Intersecting words

By Sarah Jacobs

Subjects: Social conditions, Protest movements, War and civilization, Words in art, Al-Mutanabbi Street Coalition, Violence, Visual literature, Books and reading in art, Iraq War, 2003-2011, In art, Pictorial works, Artists' books, Censorship, Specimens, Intellectual life, Vehicle bombs, Terrorism in art, Bombings, Booksellers and bookselling

Description: "I wrote down associations, memories, and patterns. The English and Arabic words were entered into puzzle-making software which distributed them about a grid, filling in blank spaces with random letters, junk. A puzzle-book was drafted and six people were invited to collaborate by writing or drawing or painting a response. Each contributed a unique volume. A second draft followed. Volumes from the first and second drafts are presented here. The letters are at your disposal. You can search for the words entered or find your own. But as for me, try as I may, I can never find the words to express ..."--Artist's statement from the Book Arts at the Centre for Fine Print Research, UK website.