Sacred Herd
Jacob Gutierrez
11 ½ x 11 ⅝ wire-edge bound, 17 panels, Risograph print interior, woodblock print cover
Sacred Herd, a 34-page, wire-edge book, was conceived by Jacob Gutierrez during his 2025 Artist-in-Residence at Risolana. The risograph prints were produced by Jacob Gutierrez in Albuquerque, New Mexico, utilizing the Risograph SF5450 with Lead Printmaker, Carlos Iraham Gabaldon. The binding, which features the complex wire-edge hand-bound technique invented by master bookbinder Daniel Kelm, was executed with the support of Katrina Kiapos, Technical Co-Designer and Master Book Arts Mentor and assembled and sewed by Jacob Gutierrez with the support of Risolana friends and community members. The interior pages were printed on Mohawk Felt, Natural, 80# Text Paper, and each panel was wrapped in French Paper Speckletone Brown, 70# text and sewn with 18/3 Red Irish Linen Thread.
This is an edition of 25 prints with 10 copies hors commerce.
$375
ABOUT SACRED HERD
Coming from a desire to connect directly with the sacred animals he wanted to portray, artist Jacob Gutierrez spent seven months visiting ranchers and sheepherders around New Mexico and the Navajo Nation. His work documents the vital reciprocal relationship shared between humans and animals, exploring how generational knowledge, faith, and tradition ensure co-survival with the land.
By connecting the intimacy and hand of the woodblock with the responsiveness and feedback of the Risograph machine, Jacob evolved his printing craft over the course of this residency. Photographs taken during his travels were manually transferred and carved into woodblock prints that were then photographed and digitized into risograph prints. The final Risograph prints you see displayed here are the only current final representation of these original block prints, with the woodblock being presented as an artwork –– turning what was once an artistic process into a final product.
During his time at Risolana, Jacob explored the Risograph's ability to mix colors, digitally mixing values and layering inks to create the vibrant prints in Sacred Herd. His exploration demonstrates how the Risograph’s distinct color and texture elevate visual expression and fundamentally informed his artistic process.
As a Tintero, Printmaker, and Artist who appreciates the handwork and craftsmanship that goes into making an object, Jacob deliberately chose the wire-edge binding technique as a way to honor the animals in the book. The wire-edge binding method, specifically the engineering of the spine, allows each page to lay perfectly flat, prominently honoring the sacred beings. Sacred Herd, a 34-page, wire-edge book is an expression of Jacob’s love of craft and a memento of his experience with these sacred beings.
The wire-edge binding chosen to honor the sacred animals in the book created a natural constraint on the final production, limiting Risolana and Jacob to a small, fine art edition. In keeping with the spirit of reciprocity that guided the residency, Risolana and Jacob were happy to gift six copies of the book to each of the ranchers and sheepherders who originally invited Jacob into the profound relationship they share with animals.
While we acknowledge that Sacred Herd is not priced for the same wide accessibility as past Artist-in-Residence publications, this book was made with the intent of leaning into high-quality materials, respect for craft, and the technical dedication required for the production of this type of book. Our price is structured to recoup specialized production costs while still making the book somewhat affordable for individual collectors. We hope that the public recognizes this commitment to quality and the resulting book as unique artwork, and we request that institutions with the means reach out to offer support, either by purchasing the book for their permanent collection or through a dedicated donor acquisition. Thank you.
About Jacob and Risolana AIR.
Sacred Herd
Jacob Gutierrez
11 ½ x 11 ⅝ wire-edge bound, 17 panels, Risograph print interior, woodblock print cover
Sacred Herd, a 34-page, wire-edge book, was conceived by Jacob Gutierrez during his 2025 Artist-in-Residence at Risolana. The risograph prints were produced by Jacob Gutierrez in Albuquerque, New Mexico, utilizing the Risograph SF5450 with Lead Printmaker, Carlos Iraham Gabaldon. The binding, which features the complex wire-edge hand-bound technique invented by master bookbinder Daniel Kelm, was executed with the support of Katrina Kiapos, Technical Co-Designer and Master Book Arts Mentor and assembled and sewed by Jacob Gutierrez with the support of Risolana friends and community members. The interior pages were printed on Mohawk Felt, Natural, 80# Text Paper, and each panel was wrapped in French Paper Speckletone Brown, 70# text and sewn with 18/3 Red Irish Linen Thread.
This is an edition of 25 prints with 10 copies hors commerce.
$375
ABOUT SACRED HERD
Coming from a desire to connect directly with the sacred animals he wanted to portray, artist Jacob Gutierrez spent seven months visiting ranchers and sheepherders around New Mexico and the Navajo Nation. His work documents the vital reciprocal relationship shared between humans and animals, exploring how generational knowledge, faith, and tradition ensure co-survival with the land.
By connecting the intimacy and hand of the woodblock with the responsiveness and feedback of the Risograph machine, Jacob evolved his printing craft over the course of this residency. Photographs taken during his travels were manually transferred and carved into woodblock prints that were then photographed and digitized into risograph prints. The final Risograph prints you see displayed here are the only current final representation of these original block prints, with the woodblock being presented as an artwork –– turning what was once an artistic process into a final product.
During his time at Risolana, Jacob explored the Risograph's ability to mix colors, digitally mixing values and layering inks to create the vibrant prints in Sacred Herd. His exploration demonstrates how the Risograph’s distinct color and texture elevate visual expression and fundamentally informed his artistic process.
As a Tintero, Printmaker, and Artist who appreciates the handwork and craftsmanship that goes into making an object, Jacob deliberately chose the wire-edge binding technique as a way to honor the animals in the book. The wire-edge binding method, specifically the engineering of the spine, allows each page to lay perfectly flat, prominently honoring the sacred beings. Sacred Herd, a 34-page, wire-edge book is an expression of Jacob’s love of craft and a memento of his experience with these sacred beings.
The wire-edge binding chosen to honor the sacred animals in the book created a natural constraint on the final production, limiting Risolana and Jacob to a small, fine art edition. In keeping with the spirit of reciprocity that guided the residency, Risolana and Jacob were happy to gift six copies of the book to each of the ranchers and sheepherders who originally invited Jacob into the profound relationship they share with animals.
While we acknowledge that Sacred Herd is not priced for the same wide accessibility as past Artist-in-Residence publications, this book was made with the intent of leaning into high-quality materials, respect for craft, and the technical dedication required for the production of this type of book. Our price is structured to recoup specialized production costs while still making the book somewhat affordable for individual collectors. We hope that the public recognizes this commitment to quality and the resulting book as unique artwork, and we request that institutions with the means reach out to offer support, either by purchasing the book for their permanent collection or through a dedicated donor acquisition. Thank you.
About Jacob and Risolana AIR.
Image 1 of 11
Image 2 of 11
Image 3 of 11
Image 4 of 11
Image 5 of 11
Image 6 of 11
Image 7 of 11
Image 8 of 11
Image 9 of 11
Image 10 of 11
Image 11 of 11