Forest Gods is a small artist book produced in an edition of 50 at Darien, GA's Ashantilly Press Project artist residency in October 2024. While walking through the marshy coastland at night, I came upon dozens of animals—deer, raccoons, toads, lizards, squirrels, and rabbits—all of whom dashed away at the sound of my approach. While I meant them no harm, I was cast as a predator to be desperately avoided. The animals were right, of course—I may not have intended to hurt them on an individual level, but mankind does pose the greatest risk of harm to the delicate coastal ecosystem I was traversing.

The artist book, printed in black, green, and golden brown, incorporates both linoleum relief illustrations and a poem set in lead type and ornament from Ashantilly’s type collection. The poem reads: “When leather-booted man tromps through the green, The forest gods all make themselves unseen. / For though they war—the hawk, the snake, the fawn—Tis man alone will waste their pantheon.”

When readers open the gate-style front covers of the book, fanciful green figures dash out of sight via folding mechanisms behind the central illustration. Only by peeking into the book or carefully opening one side at a time can readers see the forest gods in their full glory.

Forest Gods measures 6" x 7" when closed, and 6" x 15 3/8" when open.