The Over the River Collective was formed in 2021 by artists Elisa Lanzi, B.Z. Reily, Annie G. Rogers, and Margo Temple. We chose the name for the simple fact that we live over the Connecticut river from Zea Mays Printmaking in Florence, MA. Our goal was to expand our knowledge of artists’ books by sharing tips and techniques in our respective studios. Over time, our activities have blossomed, culminating in our first collaborative work, Tigh an Dáin.
Tigh an Dáin – The House of the Poem is inspired by our first collaborative poem printed on the Vandercook letter-press at Zea Mays Printmaking. The title is Irish, a nod to a culture that reveres poetry. Our materials and techniques reflect our commitment to sustainable art practice using existing materials. The work is a 3D multi-media installation, set in a vintage miniature wooden house. Elements include: recycled hand-pulled prints, sculptural objects, artists’ books, and natural materials.
At the heart of Tigh an Dáin, is our poem displayed on the right gable end of the house. The modern Zuihitsu poem form comes from ancient Japan. It refers to the “running brush” of a calligrapher jotting notes. The style consists of personal interconnected but fragmented ideas that respond to each writers’ immediate surroundings. Randomly numbered, the lines jump from one to the other by association. The mind does the same as it notices, remembers, finds abstractions, extracts of other texts, lists, opinions, dreams, repeats what’s gone before. [Photos by Margo Temple]
