Tenebrismo - Ten Poems by Kera Willis, printed by Greyweathers Press from movable lead type on Williamsburg paper, illustrated with seven hand-cut linoleum block prints and calliigraphic embellishments, laser colour endsheets, 36 pages with centerfold, in a limited edition of 75 copies, fifteen of which have been set aside for a deluxe leather binding. Dimensions: 6.5” x 11”

Regular edition: bound in black Mayfair cover paper.
$75+gst CDN
Deluxe edition: full black leather, black foil stamped cover. $155+gst CDN

Kera Willis is a very talented young writer who grew up in the village of Merrickville, where our press is situated. Holly knew her as one of the many young people who frequented a local equestrian stable, but I learned more about Kera when Holly’s daughter came to live with us – they being both of similar ages and interests. Kera has a formidable work ethic, and while still in her teens, she had saved enough to buy and board a mare (named Mree) and purchase a tiny car that was, as I recall it, long on years and mileage… and character. Much to our collective amazement, she sold them all – everything that was dear to her – and bought a ticket to Spain.

In the months that followed, Holly and I would receive the most remarkable emails from all over Europe, written on the fly from cyber-cafes or libraries. The letters intrigued me enough to suggest publishing selected bits, but she returned from Europe – full of experience and empty of cash – with a sheaf of remarkable poems, photographs and drawings. It is from her photographs and drawings that I rendered and cut the linoblock illustrations in Tenebrismo.

I should note that there has been some discussion about the precise meaning of ‘tenebrismo’. Here I quote verbatim from that marvel of internet instant knowledge, Wikipedia:

 Tenebrism, from the Italian tenebroso ("murky"), (also called dramatic illumination) is a style of painting using violent contrasts of light and dark. A heightened form of chiaroscuro, it creates the look of figures emerging from the dark. The term is less used by art historians in recent decades, and lacks a clear definition; it is most often applied to Spanish painters.

 The phrase ‘figures emerging from the dark’ is significant in relation to Kera’s poems. My first impression when I read them was of a highly contrasted snapshot, holding in place forever a moment in time, an expression, a feeling, or a mood. Kera's poems capture with vivid imagery and intensity that fleeting moment between childhood's end and maturity. The literal and literary journey to Europe and her invocation of her childhood in Eastern Ontario illuminates the soul of a youth searching for herself. Questing and questioning, the poems become points of light shot into the darkness.

We are very pleased to offer a letterpress treatment of Kera’s poetry.

ORDERS: Contact the printer at (613) 269-3714, or studio@greyweathers.com. Please include 6% gst to all orders, and make cheques payable to THE STUDIO AT GREYWEATHERS. For trade orders, contact the printer.