The size changes but Sandow Birk’s nightmarish Iraq war vision, “The Depravities of War,” is still gripping. Even writ small, in a book at a book signing Saturday at DDR Projects.

How could it not be? It’s our story even if we’re not Condi, Dick or George. We’re living their reality—our price on every tank of gas inching slightly upward, our domestic economy teetering, our young coming home scarred, or not at all.

The topic, its inspiration (17th century printmaker Jacques Callot) and Birk’s looming rendition (sorry) of the war makes “Depravities” riveting. But another part of what makes it unique is its trip from genesis to gallery to book galleys. Birk is known for his painting—not, until now, for his woodcuts.

And much of “Depravities”—which showed in November at the Cal State Long Beach University Art Museum—was done in woodcuts (in contrast to a few oils), and . . . well, let’s let DDR owner John Geldbach explain the woodcut, which arrived in 15th-century Europe from China, its country of origin.

“If you’re familiar with German woodcuts,” Geldbach says excitedly, “they’re not that big—they’re 11 inches by 14 inches max. [Birk’s] German woodcuts are 5-by-8 or 4-by-8—they’re enormous,” Geldbach says.

That’s 5 feet by 8 feet. Big-big.

“You know the back wall of my gallery?” Gelbach asks. “That wall is only big enough to accommodate one.” It’s curious, when you think about it—a Renaissance-era art form writ large, in modern times, in Hawaii (where Birk created the woodcuts with HuiPress).

“I think it’s night and day. He’s a painter by right, and here he was in Hawaii carving giant blocks of wood to create these print pieces,” the gallery owner says.

And now, Birk’s woodcuts are small again. They’re in a book—more affordable and accessible. And, if it hasn’t already arrived, you can bring the war home.

Tags: art, ddr projects, Long Beach, politics, sandow birk, War