Spirit Earth
Philadelphia. More
Results
Results 1 - 10 (of 10)
Corinna's going a Maying
Philadelphia: Luminice Press, 2019. Number 3 of 10 copies, initialed on the colophon by the book artists. Book artist and printer Thomas Parker Williams began creating artists' books in 1998 while also painting. As of 2009 he has limited his art practice exclusively to artists' books. In that year he also began collaborating with his wife, photographer Mary Agnes Williams. In 2013 they started Luminice Press, incorporating letterpress printing into artists' books and broadsides. The artists' books draw on a range of conceptual sources in creating their books, including mathematics, music, literature, theology, philosophy, astronomy, natural sciences, and Eastern thought. Books by Williams or the Luminice Press may be found in over 50 public collections around the country.
This delightful book from the esteemed Luminice Press prints and illustrates a lovely short poem written by Robert Herrick in 1648. The poem extols the joys of living and loving despite knowing how short and ephemeral is life: "Come, let us goe (sic) while we are in our prime...We shall grow old apace, and die before we know our liberty." The poem is accompanied by bright and colorful illustrations of flowers and trees that bloom in the radiance of a May springtime. The book is printed on handmade paper, with the images in pochoir, hand-set text and letterpress printed. Bound in a soft cover paper with floral images on the covers and with green ribbons holding the spine closed. The book is housed in a softcover case with pink silkscreened hand-made paper in pink with floral designs. Mary Agnes developed the concept and design, and did the typesetting and printing. Thomas also developed the design, and did the illustrations, printing, and binding. In fine condition. Measures 7 x 7 inches. Unpaginated [10 pages]. ARTB/041525. More
American Progression
Philadelphia: Luminice Press, 2024. Hardcover. Number 3 of 12 copies, signed by the book artists. Thomas and Mary Agnes describe this interesting and introspective book about the state of America as follows: "In images and text, our artist book ‘American Progression’ encapsulates the sources of deep fissures in this country: white supremacy, the legacy of slavery, the constant influx of immigrants. And yet, there is progression beyond the fear and hate that separate Americans, as many find community and joy together, and share hope for the future."
The following offers excerpts from the text that capture the realities of both inequality and despair that exist, juxtaposed with the hope and affirmation that also define America today: “In 1950, 89.5% of Americans identified as white . . . By 2050, whites will be a minority (47%) . . . Many on the right bitterly resent losing privilege and power . . . . . They remember the easy days before civil rights . . . When an ordinary white man was always better and smarter . . . When the sheriff looked the other way . . . . Desperate to hold on, they search for a leader who will raise them up again, a savior who will take control and lead them back to the white promised land. …For hundreds of years African slaves were submerged in American soil: endless brutality in endless fields of cotton, rice, tobacco, sugar cane . . . .. Unlike Africans, Latino families have been desperate to escape their homes for a better, safer place, risking everything to migrate north . . . Poverty, injustice and hate are realities in America . . . Despite it all, people still find joy and see hope for the future . . . Black, brown, white . . . We can dance!”
The book is constructed as a double-sided accordion. It is printed on Stonehenge Polar White papers. The cover is multi-colored pochoir using 50 stencils on paper over board. Illustrations on six panels with oil based inks over flood coats. Pochoir using 50 stencils. Letterpress printed from polymer plates. In a black slipcase with mylar insert that allows the brightly colored cover to be seen. Concept, design, illustrations, pochoir, printing, binding by Thomas Parker Williams. Original text, text layout, printing by Mary Agnes Williams. A thought-provoking work in fine condition Measures 12.25 x 4.25 x .5 inches. Unpaginated [12 pages]. ARTB/041525. Fine. More
American River
Philadelphia: Luminice Press, 2022. Hardcover. Number 11 of 12 copies. In this powerful new book from the Luminice Press, Thomas and Mary Agnes Williams present a scathing indictment of the erosion of democracy in the United States. The preface states:
"In America, we are losing our freedoms, one by one.
Clean Air – the freedom to breathe air not polluted with toxins Safety – the freedom to live without fear of deadly guns
Women’s Autonomy – the freedom to control their own bodies
Voting – the freedom to participate in our democracy
We are losing America."
The book's text juxtaposes the intent of four congressional acts that guaranteed American protections - clean air, gun control, reproductive rights, and voting rights - with text from the recent Supreme Court opinions that overturned or restricted these protections. The accordion structure of the book offers the text on one side of the pages with the other side offering six panels with striking abstract color illustrations of disappearing water representing democracy's erosion. Bound in a blue and black paper covered boards with a black Washi linen spine. The text is letterpress printed from polymer plates. The six illustrations are original images hand printed on folded panels with 41 pochoir mylar stencils. The book measures 7.25 x 9.25 inches. The illustrated panels are 7 x 17.75 inches unfolded and open to 106.5 inches. In fine condition. ARTSBOOK/121624. Fine. More
Spider and the Stars
Philadelphia: Luminice Press, 2023. Number 4 of 14 copies signed by the book artists. This charming and informative book, Spider and the Stars, is a Luminice Press artist book by Thomas Parker Williams and Mary Agnes Williams. It combines an original illustrated story for young readers with factual information about spiders and the curious way they travel long distances. Called ballooning, this form of spider travel appears to be flying, but in fact spiders take advantage of the Earth's electric field to become airborne. This particular spider became so airborne that she soared past the earth and planets to weave her webs among the stars!
Book artist and printer Thomas Parker Williams began creating artists' books in 1998 while also painting. As of 2009 he has limited his art practice exclusively to artists' books. In that year he also began collaborating with his wife, photographer Mary Agnes Williams. In 2013 they started Luminice Press, incorporating letterpress printing into artists' books and broadsides. The artists' books draw on a range of conceptual sources in creating their books, including mathematics, music, literature, theology, philosophy, astronomy, natural sciences, and Eastern thought. Books by Williams or the Luminice Press may be found in over 75 public collections around the country.
For this delightful collaboration, both artists developed the concept and design and did the printing. Thomas did the illustrations, the moveable pop-up and the binding. Mary Agnes wrote the original story and handset the text. The round black cover has a smaller cut out circle. It is laser cut wood with oil-based pochoir printed paper. The outer circle depicts the starry skies, while the spider and her web are visible in the smaller circle. When the cover is opened the spider and her web are fully visible. On the first page is a large brown, cream, and orange spider with moveable head and legs that pop open. There are 16 pages that tells the spider's story with colorful images of her and her adventurous travel to outer space. They are done in oil-based pochoir over linocut flood coats, with hand painted accents. The text is hand set in Janson and Janson Italic on Arches book paper and letterpress printed. Housed in an acrylic case with a brown title inset. In fine condition. The book measures 7.5 x 8 inches closed. The pop-up spider opens to 19 x 24 inches. ARTB/012326. Fine. More
Vantage Point
Philadelphia: Luminice Press, 2024. Number 3 of 10 copies, this being one of five in the deluxe case, signed and numbered by the book artists. Book artist and printer Thomas Parker Williams began creating artists' books in 1998 while also painting. As of 2009 he has limited his art practice exclusively to artists' books. In that year he also began collaborating with his wife, photographer Mary Agnes Williams. In 2013 they started Luminice Press, incorporating letterpress printing into artists' books and broadsides. The artists draw on a range of conceptual sources in creating their books, including mathematics, music, literature, theology, philosophy, astronomy, natural sciences, and Eastern thought. Books by Williams or the Luminice Press may be found in numerous public collections around the country.
This fascinating book was created as a response to a mysterious event witnessed by the book artists on May 16, 2020. While sitting on their patio in the evening, they were surprised by something in the sky they could not identify. It moved extremely quickly from point to point, changing direction twice. There was no sound, acceleration or de-acceleration and it disappeared after four seconds. In an effort to understand this unusual object, Thomas compiled data from various sources and used AutoCAD to draw a master 3D model of the area. This enabled him to establish sight lines, the object's trajectory and propose two possible flight paths.
The book is round and 9.375 inches in diameter and opens to 72 inches when unfolded. There are eight pages on Stonehenge print paper illustrating various commonplace night-sky activities the book artists have seen from their patio many times over the years involving lightning bugs, birds, hummingbirds, planes, the rising moon, etc. . It is accompanied by a digitally printed insert of four panels that illustrate the calculations of the path and trajectory of the mysterious object. The original text is hand set in Janson, Janson Italic, and Goudy Italic and letterpress printed. The illustrations are oil-based pochoir, using 50 colors and 50 stencils. With a black acrylic case with a trajectory design on the top. The book comes with an insert with instructions on how to open and close the book due to its intricate radial hinge structure. Housed in a black cloth covered clamshell box with a white title label to side. In fine condition. Accompanied by a working paper when purchased. Box measures 11.25 x 11.75 inches. ARTB/041524. Fine. More
Cape Cod Bay - Light and Water
Philadelphia: Luminice Press, 2025. Hardcover. Number 4 of 13 copies signed by the book artists. Book artist and printer Thomas Parker Williams began creating artists' books in 1998 while also painting. As of 2009 he has limited his art practice exclusively to artists' books. In that year he also began collaborating with his wife, photographer Mary Agnes Williams. In 2013 they started Luminice Press, incorporating letterpress printing into artists' books and broadsides. The artists' books draw on a range of conceptual sources in creating their books, including mathematics, music, literature, theology, philosophy, astronomy, natural sciences, and Eastern thought. Books by Williams or the Luminice Press may be found in over 50 public collections around the country.
This beautiful book was inspired by a visit to Cape Cod in 2024. Thomas decided to video the bay at four different times during the day - early morning, noon, afternoon, and sunset, He says that the steady wind produced wave motion that suggested the rhythm of the suite of music he composed soon after, followed by this artist's book. The book is bound in gray cloth, with a bright blue inset with a reduction linocut illustration, The book is printed on Arches mould made paper on 16 leaves with color illustrations done as reduction linocuts with oil based pochoir and hand painted accents, and etchings with hand-applied washes, and hand-drawn waves with fragments from the original music score. The text is printed in 12 pt. Janson Italic and letterpress printed on the press of the Luminice Press designed and built by Thomas. Included with this artist's book are an audio of the music composed for this work, and a video recording of the music performed, recorded, and edited by Thomas - both on an enclosed flashdrive. Also accompanying the book is a separate sheet with stills from the video, and a more detailed description of the music and its performance. Both are housed in a black stiff paper folder that also holds the audio and video recordings. In fine condition. Book Measures 8 x13.25 inches. Unpaginated. ARTB/041625. Fine. More
Free/Fear
Philadelphia: Luminice Press, 2025. Number 3 of 9 copies signed and numbered by the book artists. FREE / FEAR is a statement about our times. It is a new and powerful work from this important private press that creates artists' books that resonate with insight and meaning. This artist's book takes 48 emotionally-charged phrases that are given even more resonance when they are randomly aligned or juxtaposed. Some of the highly charged phrases are given here:
Self respect is freedom / Religion is personal. Believe . . . or not / Be yourself
I read what I choose to read / There is strength in community
Don't ask questions / All races are equal
Love who you love - no judgment
Science needs freedom / If you don't agree with me, you are scum
We are a white Christian nation - there is no room for others / Knowing one's place in the universe brings peace
There is no god but God / The arts show us how to be free
There is no salvation outside the Church / Freedom means food and resources for all
Pain is necessary to reach our goals / Go back to where you came from
Sharing helps all to survive . . . and thrive / You will do what I say
If you disobey, you will be disappeared
We need the military to stop all protests / We are being invaded by murderers and rapists
I cannot be challenged / Brown people don't belong here
A ruler has no place here / You will go to hell
Universities corrupt young people
We respect each other / We can work together
Knowledge gives us power / You are a sinner
Racial differences are constructs - they have no power to divide us / I am the only way - my word is the only law
Trans people and gays want your children
Everyone is welcome here / Women and men are equal
My body . . . my choice / Dangerous books must be banned
Quality healthcare for all
It's intriguing to wonder about other forms of life / Critical thinking helps us be free
Freedom means equal opportunity
The book is letterpress printed from polymer plates on both the recto and verso. The white washi paper cover is etched in black type. The book is printed on Stonehenge paper with its illustrations etched on recto and verso. The book measures 8" x 8" closed, 23" x 24" fully open , with 24 leaves, each 7.7" x 1.9", offering various display options based on the cutting of the sections of the pages as well as the books covers. Housed in a black paper folder with the white title label affixed to the top left corner of the front cover. It is held closed by a black and white narrow paper band. Accompanied by a sheet of white paper that serves as the colophon with details of the construciton of the book. In fine condition. Unpaginated. ARTB/061426. More
Spirit Earth
Philadelphia: Luminice Press, 2026. Number 1 of 15 copies signed and numbered by the book artists. A lovely deluxe set of two companion books of haiku from this important private press owned and operated by Thomas and Mary Agnes Williams. Book artist and printer Thomas Parker Williams began creating artists' books in 1998 while also painting. As of 2009 he has limited his art practice exclusively to artists' books. In that year he also began collaborating with his wife, photographer Mary Agnes Williams. In 2013 they started Luminice Press, incorporating letterpress printing into artists' books and broadsides. The artists draw on a range of conceptual sources in creating their books, including mathematics, music, literature, theology, philosophy, astronomy, natural sciences, and Eastern thought. Books by Williams or the Luminice Press may be found in numerous public collections around the country.
Specifications - Edition of 15 sets of two books2026
Size – each book closed 7.5” x 5.6” x .25”
Case – 7 sets in case bound with bookcloth with pochoir design (shown above)
8 sets in paper case with magnet closure
Covers – Japanese paper over cover stock, mica-printed design, linocut endpapers
Binding - modified Japanese stab binding
Books – 13 leaves each, 10 haiku, 10 illustrations, Arches mould-made paper
Illustrations – reduction linocuts with oil-based pochoir and hand-applied accents
Inks – dry pigments in burnt plate oil, relief ink
Text SPIRIT – handset in 12 pt. Janson Italic
Text EARTH – handset in 12 pt. Janson
Printing SPIRIT – 1080 operations
Printing EARTH – 1500 operations
Printed on the Luminice Press designed and built by TPW. More
Two Moons
2021: Luminice Press, Philadelphia. Softcover. Number 5 of 15 copies signed and numbered by the book artists on loosely inclosed colophon. This is another beautiful book from the very fine Luminice Press. The name "The"Luminice Press designates artist books and prints that employ metal type and other forms of relief printing that are printed on a hand press designed and constructed by Thomas Parker Williams. Luminice Press Artist Books are the collaborative work of Thomas Parker Williams and Mary Agnes Williams. Book artist and printer Thomas Parker Williams began creating artists' books in 1998 while also painting. As of 2009 he has limited his art practice exclusively to artists' books. In that year he also began collaborating with his wife, photographer Mary Agnes Williams. In 2013 they started Luminice Press, incorporating letterpress printing into artists' books and broadsides. The artists' books draw on a range of conceptual sources in creating their books, including mathematics, music, literature, theology, philosophy, astronomy, natural sciences, and Eastern thought. Books by Williams or the Luminice Press may be found in over 50 public collections around the country.
From the book artists about this stunning recent work: "Two Moons is a 24-page artist book contrasting our serene moon, Earth’s lunar companion, with the fiery, volcanic Io, one of the four moons of Jupiter discovered by Galileo in 1610. Its tete-beche binding contains a literal window between the two sides of the book, which serves as their shared back cover. The side of the book on Earth’s moon is illustrated in cool blues, grays and black, and features seven impressionistic Japanese haiku and tanka that were written between the 7th and 18th centuries. The text on the Io side of the book focuses on the scientific data crucial to advancing knowledge of this distant body. The images, starting in tones of black and gray, continue to intensify in color, ultimately depicting the bright reds and yellows of Io’s fiery landscape." The book's covers are done in Neenah Classic Linen, with painted and unpainted aluminum with cutout and paper liner. The spine is Washi Linen. It is printed with oil-based relief inks and dry pigments in burnt plate oil, with 79 color changes. The test is letterpress printed, handset in Janson, Janson Italicn and Park Avenue fonts on polymer plates. Housed in a clear poylcarbonate case. In fine condition. Measures 8 x 9 x 6 inches. Unpaginated. ARTB/061226. Fine. More
Results 1 - 10 (of 10)