ANNOUNCING “OLD STATE ROAD” – award winning poems by Jason Gerrish with photography from Brad Daulton

I am woefully behind in announcing Jason Gerrish’s exceptional and peerless book OLD STATE ROAD. I am so far behind, because I have been struggling mightily to do it justice. I have felt strongly that this book requires an announcement that approximates the elegance, refinement, and uncompromising commitment to as pure and unadulterated an artistic aesthetic as I have come across in my 40+ years in publishing. This is just such a good book and on so many levels. The poems are the product of an artist, two artists – poet and photographer – who clearly know how to coerce beauty into words and images with patience and passion and finely-honed tradecraft.

Jason Gerrish’ poem, Cello Suite, is included in this book. Cello Suite is the winner of UnCollected Press’ Charles Bukowski Prize for Poetry. The contest was gratifying for the editors at UnCollected Press/The Raw Art review because of the numbers and the quality of the entries. There were so many good poems to read. Cello Suite emerged from the many exceptional poems as the most moving, artfully wrought and important poem that we read. It is entirely possible, I still do not know after reading the book many times, that Cello Suite, may not be the best poem of the bunch. There are a lot of other poems that shift, unsettle, and move me at my core. I go back to individual poems as they return to my memory while washing dishes, or reading something else, or nuzzling my pup, or walking on the Trolley Trail. I go back to Jason Gerrish’ poems all the time. I remember them often, individually – a poem must be powerful and impactful – a searing radiance in the dark background – for that to happen so often.

The poems are juxtaposed and balanced, appearing in counterpoint with the equally fine and moving photography of Brad Daulton. Brad Daulton’s photos, like Jason Gerrish’s poems, are individually fine works of art. They are also the product of an artist opening himself to the depths of understanding for inspiration. Brad Daulton’s photos find that thing – the largely indescribable thing at the heart of a moving piece of art. And, like Jason, Brad has the expert tradecraft skills to transform his discoveries into artwork, photos, that are breathtaking in their artistic expression.

In OLD STATE ROAD, each poem, and each photo stands firmly on its own as a sublimely finished work of art. Every poem and every photo also have been integrated into a book that articulates dazzling beauty, forceful impact and penetrating import, and perhaps that most evasive of achievements, true relevance – pure meaning. Poems and photos alternate, and the counterpoint and contrast, juxtaposition and compliment, work beautifully in harmony.

We are including in our announcement the back cover image, so that you can read what some of the finest artist-editors out there have said about this book. Hopefully, we can all convince you to buy OLD STATE ROAD and to experience this rare and shining work of art.

PLEASE NOTE: Because this book demanded the best of materials, it has been printed on very fine cover stock and coated paper. In addition to the refinement of the artistic creations, UCP/RAR has selected materials for printing that are an attempt to do the refinement of the artwork justice.