Voice is a unique book created by Timothy C. Ely. In their respective publications both Abby Schoolman and Johnna Drucker recognize Ely’s works as having a particular sort of power akin to an aura. The cover and two-page spreads of this book establish a sort of mystical antiquity that lingers after the last page. Although it has relatively few pages, its content is complex and powerful and is elevated by the substantial paper and size. The colors, predominately earthy with a heavy use of ochre, are interspersed with bright reds and blues atop select pages dominated by greyscale. Each page spread is full and brimming with possibility. Some sections are geometric and compact while others are organic and vast. Ely utilizes a “language-like drawing” called cribriform which amplifies the alchemical feel that his work exudes. This drawing, combined with the landscapes and the intricacies of each spread, creates something that begs to be investigated and understood. Ely states “I have always liked the persistent idea that my work is occluded.” This is evident in the pages of Voice where layers upon layers of meaning can be derived from the images, but nothing is present that guarantees the veracity of these interpretations. Perhaps the desire to understand is enough because that is all that is possible: “Personal transformation is secret,” Ely says, “and even our attempts to reveal what goes on within the self are often, or always, beyond words.”
Having collected many of Ely’s books, Bloch notes that she was drawn to his work in part because of his complete involvement in the artistry and craftsmanship of the book. The pages are covered in layers of ink and modified pigments that he carefully develops. His bindings are delicately engineered to allow the book to function at its best. His innovative and imaginative style is completely unlike other works being produced today and is likened by Schoolman to the manuscript books of the monastic tradition. This comparison is particularly apt when considering the power and skill that goes into producing one of these unique books.
