One Of A Kind Books

Here is a selection of new one of a kind books. Each book is made of original paintings or monoprints by Claribel. The covers are also original paintings. Some have a poem by Don Skiles or myself on the title page.

Winter Oak

Winter oak
sleeps now deep
in snow
Soon, it will spring
green
be mighty
in soft summer breezes
sigh its memories


Don Skiles


Tugboat

Tugboats are a special breed.
Stout of heart, broad of beam
they accomplish so much
with a friendly nudge.

A tugboat is brave
and sure of itself–
they never look back or worry
about how big the next ship will be.

The work is hard,
the weather often dreary
but they never relent
or turn away.

I was a tugboat
for many years
so I say this
with conviction.


Mike Heffner

Exhibit at Bucknell University

As I stated in an earlier post, Viking Dog Press & C. Cone Studios along with our friend David Moyer of Red Howler Press have been invited to exhibit our work in the Special Collections area of The Bertrand Library at Bucknell University. The exhibit will open on August 19th and run until the end of December. We hope you can view it in person, if not I'll be posting some photos here.

In Memoriam

My best friend and the namesake of my press, Nikki my Norweigian Elkhound, The Viking Dog, passed away at 4:30 pm today at the age of 15. R.I.P min Norsk Ålghund vän.

Cold War Kids, Part One

Cold War Kids, Part Two

I've been ruminating on the late 1950's and the early 1960's, on The Cold War and the fear and anxiety that it placed in school children of the time. I thought of Khrushchev of course and the way he was portrayed in the press and the black and white TV news.

Upon doing some internet research I found that his son Sergei is a U.S. citizen who teaches at Brown University. The irony of this is not lost on me and my fellow Baby Boomers. This broadside is dedicated to Sergei Khrushchev and my friend Jeff Fargus who I'm sure recalls huddling under his desk too.

History is a fun house mirror and every generation that peers into it sees something different.

Cone, Skiles & Vickers

Red Car

Red Car

I'm a car, a red one.
Not your favorite make
or model
but sturdy and reliable.

American made
probably older than
your oldest son,
I travel the back roads mostly.

Outdated but fuel efficient
I ramble.
Parts are getting scarce
and so are good mechanics.




Painting from Claribel's book "From Marina's Window".