Justin Tuerk: Tales of Mystery and the Grotesque

When my cousin moved to Boston in August to start a stint at the SMFA, it was exciting to welcome a fellow Kutztownian to my adopted home, and to discover that we share a preference for dark beer; I have to admit that I didn’t realize the level at which he was working.

Since then, Jack and I have had a chance to share several beers, catch an opening reception, help with a film project, and see Justin in action—but his current project is my current favorite, and too stunning not to share.

Justin has a knack for screen printing, to put it mildly. Tales of Mystery and the Grotesque is a collection of screen printed images based upon the short stories of Edgar Allan Poe. The level of detail visible on your screen does not do these pieces justice; look closely for the ivory damask in the background of “The Fall of the House of Usher” (top).

Though he’s just finishing the third piece in the series, the collection—and the final book—will include 10 prints representing 10 stories in all. In the first week of December, the book will be available in a softcover, perfect bound open edition, and a limited hardcover edition of 15, drum leaf bound and comprised of the hand pulled screen prints.

Justin is sharing both printing and binding updates on the project on instagram and tumblr. Check out more work in his portfolio, and stay tuned for more—it’s going to be gorgeous.

Happy Haunting!

image credits: Justin Tuerk, 1-The Fall of the House of Usher, 2-The Premature Burial, 3-The Cask of Amontillado