"Cellar Roots" vol. 35
  EMU's Arts & Literature Journal
  Annual Anthology, 2005

Details: 
Release Date: 2006
Size: 9 x 6
Materials: Die-cut book, color cover, black and white interior with printed acetate sheets and found papers interspersed to create composite collage in window.

About this book:  (artist's statement)

Cellar Roots is Eastern Michigan University’s Arts and Literature Journal, of which Melissa served as Editor-in-Chief from 2005-2006. The idea behind the 35th anniversary edition was to create a book that linked the journal’s award-winning past works with that of current students, and future work by those who received the book. 

To achieve that goal, Melissa created a design loosely based on a timeline, prominently featuring a die-cut window through the entire book. Interspersed between the printed pages are acetate pages featuring work of past issues. By using acetate, there is a composite effect visible in the die-cut tunnel. The center pages feature “blank” walls for the reader to decorate with their own graffiti (be it visual or literary) and their own work of visual art can be included in the book to complete/individualize the composite window. (Readers used photographs, original pieces of art, leaves, etc). 

The ability for readers to interact with the book (as object) in a meaningful way by contributing to it in post-production was a central interest with this piece.