With the mainstream popularity of creative work like Beyonce’s Lemonade, shows like Insecure, and the Ryan Coogler-directed Black Panther, America is embracing authentic, black stories. I did An Alphabet Book when conversations about the black experience were not hitting a mainstream audience as they are now and this specific story needs to continue to be told – and I am the best person to do that. I believe in this project’s ability to be hugely impactful for so many communities.
Beyond An Alphabet Book: Revisited, I want to create work where taboo or sensitive topics become healthy and effective conversations that betters society’s ability to understand and respect one another. The intimate and authentic experience of this project, a book of personal statement and captivating visuals, will be the perfect way to launch this new direction of my career.
PEOPLE INVOLVED
Successful completion of this project will involve collaborating with other creatives:
(1) Photographer
(2) Illustrator
(3) Printer
DELIVERABLES
Book – 75 pp, 8.5”x 10.5” (approx.), glue-bound, ink/silkscreen print, paper, other material (vellum, acetate)
Quantity – 1500 (approx.)
LAYOUT
Main Imagery – 20 total (approx.)
The photographer will shoot each student who is selected and chooses to participate. Each student will be photographed portrait style, yet raw. Additionally, five of those students will be selected to do an individual, environment shoot (i.e. dining hall, quad, athletic locker room) in black & white, intended to replace those individuals portrait images and add to the overall story.
Illustrations - 4 total
Each black-and-white illustration will depict recent stories of racial discord on college campuses (i.e. Missouri student protest/boycott, racist fraternity chant at OU, nooses hanging from a tree at the University of South Alabama, etc) – helping to pace the story and set the tone.
(1) Inside Front/Back Cover – Full Spread
(2) Centerfold - Full Spread
(3) 1 single
(4) 1 single
BUDGET
Total: $15,750 (approximate)
(1500) 75 pp, 8.5” x 10”5, glue-bound, various materials = funded elsewhere*
(20) University of Notre Dame Students - $0 (1 personal copy of book)
(5) Personal travel to Notre Dame campus (5 trips, approx. $1200 per) = $6000
(1) Photographer (5 working days, $1500 per day + travel) = $7500
(6) Illustrations ($250 per) = $1250
( ) Book distribution (shipping costs) = $1000
An Alphabet Book (2009) was inspired by Tasheka Arcenaux-Sutton’s poster, titled “Primer of Black Designers”.
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