








This limited hand-bound edition of ten, "REaD" was written and constructed in 2008. All images, literature, and book construction and design are the original work of Shawn Saumell under the guidance of Susan kae Grant, my friend and mentor. The imagery of this book is the product of photographs and graphic designs placed on Stonehenge paper by means of solvent transfer by Shawn Saumell. Artist's Statement Vastly exploited and thoroughly unexplored, red is one of the three primary colors from which all other colors derive. There are many esoteric qualities within this powerful color. It is no wonder that Newton discovered some of the importance of this color's properties after dissecting white light with a prism. Also, Goethe placed red at the top of his color wheel. It's the farthest color in the light spectrum, having the longest wavelength of all colors, and being the fastest to reach the eye. This color causes physical, metaphysical, and psychological effects, from increasing blood pressure and metabolism, to inciting fear and caution. These may be some of the qualities that Hitler became so fond of, to consciously and intentionally abuse, and again later by the most powerful street gang in North America, the Bloods. Throughout history red has been misunderstood, used, and abused, as it has always been ever-present in nature and humankind. Whatever remains of what we believe to know, there is still much to be examined by the unseen eye just as one of many keys to understanding. - Shawn Saumell, Artist