JUKE JOINT BOOK
The Typeface & Book Project
This 8 x 8 inch perfect-bound book, with soft-touch lamination and printed by Smart Press, serves as both a design space and a platform for developing my editorial skills through my own typeface. Juke Joint Slab is more than a typeface—it is a tangible representation of my belief in giving typefaces a place to live, offering a physical experience for viewers to engage with the design.
The book showcases Juke Joint Slab as an African American ecomusicology typeface and manifesto, exploring the rich musical heritage of Mississippi’s African American communities. This interdisciplinary work integrates type, writing, and design to examine the connections between environment, society, and music. From the spirituals of enslaved Africans to the blues and gospel music born from the Delta’s struggles, Mississippi’s ecomusicology reflects a deep narrative of resilience, resistance, and creativity. The book highlights how the region’s natural landscape, socio-economic conditions, and cultural heritage have shaped musical traditions, affirming the lasting impact of African Americans on the evolution of American music and culture.
Category
Artist Book , Type Design
Year
2024
Collections
Artist Books Unshelved: Season 4 Feature
I was featured in an episode of the Bainbridge Museum of Art’s “Artists’ Books Unshelved” season 4 titled “If Letters Could Speak | Works by Erin Moore and Essence Enwere “ Narrated by Bainbridge curator & Book artist Yuka Petz. In the episode, Juke Joint is explained with reverence and analyzed on how this work fits into the broader scope of type & Black history.
Please support the museum & other artist Erin Moore by watching the full episode on YouTube
Prototypes & dummy books are a part of the book-making process, I get to test out different looks & narratives before committing to it. Even if I don’t choose it, the end result is always informing the work and evolving it.
