|
written & bound
by Alex Appella
Illustrations
from "Pinturas Españolas Románicas"
XI-XIII Centuries
published by UNESCO in 1962
 |
Each
letter of the alphabet stands for a place the author has known. The illustrations reflect the descriptive text under each letter. |
|
The
accordion construction has no spine support, and is connected to the covers
by the first and last page of the accordion that binds the 26 letters
together..
|
 |
 |
"Atomic
City Population 25." |
|
Single Copy, bound in
2003 by Alex Appella.
Not for sale. |
 |
|
©2003,
Transient Books |
 |
TO READ THE PAGES, SCROLL DOWN. EACH LETTER OF THE ALPHABET IS A PLACE THE AUTHOR HAS KNOWN. TO LEARN THE COUNTRIES EACH PLACE RESIDES WITHIN, ROLL OVER THE PHOTOS. | |
 |
A
|
Atomic City-Neon café signs, Dinosaur Ruins, a cape of Nuclear Faith floating on chain link fences. Population 25. |
 |
B
|
Buenos Aires-A landing once with Rick, re-entry point 5 years later, taxi drivers on cocaine, retired butchers on the bus, Sumo on the train. Population 12-14 million. |
 |
C
|
Córdoba-The familiar wheel, deal, noise and bonos. Magu born in a taxi. Population 2 million. |
 |
D
|
D.F.-Los Olvidados de Tenotichtlán, chilango, che, the water drunk from underneath, the cathedral is sinking. Air breathable for 4.25 days. Exemplary metro. Population 20 million. |
 |
E
|
Erongarícuaro-Puréhpecha, watch, consider. El socio the mule, the corn fields, the dogs at night. A carnival came through. Population <1,000. |
 |
F
|
Flores-10 dollars lost in the market. Population 10,000. |
 |
G
|
Guaymas-Waited through days of extreme heat before admitting our empty pockets pushed us north. Population 130,000. |
 |
H
|
Hermosillo-All night in the bus station next to the Virgin of Guadalupe. Joyous to be on the road, time dissolved. Population 600,000. |
 |
I
|
Icho Cruz-A home, a river, a dirt road, a garden, a horse, a yuyo serrano. Population 1,000. |
 |
J
|
Juneau-Thanksgiving dinner of the orphans at Rick's house, don't go out on Halloween. Population 30,000. |
 |
K
|
Ketchikan-The INS office. Population 8,000. |
 |
L
|
Latacunga-The Orphanage is a small help in a giant abandon. Population 56,000. |
 |
M
|
Matagalpa-Underground cosmetics salesmen, a Norwegian nurse on vacation, violence in the shadows can be walked around, but not unseen. Population 70,000. |
 |
N
|
fort Nelson-Fog, rain, the Subaru, a warm hotel, a hot shower, and coffee in the morning. Population 4,500. |
 |
O
|
Omoa-The Swiss man brought his life over in a container. The Caribbean constant behind Mitch's broom. Population <1,000. |
 |
P
|
Panama-The last central American border we did not do. Population 2.8 million. |
 |
Q
|
Quito-Experienced with crazy professor friend and 18 displaced Alaskans. Population 2 million. |
 |
R
|
The Redwoods-Perspective. Population less than it should be. |
 |
S
|
San Francisco-The potluck of the possible. It seems. Population 1 million. |
 |
T
|
Tijuana-A doorway of prostitutes, drugs, cheap tequila, savage gringos, no one ever meant to stay there. Population 1 million. |
 |
U
|
Umatilla Indian Reservation-Cowboys, Indians, A current of golden then green then not hills. Pretty blankets that don't cover a thing. Population 3,000. |
 |
V
|
Valle de Tlacolula-Zapotec market tapestry older than Christ, kite fliers, scorpions, grandmothers that enjoy a beer together first thing every morning in the center of town. Population constant. |
 |
W
|
Wallowa-Alex born in a living room. Married in an aunt's house. The idea of a different American option over a sad displacement. Population 800. |
 |
X
|
oaXaca-The balance of invasion and survival. Population 500,000. |
 |
Y
|
Yukon-Yellow trees, one-eyed wolves, bearded men hunch together in the taverns and so do we. Population 30,000 |
 |
Z
|
Zacatecas-Mining fatigues man and earth. Population 120,000. |