Research Catalog

Title

$144 a month : life in the safety net / Steve Bogira ; photographs by Mike Tappin.

Author

Bogira, Steve

Publication

Chicago : Sherwin Beach Press, 1993.

Items in the Library & Off-site

Details

Additional Authors

• Tappin, Mike
• McCamant, Bob
• Chiplis, Martha
• Hammer, Trisha
• Sherwin Beach Press, publisher.

Description

8 unnumbered pages, 20 pages, 8 unnumbered pages : illustrations; 24 x 33 cm

Summary

"This powerful and poignant book, written in 1983, and first published in the Chicago Reader, is the story of people living, or trying to live, on General Assistance, a now-discontinued Illinois program that was the last resort of those who did not qualify for other 'more genreous' forms of welfare. Each person developed a personal strategy to circumvent the system and get by on the state allotment of $144 a month. Many turned to Marillac House, a settlement house on the West Side of Chicago, for emergency food and clothing. Author Bogira does a remarkable job of getting his subjects to tell their own stories. The book also contains four portraits by hotographer Mike Tappin. The pictures reinforce the sense of dignity felt in the subject's words. Selected as one of 48 books exhibited in 'Dressing the Text' at the Art Museum of Santa Cruz County. Also selected as one of 44 books exhibited in the book design section of Felice Feliciano in Verona, Italy"--Provided by bookseller, Kelmscott Bookshop.

Alternative Title

One-hundred forty-four dollars a month

Subjects

• Welfare recipients > Illinois > Chicago
• Poverty in art
• Public welfare > Illinois > Chicago
• Artists' books > Illinois > Chicago > 1993

Genre/Form

Artists' books – Illinois – Chicago – 1993.

Note

• "Originally published 1983 by the Chicago Reader."--Title page verso.
• "This is number ... of an edition limited to 200. The photographs were printed in duotone lithography by Rohner Printing of Chicago. The body type is Century Expanded cast by M & H of San Francisco. Drop caps are foundry Egyptian Bold Condensed of unknown provenance. The title page was set on the Macintosh in Egyptian Bold Condensed from Alphabets, Inc. and Adobe Century Schoolbook, and printed from photopolymer plates. The paper is Johannot. The book was designed by Robert McCamant, handset and printed by Martha Chiplis, and bound by Trisha Hammer."--Colophon.
• Signatures sewn onto leather thongs which are laced through handmade paper covers. Title letterpress printed on the front. Front and back pastedowns printed with frayed cheesecloth.

Call Number

Rare Books+ 20-988

LCCN

00526093

OCLC

36094392

Author

Bogira, Steve, author.

Title

$144 a month : life in the safety net / Steve Bogira ; photographs by Mike Tappin.

Publisher

Chicago : Sherwin Beach Press, 1993.

Type of Content

text

Type of Medium

unmediated

Type of Carrier

volume

Local Note

Copy in Rare Books+ 20-988 is no. 6 of 200 copies.

Connect to:

Request access to this item in the Schwarzman Rare Books Collection

Added Author

Tappin, Mike, photographer.

McCamant, Bob, artist.

Chiplis, Martha, printer.

Hammer, Trisha, binder.

Sherwin Beach Press, publisher.

Research Call Number

Rare Books+ 20-988