Marie Dern
Softboiled Happiness
2013
Two-sided letterpress printed toast shapes, using handcrafted paper made out of invasive plant species. With letterpress type and collage materials. The slices of toast fit into a paper folder in the stylized shape of an old fashioned toaster. Made in and edition of 3.
The “pages” of this whimsical artist book were mailed back and forth between the two artists—each playing off whatever the other added. Artist Danielle Giudici Wallis was Carl Dern’s studio assistant, often fabricating his sculptured steel furniture. She became a close family friend and she and Marie collaborated on wonderfully unconventional books. Danielle earned her B.A. at Antioch College and M.F.A. from Stanford University. She runs Giudici Handcrafted, a one woman operation making bespoke footwear.
