Awake

Awake

Awake is a beautiful Mark Dahle Portfolio. It is Book #2 in the Terminal Three series.

It includes a colorful abstract painting, twenty-five beautiful photographs from Los Angeles, California, and a story about a member of the resistance recovering in a makeshift hospital.

Unlike many picture books, the story is not related to the photographs in the portfolio. People who are disappointed by this may draw their own pictures of people waking up in a hospital on the pages if they like. (And adults might want to take a look at our discussion of this topic below.)

From the story:

“Robert’s not dead. I talked to him this morning.”

Han looked at her. Should he trust her? He had no idea. “I bet you didn’t. I bet he texted you.”

“That’s right.”

“That wasn’t Robert. Someone else.”

This story is suitable for older kids and adults.


About Mark Dahle Portfolios

Mark Dahle Portfolios can be read in a few minutes and then enjoyed for a lifetime. Thought-provoking and beautiful, they feature an unusual combination of compelling photographs, brilliant paintings and deceptively simple text.

The short, 50-page books have several different kinds of fans. The portfolios were created for art collectors who don't mind feeling initially disoriented as they look at art. But because of the enjoyable stories, the portfolios are also popular with grandparents and parents who want to encourage reading, and with kids of all ages who like the stories.

Unlike most picture books, the text is not related to the art next to it. This might seem a little weird to adults. Kids, however, seem to roll with the discontinuity just fine.

The portfolios encourage adults bothered by the unusual layout to order more books until they get used to it. Anyone following this advice has plenty of portfolios to choose from; more than 50 have been released to date in a wide variety of styles and genres.

For more information, check out the article: What are artists’ books?

Information for art collectors

Mark Dahle Portfolios are individually dated, giving collectors bragging rights over people who acquire their copies later.

In addition, ten large 13 x 19 inch versions of each portfolio are available. Five of the ten are already reserved; five are available to individual art collectors and organizations.

You can find more information here: Special Edition Portfolios for Art Collectors