The Liquid Border: Arroyo San Carlos
The Liquid Border: Arroyo San Carlos
Jonathan Reeve Price, The Liquid Border: Arroyo San Carlos, Aluminum Print, 2019, Signed and numbered, verso
24x24 (Edition of 10), $795
12x12 (Edition of 25), $295
When the rust ate the corn sprouts,
we knew it was time to leave,
But we did not.
When Carina was taken away,
Screaming, when we found her body
Stuck on a cross behind the church,
Oh my little sister,
We knew it was time to leave
But we did not.
Bleach and gasoline, oh Lady
Of Guadalupe, sparkling
In your upright nicho,
You told us it was time to leave,
But we did not.
The flames came across the field,
The smoke familiar, the black line
Advancing—but when the ground
Sat there, smoking, the rains
Washed ash into the hut, and
We knew it was time to leave,
But we did not.
Rebuilding the roof, scraping clear
The floor, pulling our two pots
Out of the burnt pile, our old home,
We knew it was time to leave,
But we did not.
Only then, when the murderous gang
Drove their 4x4 over my son,
Did I gather up our rope shoes,
And, hand in hand, the four of us
Anna limping, Roderigo, Benicia, and I,
We set off down the mountain,
And, finding the impossible highway,
We started our long walk north.
This picture was included in the following juried show:
On the Rise, Gallery with a Cause, Albuquerque, New Mexico, June 7-August 23, 2019. Curator's Choice Award (Regina Held)
About our Process
To make the print durable and archival, we infuse the image directly into the metal. Unlike an oil painting or a paper print, this shiny, hard surface resists scratches, dents, and cracks.
And it is waterproof. So you can hang it in a bathroom or kitchen, where other prints might risk getting damaged by an accidental splash.
Plus: You don't need to put glass in front of our image, or pay for a frame, as you must if you want to protect a paper print.
We think that getting rid of the glass makes the picture more immediate. And removing the traditional layer of glass eliminates distracting glare. Bonus: If you need to pack the picture when you move, you don't have to worry about the glass breaking in the truck.
Hanging your picture
Because the metal plate is rigid, with a raised square in back, you can hang the picture on a single nail. On the wall, the print has a vivid contemporary look.
BTW: In the past, we offered paper prints for the same price as the metal ones. But collectors told us that when they added a traditional frame with matting and protective glass, their total cost doubled. With our metal print, you avoid all these extra expenses. It’s ready to hang, right out of the box.
Provenance
To prove that you are the original owner of this piece, you may, at your option, provide us with a jpg of your face, to insert, in miniature, into the picture, near my signature. Your smile proves that your print is uniquely yours.
On the back of the print, we always attach a Certificate of Authenticity, containing your name, the date of purchase, the name of the artwork, a description, date, and my signature. A paper copy accompanies the print, for your files. This documentation helps you prove what museums call “the provenance,” that is, the chain of ownership, from me to you. That’s helpful when you choose to donate the picture to a museum, or sell it through a gallery.
If you prefer to be anonymous, just let us know, and you can opt out of these methods of authenticity. Just let us know your preference when you place your order.
Collecting is personal.
We want you to be able to talk with friends about your new picture. So the print comes with an artist’s statement. We look forward to hearing your impressions, if you choose to email us, at jonathanreeveprice at gmail.com
Shipping
We package the print in tissue paper and extra layers of cardboard. We ship via US Priority Mail, insured.
Please allow two weeks for printing, packaging, and shipping.
When you receive your order, please check to make sure that the picture is just what you are hoping for. If you have any problem with the picture, please contact jonathanreeveprice at gmail.com. Within 14 days of delivery, we accept returns for a full refund.
Get the book!
All these pictures and texts appear in the new, expanded edition of our book, The Liquid Border. Thanks to the success of this series in museums and galleries, we have created an 80-page version of our catalog. This book has been hailed by Kirkus Reviews as one of the 100 best independently published books of 2020. They said:
Price is as adept with his poetry as he is with his pictures, and the combination is a moving testimony to the struggle of those who yearn for a better life elsewhere. A mournful, beautiful, and original synthesis of word and image.
Zeri Ort, on Reedsy Discovery, said this:
The poetry affected me profoundly. I found myself having to take frequent breaks to blink back tears, or stop reading entirely for a while to recover from the intensity of sadness, longing, fear, relief, and loss. Each one clearly encompasses a particular moment from a different point of view: from those who are making the attempt to cross but fail, or who succeed only to succumb to some later danger, who have triumphed and are living in the new world, or who made it but were caught and put in a cell.
Price’s phrasing is elegant yet visceral, evoking in the reader that most basic desperate instinct of survival in just a few words. He captures the beautiful and the frightful, the surreal and the absurd, and weaves it into a kind of truth, all the while acknowledging that there is no one true story to be told. For those who enjoy poetry or fine art, or who have an interest in immigration issues and the plight of illegal immigrants, this short volume is definitely worth picking up. I am very glad I did.
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Kindle edition, $5.95:
Want to get in touch? Email me at jonathanreeveprice at gmail.com