Sibyl Rubottom ~ California

Engineer's Rosary
By Sibyl Rubottom
San Diego, California: Bay Park Press, 2005. Edition of 150 copies.

5.25 x 7" Title label on front cover fixed in 2.25 x.25" metal holder. Colophon printed on single 4.9 x 6" sheet. 1.5" circular tags (size of tag varies) tied to spine binding. Tags hand printed.

Sibyl Rubottom: "Last spring my friend Dan's father, Tom, retired after being in business for 50 years as a structural engineer. His office was across the street from my press, Bay Park Press. Tom and his partner, Ed, invited us over to buy their flat files they were getting rid of.

"As I stood in the office I saw a wall of drafting plans in rolls with a tag hanging off every one. It was an incredible 'installation' just as it was. I felt very moved by it. I asked what they would do with the plans and tags. They said they had kept them for 'X' years as an archive, but now these were all going to the dump. I asked if I could have the tags.

"For the next few weeks Ed came over every few days to deliver a bag of tags. I couldn't bear that this 'tagged' life's work that comprised an architectural history of San Diego would be thrown away. Some tags even touch on my history, like 'Married Student Housing UCSD.' Some reflect Dan's summer jobs, and others just invoke a sense of wonder - 'The House of Charm.'

"I like the sound this book makes and how the tags 'puddle' when the book is stood up. There are so many tags left, and countess approaches to using them occur to me, but this version serves as my offering, my 'Engineer's Rosary'."
$120

Ten Elephants
By Sibyl Rubottom
2004. Edition of 15.

Ten hand tinted etchings on Fabriano paper.

Sibyl Rubottom: "Each book of 15 is a meditation and a remover of obstacles for the artist."
$500