B E A U T Y B E F O R E M E
Each book includes a set of three notecards
The book begins here
Peace
When we become aware of the beauty in our world, we become more peaceful.
With an open heart and mind, we can find beauty in the way things are—however they are.
We can feel gratitude, and be forgiving, loving, and peaceful with others.
When enough of us decide that peace is what we want, peace is what we'll have.
To do that, we need to study and practice peace.
B E A U T Y B E F O R E M E
Beauty Before Me brings together photographs of nature and classic Native American texts, creating a thought provoking work for anyone interested in the allegorical beauty
of nature, and in practicing heart centered connection, love, and peace.
This limited edition was created as the full artistic vision for the book. The book block
is completely accordion folded, and comes inside its own clamshell box, enclosed with vintage Native American trading beads. Each page pulls the next one open, and all the pages are connected, symbolizing the way we are all ultimately connected.
It's fragility symbolizes the way the best relationships include vulnerability, thoughtfulness, and tenderness.
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The photographs span my career and were made on the east and west
coasts of the United States. While some of the images began with digital capture,
I made most of the images in this book on some form of Polaroid or Kodak film. I used various Polaroid cameras, as well as my 35mm Nikon FM2, and 4X5 inch
Graflex Crown Graphic from the 1930’s. Most of the images were printed in France
by the Atelier Fresson, using a vintage process begun in 1899. The entire process
is chemical free and produces subtle pointillist tonalities that last forever. Those prints were carefully reproduced and printed on a traditional offset press, and the books were finished by hand. Making this book has been a true labor of love.
I made it the way I really wanted to, and I let it evolve as it felt right.
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I've always admired the depth that the Native Americans, and other
indigenous cultures, seem to stand for. They pause before they speak—they listen
and consider all sides. They let the wisdom of nature guide them, and listen for
that. They cut right through. I've always admired the way the best of them seem
to do that. They seem wise and caring and loving. They seem to be searching
for the best solutions for everyone beyond just themselves—and they know that
we are all connected, so there is that grace and comfort in being in this life together. That's what I see..... what is the right action... what choices are there...
what has heart and meaning.​
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Beauty Before Me has been many years in the making, and I'm excited to
share it with you. I was originally inspired to make the book in honor of earth
day, as a celebration of our beautiful earth.
Over the years it's grown into more than that. I'm asking myself, and all of us,
to truly go inside ourselves and question our motivations, actions, reactions, thoughts, judgments..... and rethink them based more on love and peace and connection. Life is about our relationships—with ourselves and each other,
the animals, and the earth.
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I want the reader to really stop and sit and be with this book—take your time
and really take to heart its messages. One by one, healing and understanding start from inside each of us.
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I grew up a child of the 60s and 70s, and connection came naturally to us
then, as we sought to expand our minds together, mostly through a shared love
for the music of the time. This book is from my heart and soul. I've walked with
faith when all seemed lost, and followed my intuition the whole way, through
joy, loss, and tears....... and still, beauty remains. I choose to love anyway.
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I hope you find Beauty Before Me inspiring. My wish is for all of us to truly
see the beauty that surrounds us.
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"I love your book!!! It's beautiful, just like you!" —Frances Fisher
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"I will treasure it forever. It’s so breathtaking." —Tracey Ross
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"Hello Deborah! Thank you so much for your wonderful book!
It's amazing!" —Jean Francois Fresson
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"I love the texture and sequence and the accordion foldout format. Thank you so much for sharing this with me and the world." —Bonnie Raitt
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"It is beyond gorgeous!" —David Christopher Salvatore​​​​
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"I've never seen anything like it. It's so respectful. Thank you."
—Alfred and Gray Wolf
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Symbolism in Beauty Before Me
Beauty Before Me begins with classic Diné text about
walking with beauty all around us. Finding beauty everywhere
is followed by the concept of studying and practicing peace.
The first ocean image represents a peace flag blowing in the
wind. The following images are color fields of the ocean taking
us out of our day to day reality and into the beauty of color,
and then to spirits of light over the ocean.
The book continues with “I Sang” about hope, power, and
love in singing, and the song floating on the sun’s rays. Images
of wildflowers nourished by the sun follow.
“Two Wolves” is the famous proverb about the dark and
light that exists in each of us, and how we choose which one
we feed. In the back of the book this is discussed a little more.
The next image contains both dark and light. After that, with
two images of palm trees, the question I am posing is
whether one wants to go with the crowd of trees on the left,
or think for oneself with the single tree on the right. Either
decision may be correct depending on the choice one makes
and the circumstances. The idea is to make up one’s own
mind and choose for oneself.
Now we head into the sepia section, and heart of the
book, with thoughts and images related to our emotions.
Compassionate wishes accompany “Silence.” Images follow
about relationships and connection with ourselves and others.
“The Circle” is about unity and understanding each other
and how that starts small and grows. Flowers illustrate the
concept with the shape of the spiral and then the bud to rose
to group of roses young and old.
A blood red section continues as “The First Peace” speaks
about how the same spirit is inside each of us, and the red tulip
images illustrate myriad forms and moods of love and spirit.
“Mother Sing Me A Song” is a healing prayer about
maternal nurturing and empathetic energy. The image that
follows represents a young and unformed child. Following that
are images representing blossoming and connection with others.
The power of the universe comes to us when we connect our
minds and hearts in unity. “Friend Do It This Way” is about doing
our best with this. The flowers opposite the text represent the
heart and mind integrated together. Images following represent
both realizing our expansion and feeling our pain.
There is beauty in it all.
With “The Wise Man” we revisit the concept of silence. This
time we contemplate the storms of existence inside ourselves
and consider silence as a cornerstone of character. We can
meditate to become comfortable with silence and the concept
of pausing, breathing, and checking in with oneself before
responding with love. Pictures of clouds over the ocean represent
the storms and the clear night skies represent the calm.
With “Let Us Know Peace” we come full circle with a prayer
for peace.
A portion of the proceeds from this book will be donated to support peaceful
people and a peaceful, sustainable planet
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Donations have been made to The Organic Consumers Association,
in support of the transition to an organic, regenerative food and farming system
that respects nature, workers, and animals, and produces healthy food.
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Donations have also been made to Rory Kennedy's Climate Emergency Fund,
in support of climate activism around the world.
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For more information, please contact studio@deborahfrankel.com
or call 310-457-2875
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​Limited Edition of 200 ​
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96 Page Accordion Fold
Housed in a Clamshell Box
53 Photographs — 10 Texts
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Offset Printed on Munken Polar Rough 170gsm — Hand Finished
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Nettuno 215gsm Endpaper — Cialinen Bookcloth
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10.5 x 9 x 2.5 inches
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$1,000