Steph Rue
Iowa City, Iowa

Steph Rue is a book and paper artist in Iowa City, Iowa. She studies bookbinding, letterpress printing, papermaking, and book history at the University of Iowa Center for the Book. She first learned how to make books in the Bay Area, where she lived and worked before coming to Iowa. She has traveled to Korea and Japan to conduct research on Eastern papermaking, spirituality, and woven paper cloth, all of which inform her current work. Her work has been exhibited nationally and internationally.

Website: stephrue.com

Lectio Divina

Lectio Divina explores the practice of sacred reading by way of repetition, meditation, and contemplation. This series of three accordion books is enclosed in a four-flap portfolio case. Each book is letterpress-printed with handset metal types and washed with sumi ink. The books, collaged strips, embroidered thread, and case are from unbleached abaca paper made by the artist. This book can be read sequentially or displayed as three opened panels.
Handmade abaca paper and thread, linen thread.
5.5 x 5.5 x .5 inches; 14 x 14 x 1.5 centimeters. Created 2012.