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News Release
Aug. 23, 2006
Boise State University English professor Tom Trusky has created a limited-edition book, "PolygamyLand," that explores his visits to polygamous communities in Utah and Arizona. "PolygamyLand," which Trusky describes as a "panorama book," is 16 1/2-foot long continuously printed accordion fold book of his photographs and captions. Photos and captions appear on one side of the unfolded text block, while the reverse side contains information about Fundamentalist Latter-day Saints printed atop screened layers of various sized Deseret alphabet letterforms. The alphabet was created by and for early members of the Latter-day Saints Church and has not been in use since the 1870s. The book’s inspiration comes from Trusky’s decades-long fascination with polygamy in the West. During a visit to Las Vegas in late 2005 and early 2006, he took a side trip to the communities of Hildale, Utah and Colorado City, Ariz., allegedly home to the largest community of FLDS members. "The visit was rather disturbing," he wrote in his artist’s statement. "… I was not prepared for the reaction of the children, nor did I expect to be tailed by pickups and SUVs as we innocently ambled down city streets." A few months after Trusky’s trip, Warren Jeffs, the leader of the sect, was placed on the FBI’s "Ten Most Wanted" list. The book includes Trusky’s observations, along with passages by
historians and journalists. Only five books were made and all are spoken for;
one copy can be viewed by visiting the Special Collections section of Albertsons
Library. Contact: Tom Trusky, English Department, (208) 426-1999, ttrusky@boisestate.edu Media Contact: Julie Hahn, University Communications, (208) 426-5540, juliehahn@boisestate.edu Boise State University is the largest institution of higher education in Idaho with about 18,600 students and 2,200 faculty and staff. More than 190 undergraduate, graduate, doctoral and technical degrees are offered within eight colleges. A metropolitan university located in the capital city, Boise State is committed to life-enhancing research, teaching excellence and public service.
email communications@boisestate.edu Last reviewed on Wednesday, January 03, 2007
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