In 1998 Keith Alexander did my first “shared” cutting. Nothing complex, even for the time. A simple XX111 on my wrist at the end of a whirlwind trip to NYC. After the last line was cut, he made two “bloodprints” by pressing paper towels to the cutting; one for me to take home and one for him to keep. Keith often made prints for his portfolio; each of us still with him in spirit (and blood) long after the cutting healed. He considered it much more personal than a photograph; a living connection to the people who wore his art.
Inspired by Spider Webb’s X1000 concept, he made our prints a little different than normal; 23 XX111s.
When I noticed the ghost of a twenty fourth 23 on one of the two prints, I asked Keith if he wanted to redo it. “Nah, I’ll just keep the good one. You can have the fuckup”. Always the asshole, but what can you do.
Keith Alexander- November 23, 1963 – July 11, 2005
Beautiful!
I have so many similar prints from my cutting days, always loved making prints from the blood, although those days are long behind me. But then I keep everything I can from all my mods… In little sealed bags. Odd one, I am.