Thanks Giving

Nicole Fox

GIVING

THANKS

(On the seldom chance of gratitude)

THANKS

GIVING

This book was produced during the designer’s residency at Citè International des Arts in Paris, France. This study is a part of a series of exercises in which the designer explores visual, conceptual, formal or procedural ways of working by executing a project in a single day. This is project 5 of 30. Documentation and writings surrounding this series can be found at nicolefoxdesign.com.

Typeset in Courier New borrowed inkjet printer. © Nicole Fox, 2018

and

Big

Caslon.

Digitally

printed

in

France

on

a

THANKS

GIVING

Nicole Fox

At the beginnings of our books, dedications float in delicious swimming pools of white space, easily thumbed past as the reader sniffs out their story’s opening lines. A sparse single page resting just atop the succeeding volume, they stand in an uncanny world by themselves—belonging neither to reader nor to author nor to recipient, but in the shared custody of all three. They are sometimes deeply personal and even secretive —those being thanked represented by only their initials or by a private joke. At other times, they are broad and far-reaching, indicating the moral and social projections of the author and their times.

In any case, they represent a micro-story within the story, a rare moment in which the writer, no matter their topic nor their prestige, briefly breaks character. Their lofty tone or thoughtful

world-building dissolves in a few simple words to their mothers, partners or friends. Inside jokes are shared on a public stage, and one must imagine the inward delight of the author given the chance to share such a personal, private expression of gratitude with every one of his or her readers. It is as if the author asks the reader to join them in chorused thank you to the beloved figure who hovers just beyond the page. We are unwittingly asked to remember departed husbands, hard-working editors, childhood friends, secret lovers, disappeared figures from history.

These snippets of gratitude also do much to dispel the notion of the artist or author as a lone genius, and give credit to the editors, caretakeres, teachers, role models, heroes, cheerleaders, snack-bringers, tea-makers and ass-kickers of the creative process.

Rarely in our culture are we given such an opportunity. To give thanks requires a level of bravery and humility which without such a platform we rarely aspire to. Dedications often read like a long-kept secret, dearly guarded until the very last moment of publication.

What follows is a brief exploration of the dedication page as it appears on the books of Shakespeare and Company, the preimminent English-language bookstore in Paris, France.

Originally opened in 1919, it now houses antique, used and recent releases, each of which have been included within this project. The meandering trends of book dedication (design and content) and thanks-giving can be spotted within the images, as can the long-prevaling themes of love, devotion and gratitude.

Being presented with the opportunity, this book is dedicated to the many wonderful people I’ve so often forgotten to thank.