The Immaculate Collection / The Rhododendron and Camellia Year Book (1966)

Whimsy and nostalgia, beauty and heartache, joy and sorrow merge gracefully in author/artist Rob Gray’s ambitious creation from University of Hell Press. This colorful, experimental collection offers two manuscripts back-to-back, encouraging readers to continue along on an infinite loop. The collection is also accompanied by the author’s own original watercolor paintings and drawings.

The Immaculate Collection offers poems created through experimental and chance processes, incorporating found and altered text (source texts include old books and catalogs about flowers, found handwritten notes, social media posts, canonized literature and art) with original writing, accompanied by a series of ink portraits originally created on hotel stationery. The Rhododendron and Camellia Year Book (1966) is a collection of original poetry accompanied by watercolor painted portraits. Throughout this exploration, Gray’s conceit is mischievous, his language vibrant, his art beautiful. Readers will find that consuming these unique offerings is a sweet sensory experience.

Various artists, writers, and humans inspired Gray’s work: Édouard Levé, Madonna, Truman Capote, Eileen Myles, Martin Kippenberger, Alice Notely, Ariana Reines, Mary Ruefle, Jorge Carrera Andrade, Luna Miguel, CA Conrad, Kelly Schirmann, Tyler Brewington, Marvin Asino, Anne Waldman, Ted Berrigan, Shelia Heti, Wong May, The Luniz, Mica Levi, Queen Elizabeth II, The Full Life All Stars, The Dimsummer Book Club, and the poetry/performance/art community in Portland, Oregon.