Rainbow Pride Flag Book Project
The Rainbow Pride Flag Project honors the LGBTQIA+ community by transforming decommissioned flags from San Francisco's Castro neighborhood into unique book art. The Castro Merchants Association donated a flag to the Hand Bookbinders of California, which was then shared with participating bookbinders to create the book you now hold.
This book represents a global collaboration within the LGBTQIA+ community. It highlights creativity, resilience, and shared human experiences. Written in English, Spanish, and Ukrainian, it weaves together stories that transcend borders, offering diverse perspectives and deeper insights into the characters and their worlds.
This project would not have been possible without the contributions of extraordinary individuals. The book features seven short stories by talented writers, whose unique voices and perspectives shape the work. My heartfelt gratitude goes to Fran Acevedo, Artem Chornyi, Bohdan Andrukh, Isabel Montes Bragado, Julie Jones, Lana Shapoval and Parker C.L. Sublette, for their inspiring creativity and voices.
Special thanks also to Jorge Moreno, whose stunning watercolors illuminate the pages, and Lara Darling, whose evocative drawings bring an added layer of artistry and light to the book.
Exhibit
HBC53: The Hand Bookbinders of California Annual Members’ Exhibition
At American Bookbinders Museum,
355 Clementine, Street, San Francisco
May 17 - August 23, 2025
Title: Pride
Showcase Edition
Artist’ book Edition
The cover features a patchwork of the original, decommissioned rainbow flag, weathered by the winds above San Francisco’s Castro District, where it once proudly flew.
Book bound in case structure, with colorful stubs made from pieces of the flag.
Dimension: 9” x 12'“ x .75”
Completed February, 2025
Author’s Edition
Special limited edition of eight, created as a gift for all the writers who collaborated on the project.
The cover features, in its spine, a piece of the original decommissioned rainbow flag and is quarter-bound with colorful Nepalese Lokta papers.
Dimension: 9” x 6'“ x .75”
Completed March, 2025