Of Clay by Emily Sheffer
Of Clay is an artist book made in response to creation myths that use clay as the material from which life was first created. Artist Emily Sheffer draws from the specificity of her interests in ancient visual culture, geology, and pottery to create a photographic experience that asks why we are drawn to the earth as life-giving matter. A poem with extracted language from origin myths weaves its way throughout the pages of the book. Of Clay poses the question of why cultures throughout the centuries have turned to clay as a miraculous birth theme, consistently using the earth itself to answer the universal, unanswerable question, “Where do we come from?”
More Details
Edition of 15
9” x 11”
45 pages
14 images
Hand bound accordion
Autumn 2022
Designed by Emily Sheffer
Published by Dust Collective
About the Artist
Emily Sheffer is a photographic artist, educator, and book designer.
She is the founder of Dust Collective, a handmade and small edition photography book publisher.
Emily is the studio director for Barbara Bosworth. In 2024, she was a Visiting Assistant Professor of Photography at the University of Hartford.
Emily earned her MFA in photography from The University of Hartford, and BFA in photography from The Massachusetts College of Art and Design.
She currently lives in Massachusetts.
Of Clay is an artist book made in response to creation myths that use clay as the material from which life was first created. Artist Emily Sheffer draws from the specificity of her interests in ancient visual culture, geology, and pottery to create a photographic experience that asks why we are drawn to the earth as life-giving matter. A poem with extracted language from origin myths weaves its way throughout the pages of the book. Of Clay poses the question of why cultures throughout the centuries have turned to clay as a miraculous birth theme, consistently using the earth itself to answer the universal, unanswerable question, “Where do we come from?”
More Details
Edition of 15
9” x 11”
45 pages
14 images
Hand bound accordion
Autumn 2022
Designed by Emily Sheffer
Published by Dust Collective
About the Artist
Emily Sheffer is a photographic artist, educator, and book designer.
She is the founder of Dust Collective, a handmade and small edition photography book publisher.
Emily is the studio director for Barbara Bosworth. In 2024, she was a Visiting Assistant Professor of Photography at the University of Hartford.
Emily earned her MFA in photography from The University of Hartford, and BFA in photography from The Massachusetts College of Art and Design.
She currently lives in Massachusetts.
Of Clay is an artist book made in response to creation myths that use clay as the material from which life was first created. Artist Emily Sheffer draws from the specificity of her interests in ancient visual culture, geology, and pottery to create a photographic experience that asks why we are drawn to the earth as life-giving matter. A poem with extracted language from origin myths weaves its way throughout the pages of the book. Of Clay poses the question of why cultures throughout the centuries have turned to clay as a miraculous birth theme, consistently using the earth itself to answer the universal, unanswerable question, “Where do we come from?”
More Details
Edition of 15
9” x 11”
45 pages
14 images
Hand bound accordion
Autumn 2022
Designed by Emily Sheffer
Published by Dust Collective
About the Artist
Emily Sheffer is a photographic artist, educator, and book designer.
She is the founder of Dust Collective, a handmade and small edition photography book publisher.
Emily is the studio director for Barbara Bosworth. In 2024, she was a Visiting Assistant Professor of Photography at the University of Hartford.
Emily earned her MFA in photography from The University of Hartford, and BFA in photography from The Massachusetts College of Art and Design.
She currently lives in Massachusetts.