Those two daring pirates

[Melbourne] : the artists, 2004. Artist’s book, 180 mm tall, 22 page concertina offset lithograph with original hand colouring, bound in coloured fabric, initialled by the artists. Printed in an edition of 30 copies with one artist’s proof, this is copy 13/30.

A colourful celebration of the cultural life of New Orleans, Louisiana.

“[These two daring pirates] is Gracia Haby and Louise Jennison’s ninth book together in a partnership that often involves members of their families helping to construct or contribute to various aspects of their book making. Haby’s connection to New Orleans stems from her parents continued enthusiasm for the temporary home they made there in the 1970s. Early last year she accompanied them on a nostalgic return trip, while Jennison remained in Melbourne minding the fort and collating the material Haby sent back. Those Two Daring Pirates is a collage of family snaps, memorabilia, found recipes and the beautiful drawings of flora and fauna which are signature Haby/Jennison.” – extract from Artists’ book review by Jurate Sasnaitis in Poster Magazine, Issue eight, Customisation, Autumn, 2005.

This artists’ book was later exhibited as part of Ex Libris (2005), and The Banyule City Council Works on Paper Art Award 2005. Editions of this book are in the collections of the State Library of Victoria, the State Library of Queensland, Melbourne University Library, Monash University Library, and the National Gallery of Australia (formerly as part of the Ergas Collection).

‘We are besotted with paper for its adaptable, foldable, cut-able, concealable, revealing nature. In our artists’ books, prints, zines, drawings, and collages, we use an armoury of play, humour, and perhaps the poetic too, with intent to lure you closer. The animal is oft present and easily detectable, the centre of our paper stage. Hard to miss, over here and over there, the animal runs up hills, scales rooftops, and sometimes appears to take flight. Gliding through a scene it is too large to be contained within or perhaps too manmade to call home, that it has a tail or feathers or furred muzzle is not solely why its form appears. For us, the animal is there to question our very behaviour, those moral principles one governs the self by, and to explore our relationship with the natural world. The words of Gogol whisper in the ear, “the longer and more carefully we look at a funny story, the sadder it becomes.” And so, we leave our scenes open-ended, inviting you to ponder and perhaps find that things are not always as they first appear.’ – Artists’ statement

The contemporary artists’ books of Gracia & Louise Our are represented in the collections of Artspace Mackay; Bibliotheca Librorum Apud Artificem; Deakin University Library; Melbourne Museum; Melbourne University Library; Monash University Library; Mornington Peninsula Regional Gallery; National Gallery of Australia; National Gallery of Victoria; National Library of Australia; RMIT University Library; State Library of New South Wales; State Library of Victoria; State Library of Queensland; Tate (UK); University of the West of England (UK).