HNH 1980: Leaves of Grass Pillow

2006, fabric, thread, stuffing, poem from
1980 Signet edition of Leaves of Grass
Each pillow varies. Approximately 11 x 5 x 3-1/2 inches

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1980 marks the 125th year anniversary of the publication of Leaves of Grass, Walt Whitman’s starry collection of poems celebrating “urbana Americana.”

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For this occasion, artist Catarina Leitão collaborates with Humanitarians Not Heroes to make a special edition of grass pillows, each individually containing a poem from Leaves of Grass, inserted with the stuffing. So rest easy and symbolically, knowing that

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Not till the sun excludes you, do I exclude you;

Not till the waters refuse to glisten for you,
and the leaves to rustle for you, do my words

refuse to glisten and rustle for you