Rage
Rage is a collaboration between IBé Crawley and Sarah Matthews that confronts the ongoing moral injustices experienced by women of color through handmade paper, letterpress printing, and book arts. Over three months, they created handmade paper at Pyramid Atlantic, followed by an intensive week of letterpress printing to bring the work to life. The project culminates in three flag books—each housed in a unique, variable box—forming a collective call for awareness, remembrance, and accountability.
Recording the Red: They Never Intended Us to Survive
A title flag book that reflects Ida B. Wells’ lifelong commitment to social conscience and public service. It was created to remember women whose lives were taken without due process or equal protection—from Lizzie Jackson in 1885 to contemporary figures such as Sandra Bland, Breonna Taylor, and Sonya Massey.
Yell, Kick, & Scream. Fight Back. Or They Will Say We Enjoyed It
This book was created to remember women whose lives were taken through domestic violence and intimate partner murder, including Olympic athletes Rebecca Cheptegei, Agnes Tirop, and Damaris Mutua. It also brings forward the stories of Andrea Ruiz, who repeatedly sought help before her life was taken in 2021, and Keishla Rodríguez Ortiz, a 27-year-old pregnant woman killed by former boxer Félix Verdejo Sánchez.
I Want To Live My Life Alive
A call to action urging society to uphold equal protection under the law. It stands as a plea for empathy, accountability, and care—an insistence that the lives of women of color be valued and protected.
Inspired by Ida B. Wells’ Red Record, Rage amplifies both historic and contemporary examples of justice denied. Created at Pyramid Atlantic Art Center in Hyattsville, MD, this body of work uses the physical presence of handmade paper, the weight of printed text, and the individuality of each box to stand as both a memorial and a demand for meaningful change.
IBe’ Bulinda Hereford Crawley (b. 1959, Danville, VA) creates artist books, sculptures, and prints centered on women of color, girls, and their communities, exploring freedom, resilience, and humanity. Drawing on archival research, her work combines storytelling with materials like marble, wood, paper, and clay. She founded the IBe’ Arts Institute in a renovated 1830s school to preserve her work and support future generations. Notable projects include In the Wake of the Landing, Delia Posey, and The Day of Jubilee. Crawley’s exhibitions and residencies (2004–2024) reflect her dedication to visual narrative and preserving Black histories. ibearts.org
Sarah Matthews (b. 1977, New York, NY) explores race, equality, and gender through layered prints and artist books, challenging stereotypes and highlighting social injustice. Drawing from her experiences as an African-American, her work celebrates the intelligence, beauty, and value of all individuals. A skilled printmaker and book artist, Matthews holds an MA in Art & the Book, an MBA, and a BS in Sociology. Her work is included in major collections, including the National Museum of African American History & Culture Library and Yale’s Beinecke Library. She also teaches Artist Books at MICA and other institutions. iamsarahmatthews.com
Variable edition of 6.
Books - 4.25” W x 12.5” H x 1” D (closed)
Box - 5” W x 13” H x 3.25 D”
