Far Away book
Far Away

By Beata Wehr
Tucson, Arizona: Beta Wehr, 2010. Edition of 50.

2 x 2.5"; 14 pages. Miniature. Digital printing. Handsewn pamphlet style binding. Slipped into glassine envelope.

Wehr creates unique pieces, often using found objects, often both from her native Poland and her current home in Arizona. She then creates digital editions of these unique pieces. This miniature edition is based on an earlier mixed media one-of-a-kind.

Beata Wehr: "I found artists' books to be especially useful in talking about the issues of identity, immigration, and dislocation. I like their intimate format, and the fact that many media could be combined on the pages, creating layers of images. My books are usually bilingual, or semi-bilingual and I often mix images with writing, pieces of newspapers, found objects and other elements reflecting the everyday life in Tucson as well as my links to Poland. I try to combine two different experiences from two different worlds in this 'in between' situation. I do not know if it is ever possible, as my native life, language, landscape, culture are so different then my life here in Tucson. I want my viewers who will not understand part of the text to experience the difficulties with comprehension. I hope that those who are not from this culture can relate to the problem, and those who are from here will be more aware of it – especially in that it also relates to migration and the feeling of dislocation which is an experience many Americans encounter."
$35