Skylight

twenty-four poems by Jane Vincent Taylor with a drawing by Hannah Demma

6 3/4 x 4 1/2 x 3/8 inches closed. 43 pages. 55 copies, hand numbered and signed by the poet, visual artist, and printer/binder. $65 each.

THIS BOOK IS OUT OF PRINT

Jane Vincent Taylor’s collection Skylight is a twenty-four poem narrative told in the voice of a woman — Lu, a teacher and poet — spending her final days in an assisted living facility. Though physically failing, she continues to read, observe, communicate, and dream. Readers of Skylight may be interested in the many literary and visuals works referenced in these poems. A list of those references — Lu’s favorite authors and artists — is included below (after the images).

These twenty-four poems were hand set in 12 pt. Bembo and printed on dampened Arches wove paper using a Vandercook No. 4. The title face is 48 pt. Schwabacher printed from a photopolymer plate made by Boxcar Press after a proof of slightly damaged BB&S foundry sorts. Hannah Demma created a unique drawing on her handmade over-beaten abaca paper for each copy. Endsheet papers are variable and covers are Zoë Goehring’s Cave Paper. Denise Brady edited and designed the book which was typeset and printed with assistance from Nolan Bennett thanks to AB Gorham and a cooperative fellowship at the University of Nebraska at Omaha Fine Arts Press. Denise also completed the long stitch binding.

Jane Vincent Taylor is a poet and teacher who thrives on collaboration. She has been poet-in-residence at Michigan State University several times, is a Virginia Center for Creative Arts Fellow, and taught creative writing at Ghost Ranch in New Mexico for fifteen years. Taylor has six books of poetry, one of which, The Lady Victory (Turning Point Press) was adapted for the stage by Ann Folino White at MSU. She curated Pencil Light, an Art and Poetry Exhibit, and The Hiding Place, Artists Working from Poetry at Artspace / Untitled in Oklahoma City. More about her work can be found at Janevincenttaylor.blogspot.com.

References: Skylight by Jane Vincent Taylor, published by Gibraltar Editions, 2024.

writers: May Swenson, “Question” // James Wright, “A Blessing”  &  “Goodbye to the Poetry of Calcium” //  Joy Harjo, “She Had Some Horses” // Edna St. Vincent Millay, “I Too Beneath Your Moon, Almighty Sex” // Miriam Hapgood Dewitt, Taos: A Memory // Alicia Suskin Ostriker, The Old Woman, the Tulip and the Dog // John Berryman, The Dream Songs  // Miriam Hapgood Dewitt, Taos: A Memory // John Keats’ theory of negative capability, Letters of John Keats // Don Marquis, Archy and Mehitabel // Abraham Verghese, The Covenant of Water // Luis Alberto Urrea, House of Broken Angels // Toni Morrison, Beloved

visual artists: Claude Monet, Pablo Picasso, Dale Chihuly, Mark Rothko, Alexander Calder, Jean-Michel Basquiat, Agnes Martin, J.M.W. Turner