plant world. A variety of linoleum printed seed pods adorn the pages in a natural palette. Falling as they do across the spread of the accordion sheet pages, they illustrate also the wind on which seeds travel. Michaelis takes us on the journey of nature at work. "At first glance it may look as if plants drop their seeds without plan or design; but in fact, the dispersal of seeds is highly evolved." She shows us the carriers of seeds from air to animals and finally the ultimate time traveler. "From tombs of long ago civilizations, archeologists have found seeds that have the power to germinate after thousands of years of dormancy. This is how seeds travel through time."
$90

Halves
By Kim Newall
2002. Edition of 250
3.8 x 5" Double spiral-bound laid-in black & silver fitted paper box with illustrated title label. Printed letterpress with linoleum block prints by the author.

"Halves" is a celebration of the symmetry of our body set within the poetry of varying juxtapositions. Each combination presents a possibility inherent within our sacred trans-sensory capabilities.
$45

Party Dress
By Catherine Michaelis
2004. Edition of 25
7 x 3.25", opens to 10.5" Eight-panel accordion fold so that four dress images are displayed on each side. Each page constructed with dress on top two-thirds of panel in decorative papers while the bottom third of the four interior 'pages' are printed letterpress with the author's memories of her Mother's party dress. Housed in folding paper covers, letterpress title label stitched to front cover. Handmade papers by Kathy Kuehn.

As little girls we often watched Mom get ready for parties; we played dress-up in her clothes and tried on her jewelry and shoes. From these wonderful memories Michaelis designed and printed "Party Dress." How fitting a dedication - "Made for Mom."
$200

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