Pyre: A New Handmade Artist Book by Aaron Parrett and Seth Roby

BOOK RELEASE brought to you by Aaron Parret and Seth Roby Myrna Loy Grants to Artists recipients! The evening will feature an opportunity to meet the artists, listen to some of the written works, view the original work, and purchase limited-edition books, prints, posters, and other handmade printed ephemera. The culmination of more than five years of collaboration, Pyre is an exquisitely crafted artist book that combines traditional printmaking, letterpress printing, and hand bookbinding into a single unified work. Every volume has been individually printed, hand sewn, and assembled by the artists, reflecting hundreds of hours of planning, carving, printing, binding, and even burning to create an object that is as much a work of art as it is a book. Pyre features 12 original lithographs paired with 10 poems printed from hand-set lead type, all bound together in a limited-edition artist book. The project draws inspiration from the increasingly familiar realities of the contemporary American West: smoke-filled Montana summers, record-breaking temperatures, prolonged drought, and the visible effects of climate change on the landscape. Through the interplay of image and poetry, Parrett and Roby explore themes of transformation, impermanence, loss, and resilience, inviting readers to reflect on humanity’s evolving relationship with the natural world. The title Pyre evokes both destruction and renewal—a place where endings give rise to beginnings. This duality is woven throughout the book, where carefully crafted prints and poems examine fire not only as a force of devastation but also as one of regeneration and change. The October 13 release offers visitors a chance to experience the craftsmanship behind the publication and speak directly with the artists about the collaborative process. Alongside the limited-edition copies of Pyre, a selection of prints, posters, broadsides, and other handcrafted printed works will also be available for purchase. The event is free and open to the public. Come celebrate a burned book with us.