Octopus

de Elizabeth McDevitt, Julie Chen, Flying Fish Press

"'Octopus Book' (1989) was the thesis project of Elizabeth McDevitt, who graduated with an MA in book art at the same time as Julie. McDevitt came to the MA primarily as a poet. Her explorations in the program revolved around structures that would 'amplify' text. Scale became an important consideration ... For 'Octopus Book', McDevitt used the peep-show-book format; her thesis statement, 'Text, Structure, and Interior Space' (1990), includes an analysis of this historical structure, suggesting that the three-dimensional depth and hint of intimate, secret viewing is a type of 'visual seduction.' The text for 'Octopus Book' is a poem by McDevitt that expores how distance is created between two people. She printed each line of the printed texts and aligned them so that when the book was opened the poem could be read as though one were looking at it through a deep, watery cave. In 1992, Julie suggested to McDevitt that 'Octopus Book' be brought back to life through Flying Fish Press, the imprint Julie adopted with her very first books. The resultant tunnel book, now called 'Octopus', remains one of Flying Fish's best-known books. The strong integration of text and structure are supported by Julie's always-present attention to material and her meticulous application of craft."