28" tall by 13" wide
2002

"This is an IRIS print, one of a kind, no others in existence, signed and approved by Chris Ware. It is simply called "Untitled" from 2002."

"It was the centerpiece of a major American Comic Exhibition that toured seven cities from 2002 to 2005. The image was originally reproduced on two floors of the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, towering over 20 feet. When the exhibition ('RAW, BOILED, & COOKED') became a major hit, it was decided it would tour the country, and went to seven major American cities. This "stairwell piece" was reproduced in different sizes for each stop on adhesive vinyl. In each case, when the show was over, the piece came down in strips, torn to shreds, not worth saving. The exhibition was spoken of very highly in the Wall Street Journal, New York Times, the Washington Post, Baltimore Sun, San Francisco Chronicle, SF Examiner, Chicago Tribune, etc. and the image was reproduced in many of these same papers on the front pages of their respective Arts sections. It also received a two page spread in full color in the book "Raw, Boiled, and Cooked: Comics on the Verge," from Last Gasp"

"It was created specifically for the museum exhibition called "Raw, Boiled, and Cooked," which ran for three months at Yerba Buena Center for the Arts in San Francisco. The exhibition drew in over 50,000 visitors at this venue alone, all of who saw this piece two stories high, printed in vinyl in the stairwell of the museum. It was the third largest grossing exhibition in their ten year history at the time, only beaten by Star Wars and something else ;) The exhibition went on to a National Tour and hundreds of thousands more saw it in other forms, all in vinyl, all ripped to shreds when pulled down."

"After everything was over I asked Chris if we could do a permanent version of this piece. It is an IRIS print, in my book, a good step above a giclee. I worked between the printer and Chris trying several differnt things to make sure the color was absolutely right, and when Chris saw the final piece, he said that the color was superb, where and how did i have it printed? He was absolutely floored. He approved it 100% as to the quality that he is known for and he's known for sending books back to the printers multiple times until they get it right."

"He signed and dated it in the lower right corner. Their is no other full color reproduction of this print. This is it. I destroyed the plates this was printed from myself. A 1 of a kind IRIS print signed by Chris Ware. The only other version of this I know of is the original pencil drawing, which sold at a private gallery here in San Francisco for double digits."

"It features the life of one woman, told as she progresses down the central stairwell of an old apartment building and thru the years of her life. Starting at the top as an infant, you see the woman's quiet introspection of how her life has advanced as she reflects over missed opportunities, puberty, romance, loneliness, dissappointments and veiled racism. Her tale, told simply in an inventive panel layout, ends with her as an old woman at the bottom. I find it to be an absolutely moving story that showcases Chris Ware at his finest. The idea behind the strip is based upon an old Charles Forbell newspaper strip,which can be found in it's original form in the Smithsonian Book of Newspaper Comics."

"The piece has been printed on 100% archival quality paper and inks, with UV glass, archival and acid free matting and framing supplies. It is absolute Museum Quality and has been well cared for."

"The Image Area measures 11 1/4" by 24 1/2" The total area measures 30 3/4" by 17 3/4"

Second Listing Details

"In order to have a permanent one made, I took it upon myself to ask Chris if we could do this. He said yes, and I immediately took the original to a place that does IRIS printing, which is a very high tech procedure to transfer an image by means of a very fast rotating drum spraying inks by computer onto any surface. I choose a heavy stock, UHF resistant, with color last inks on REEVES BFK watercolor paper."

"Of course my primary concern was the color because everyone knows how much of a stickler Mr Ware is about color. ;) After several tries, I finally got what I thought was as close to perfect color as there was ever gonna be and sent it off nervously to Chris for his approval. Not only did he approve he was FLOORED by the color! Asking by what method did i achieve such gorgeous and true color to his piece, i told him about the IRIS process and he signed it."

"I told myself I would never sell this unless something important came up in my life that I needed to have money for in order to embark upon the endeavor whatever it may be. Well, that time has come. Chris, if you see this, please forgive me, or drop me a line to find out what has come up that i must sell this." It is printed on archival Reeves BFK Watercolor paper with color-fast inks, guaranteed to hold original color for at least 20-30 years!

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