Something Lived, Something Dreamed: Urban Design and the American West, an essay by architect and designer, William McDonough, features letterpress monoprints by Washington artist Christopher Stern. The book, published by Red Butte Press and entirely handmade, was over two-and-a-half years in production. The essay, also commissioned by Red Butte, sets a precedent. It is the first time that William McDonough’s comprehensive design philosophy has been presented. The essay does not appear elsewhere.
Something Lived, Something Dreamed examines the complex relationship between natural and urban landscapes in western American cities. It is a spirited manifesto that reimagines the city through McDonough’s visionary lens, offering a lyrical invitation to reconsider the rich relationship between nature and city in the twenty-first century.
Cities are designed, but cities are also organisms; something lived and something dreamed. As makers of living places, we cannot help projecting ourselves onto the landscape. The human species has an image-making mind and the city is always something of a dream. As we dream of our ideal cities, as we conjure the human weft on the geological warp of the land, we can begin to see more clearly the lineaments of the place we inhabit, the true character of the territory, its genius loci. And then, as we shape the character of our cities, we make places that celebrate both human creativity and a rich, harmonious relationship with the living earth. We are creating a new geography of hope.”
—William McDonough, excerpt from Something Lived, Something Dreamed
Limited-edition fine-press books are rare, collectible works that increase in value. In keeping with the message of the essay, Something Lived, Something Dreamed was conceived in the spirit of sustainable design. Over fifty people from at least six states as well as Italy worked on the project under the direction of the Red Butte Press. The cotton paper was commissioned from Magnani Mill in Italy. The covers are made from a single sycamore tree reclaimed from an urban construction site as well as recycled aluminum, specially provided and finished by Alcoa Technical Center in Pennsylvania. Covers were fabricated in Utah by Woodworkers Gary Evershed and Chris Wright. The type is Monotype Univers and was cast from hot metal and composed in Washington by Stern & Faye. The text was printed on an 1846 Columbian handpress at the Red Butte Press in Utah by Marnie Powers-Torrey and Jennifer Sorensen. Artist Chris Stern contributed three letterpress monoprints, each hand-inked, resulting in slight variations among prints making each book unique. Craig Jensen of BookLab II in Texas bound each book by hand in a modern coptic variation. Victoria Hindley, creative director of the Red Butte Press, developed the project and designed the book. The edition is limited to 125 and signed by the author and artist. Each book is housed in a drop-spine box with blind debossed title on the spine.
Cost $690.00 + $10 shipping & insurance
For purchasing or other information, please contact:
Madelyn Garrett, Red Butte Press, (801) 585-6168 OR
Victoria Hindley, Red Butte Press, (206) 281-7135
or visit Red Butte Press here.