Omegalpha

When does a beginning begin and an ending end? At what point does an ending become a beginning? “Omegalpha” is a small accordion book that explores these ideas.

Wrap and front view of accordion artist book by Wendy Fernstrum titled "Omegalpha"

Intellectually we like buckets, divisions, distinctions – yet the universe reveals our dualities as folly. For many of us, life and death seem to be separate dualities. Deeper inquiry reveals the separation of life and death as a human construct. Each of us is living and dying simultaneously; 300 million cells die every minute in our bodies even as we generate 200 billion new cells each day. We start dying the minute we are born.

Wrap and first panel of accordion artist book by Wendy Fernstrum titled "Omegalpha"; text says "the end of the beginning"

Where does each of us begin and end? Are the drops of water in the ocean distinct? In my work I explore individuality within a united oneness, and the continuum of beginnings and endings. Although my diptychs present two distinct images – presence and absence, beginning and end – they transcend “either/or” to convey “and/both.”

The line that appears in much of my work represents the thread that connects us all and the unique strand that we are or the distinct mark we make in the world.

Wrap and back side of accordion artist book by Wendy Fernstrum titled "Omegalpha"; text repeats "the beginning of the end of the beginning of the end"

This image shows the back side of the accordion.

“Omegalpha”
2018
Artist book in an edition of 50
Letterpress, intaglio, pen & ink
3″ x 2.5″ (closed)
3″ x 20″ (open)
$45

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