Tokugenji Press~ Japan/California

Back Roads to Far Places After Basho
By Lawrence Ferlinghetti
2002. Edition of 10.

13 x 91" extended. The etchings are mounted on a paper that is made from 100% kozo that was dyed with the inner bark of the silk tree before the process of forming the sheets. The rolled scroll is stored in an elegant paulownia wood box. Signed on the lid by the poet.

A Japanese hand scroll with nine poems by Lawrence Ferlinghetti, accompanied by ten spit bite etchings by San Francisco artist Stephanie Peek. The poems, inspired by Haiku poet Massou Basho, were set and letterpress printed by Alan Hillesheim at Digger Pine Press in Berkeley. The etchings were printed by Paul Mullowney at Tokugenji Zen temple in Nara, Japan. The paper is hand dyed Yoshino Kizuki and the entire piece is mounted exquisitely with gold and silk brocade borders by master craftsman Shasaku Yoshimura in Ouda, Japan. Peek designed the scroll and worked closely with Moshimura to choose the silks used on the borders and the backing. It resembles a traditional Japanese format except that it reads from left to right.
$3000 (Display copy last copy available)