As we continue to build our collections of print items from Mexico, we come occasionally come across some unique small fine press publications that we selectively purchase for our Main restricted cage for building use circulation only. I was fortunate to meet with Nacho Gomez- the artist and illustrator and his wife who run a print house, “Gráfica de Comala,” in Guadalajara. I was also lucky to acquire for UC Berkeley three of his latest works. In 2006, UNESCO designated the agave landscape and ancient industrial facilities of Tequila in the state of Jalisco as a World Heritage Site. In the book below, the artist shows the process of making tequila from the blue agave in ten scenes, imaginatively suggesting that the agave flies (El Vuelo) from the earth to the distillery.
- Tequila: El Vuelo del Mezcal Azul por el Paisaje Agavero Patromonio Mundial Unesco
Vidargas, Francisco
Guadalajara: Gráfica de Comala, 2019. Illustrated with original engravings by Nacho Gómez Arriola. Limited edition. Stiff card. 4to. Text is 18pp letterpress, plus covers, illustrated with Nacho’s linocuts in colors, and bound into a blue paper portfolio with a printed label on the upper board, printed titles on spine and rear board, blue ribbon marker. Within the portfolio is a card enclosure containing 10 finely printed loose plates each illustrating part of the story of the change of blue agave into tequila. Each plate has a linocut engraving printed in colors and is signed by the artist at the bottom. One of 60 copies printed on paper handmade from the blue agave fibers.
2. Los Cultivos Originarios y la Cocina Tradicional Mexicana
De la Borbolla, Sol Rubín
Guadalajara: Taller Grafica de Comala, 2019. Illustrated by Nacho Gómez Arriola. Limited edition. Hardcover. Folio. 12pp
