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Coleen Curry

@book.thug

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Contemporary Design Binder, Book Artist, Leather Dyer

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Two new books being introduced at Codex. Here is a sneak peak - Quest for love has leather covers dyed by Coleen Curry @book.thug - will post pictures soon @codexfoundation #artistsbooks come see me at table 143-B by @book.thug

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8 months ago

Quest for love Artist Book by Insiya Dhatt
Cover design and leather dyeing by Coleen Curry @book.thug
Quest for Love is a non-linear set of three books that explores different aspects of love through the traditional Urdu ghazal form. This project brings together the verses of three Urdu masters—Mirza Ghalib, Momin Khan Momin, and Mir Taqi Mir—to examine the journey of longing, memory, and surrender.
This work is a collaboration with Coleen Curry.

The Three Volumes
Ain (ع) — Mirza Ghalib (1797–1869): Focuses on the “Eye” and the initial vision of desire through the ghazal “Dil-e-nādāñ tujhe huā kyā hai?”.
Sheen (ش) — Momin Khan Momin (1800–1851): Explores intensity and memory through the ghazal “Tumheñ yād ho ki na yād ho”.
Qaaf (ق) — Mir Taqi Mir (1723–1810): Represents Qalb (The Heart) and the final state of surrender through the ghazal “Faqīrānah ā’e sadā kar chale”.

Each volume is bound using an exposed pamphlet stitch with Hanji flyleaves. Hand-dyed calf leather with treated calf-suede doublures, uniquely finished by Coleen Curry. I gold foil stamped the covers with a single Urdu letter: Ain (ع), Sheen (ش), and Qaaf (ق). Together, these letters spell the word “Ishq” (Passionate Love).
Text and intricate Islamic patterns are laser etched and cut into Hahnemühle Ingres paper using a Fusion Laser.
Urdu is a linguistic tapestry that blends Persian and Arabic script with the phonetic sounds of Sanskrit. Historically spoken by Southeast Asian Muslims, it is a language uniquely capable of expressing the complex, personal notes of the human heart.
The box is a custom wood laser-etched box designed and created by the artist
Right-to-Left (RTL) orientation to honor the Urdu script #artistsbooks #papercutouts by @book.thug

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6 months ago

Quest for love - a look inside! #Artistsbooks #artistsbooks #bookarts #papercutouts @book.thug by @book.thug

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6 months ago

by @book.thug

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8 months ago

Covers for CODEX 2026. @insiyadhatt @book.thug #leatherdyeing #love by @book.thug

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9 months ago

by @book.thug

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a year ago

A huge thank you to Coleen Curry, of @book.thug and AUT for welcoming us into the Bindery for the Hidden Magnets workshop. Over two full days, we explored, shared, and learned together — a chance to dive deep into craft, technique, and connection. Grateful for the space, the conversations, and the creative energy that carried through every moment. by @book.thug

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a year ago

Very grateful to have attended the leather dyeing and surface techniques workshop by Coleen Curry @book.thug, over the weekend on Gadigal Country. I am looking forward to putting these techniques to good use!
^
All made possible by @andersensbindery and the facilities @nswbookbinders
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Thank you for your generosity and expertise. I look forward to seeing you all again!
🙏🏼📚🤩 by @book.thug

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a year ago

‘Five Poems’ is the only published book of Toni Morrison’s poetry. The book printed by Peter Koch and Published by Rainmaker Editions in 2002 is super special as the illustrations are photo images printed from photo-polymer plates of Kara Walker’s amazing sihoulettes.

As the winner of the 9th Helen Warren DeGolyer I was honored to have been able to bind this signed copy no. 79 for the Bridwell Library in Dallas.
My design inspiration was fueled by Morrison’s poems and her engagement with the themes and ideas at the forefront: love, mortality, empowerment, and the complex relationship between women and desire. In particular, the poem ‘Eve Remembering’, has a dream-like, non-linear feel and cherishes memories of lost innocence with choice words such as ‘lost its green’, ‘fire red’, and ‘I bit sweet power to the core’. My chosen palette of reds, gold and greens gives rise to love, energy, and female empowerment.
The full calfskin binding is sewn on linen cord wit laced-on boards and calfskin edge-to-edge hinged doublures. The leather is undyed vegetable tanned fair calfskin from J Hewit & Sons and hand-dyed in multiple layers using a variety of techniques. Palette predominantly green, red, and gold tones. Altered image transfers of portions of Walker’s silhouettes, and a selection of Morrison’s poems in my handwriting. Gold leaf, 24 carat gold foil and bronze foil applied, sanded and burnished. Final embossing using a laser etched acrylic plate. ‘FIVE POEMS’ hand titled in gold leaf ‘Chinois’ style down the spine. 33cm x 22cm. Original cover and slipcase housed in clamshell box with binding.
#bridwelllibrary, #leatherdyeing, #designbinding, #tonimorrison, #karawalker taken in Bridwell Library by @book.thug

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a year ago

Nothing beats gold leaf! Titling complete on ‘Five Poems’, a book of Toni Morrison’s poetry with silhouettes by Kara Walker. #leatherdying #designbinding #americanacademyofbookbinding #bridwellartlibrary #tonimorrison #karawalker #goldleaf by @book.thug

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a year ago

Absolutely loved the old tile cobblestone streets in Old San Juan Puerto Rico #streettexture by @book.thug

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a year ago

Low tide at Muir💗#muirbeach by @book.thug

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