The Star Gazer Artist's Book by Monica Ong
This piece was featured in the November 2023 issue of The Fore Edge, a quarterly newsletter from MCBA that highlights new artist’s books and zines for collections, universities, and libraries. If you are interested in receiving this newsletter, there is a sign up available here.
“Based on the Soochow Astronomical Chart of 1193, this planisphere depicts the Chinese night sky as seen from the northern hemisphere. The text is based on translations of selected asterisms (small constellations) connected by fragments of original verse, designed and written so that it is possible to make lyrical connections in whichever direction the sky is read. Because depictions within star lore often center figures of male conquest, the Chinese sky is likewise organized around the Great Emperor of Heaven who sits near the northern celestial pole. By marking the sky’s axis with the familiar marker ‘You are here’ in his absence, this poem is designed to center the reader instead.
To view the stars, turn the disc to align the desired date with the hour of night. Face south and hold the planisphere overhead with the corner marked North facing north. The star map will reveal a celestial poem that awaits you among the asterisms. Let the eyes wander and read aloud to someone dear.” -Monica Ong
Original poetry and design, letterpress gold foil stamping on natural white flurry and navy 1-ply cover stock, custom die cutting, and assembly with metal hardware.
7.5” x 7.5”
*Consignment item. Not eligible for 10% membership discount. All consignment purchases are final and non-refundable once shipped.
This piece was featured in the November 2023 issue of The Fore Edge, a quarterly newsletter from MCBA that highlights new artist’s books and zines for collections, universities, and libraries. If you are interested in receiving this newsletter, there is a sign up available here.
“Based on the Soochow Astronomical Chart of 1193, this planisphere depicts the Chinese night sky as seen from the northern hemisphere. The text is based on translations of selected asterisms (small constellations) connected by fragments of original verse, designed and written so that it is possible to make lyrical connections in whichever direction the sky is read. Because depictions within star lore often center figures of male conquest, the Chinese sky is likewise organized around the Great Emperor of Heaven who sits near the northern celestial pole. By marking the sky’s axis with the familiar marker ‘You are here’ in his absence, this poem is designed to center the reader instead.
To view the stars, turn the disc to align the desired date with the hour of night. Face south and hold the planisphere overhead with the corner marked North facing north. The star map will reveal a celestial poem that awaits you among the asterisms. Let the eyes wander and read aloud to someone dear.” -Monica Ong
Original poetry and design, letterpress gold foil stamping on natural white flurry and navy 1-ply cover stock, custom die cutting, and assembly with metal hardware.
7.5” x 7.5”
*Consignment item. Not eligible for 10% membership discount. All consignment purchases are final and non-refundable once shipped.
This piece was featured in the November 2023 issue of The Fore Edge, a quarterly newsletter from MCBA that highlights new artist’s books and zines for collections, universities, and libraries. If you are interested in receiving this newsletter, there is a sign up available here.
“Based on the Soochow Astronomical Chart of 1193, this planisphere depicts the Chinese night sky as seen from the northern hemisphere. The text is based on translations of selected asterisms (small constellations) connected by fragments of original verse, designed and written so that it is possible to make lyrical connections in whichever direction the sky is read. Because depictions within star lore often center figures of male conquest, the Chinese sky is likewise organized around the Great Emperor of Heaven who sits near the northern celestial pole. By marking the sky’s axis with the familiar marker ‘You are here’ in his absence, this poem is designed to center the reader instead.
To view the stars, turn the disc to align the desired date with the hour of night. Face south and hold the planisphere overhead with the corner marked North facing north. The star map will reveal a celestial poem that awaits you among the asterisms. Let the eyes wander and read aloud to someone dear.” -Monica Ong
Original poetry and design, letterpress gold foil stamping on natural white flurry and navy 1-ply cover stock, custom die cutting, and assembly with metal hardware.
7.5” x 7.5”
*Consignment item. Not eligible for 10% membership discount. All consignment purchases are final and non-refundable once shipped.
Monica Ong (she/her) is the author of Silent Anatomies, winner of the Kore Press First Book Award. A Kundiman poetry fellow, Ong's visual poetry is exhibited widely at special collections and galleries including the Center for Book Arts (NYC) and the Poetry Foundation (Chicago). Planetaria, her recent exhibition of visual art, has been exhibited at the POETRY Foundation and the Hunterdon Art Museum. You can find her work in POETRY Magazine, Scientific American, Tab Journal, and ctrl+v. In 2021, Ong founded Proxima Vera, a micropress specializing in literary art & objects, which are now part of many distinguished institutional collections worldwide.
ProximaVera.com | Instagram: @ProximaVera
