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

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

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

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

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

Philadelphia: Thomas Parker Williams, 2019. A unique artist's book from noted book artist Thomas Parker Williams signed and dated by him. Williams began creating artists' books in 1998 while also painting. As of 2009 he has limited his art practice exclusively to artists' books. He often creates videos and composes music to accompany his books that may be found on his website (www.thomasparkerwilliams.com). Books by Williams or the Luminice Press imprint under which he and his wife Mary Agnes Williams issue books, may be found in over 70 public collections around the country including the Watson Library at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Paradise Lost is a compelling wordless narrative accompanied by original music that explores variations of loss in America, over time and in the present. Williams describes the meaning of his book in a passionate statement: "Starting with the forests where native peoples lived before Columbus, the book follows slavery as Africans are captured and forced to work on plantations owned by wealthy white men. Although many landowners lost their way of life after the Civil War, the anonymous power figures did not die, and continue to crush black, brown and white workers and families who are expendable. Finally, as we confront the reality of climate change, even the Earth itself is expendable. In the past four years America has further revealed its dark side. Blatant racism against black, brown and Asian citizens has become almost normal. However most of the perpetrators of these acts fail to realize that they are just pawns of the real power figures who care nothing for them and will throw them away when they are no longer needed....If America, or for that matter the rest of the world, ever wants to find 'paradise' again, we must realize that resources will have to be shared and all people will have to be respected. Otherwise, our lives will be enmeshed in constant conflict that will benefit no one except the anonymous power figures."

The book is held in a custom hinged wood container with the title on a copper plate affixed to the cover. It measures 8.25 x 15.5 x 2 inches. There are 20 original black and white ink drawings that trace the history of the enslavement and misery imposed on indigenous peoples since their paradise was discovered centuries ago. There are mysterious figures on several of the drawings that represent the anonymous power figures. The drawings are done on 20 sheets of Twinrocker Da Vici Heavy Text handmade paper. The book is accordion bound, with each sheet measuring 7 x 14.75 inches that extend to 295 inches when the sheets are unfurled. There are two discs in envelopes affixed to a black paper cover: a DVD of the book's video and music made by the artist to accompany the book, as well as a CD of the music only. This original music was composed, performed and recorded by the artist. Housed in a custom clamshell gray cloth box. In fine condition. ARTB/051623. Fine. More

Philadelphia: Thomas Parker Williams, 2023. A unique artist's book by noted book artist and composer Thomas Parker Williams, signed and dated by him. Williams began creating artists' books in 1998 while also painting. As of 2009 he has limited his art practice exclusively to artists' books. He often creates videos and composes music to accompany his books that may be found on his website (www.thomasparkerwilliams.com). Books by Williams or the Luminice Press imprint under which he and his wife Mary Agnes Williams issue books, may be found in 88 public collections around the country including the Watson Library at the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the National Gallery of Art.

This complex and inventive work is a visual transcription of a composition composed and recorded by Williams in December 2023. All artwork, music composition, drum programming, recording and performance (all instruments) by Thomas Parker Williams. It features music created like a DJ performance with jazz inspired solos on saxophones and an electronic wind instrument (a video of the book with music performance is available on the artist's website). The triangular book opens to a double-sided hexagram.The first side of the work is an accurate visual transcription through time of the composition, assigning colors and shapes to the various instruments. Colors were assigned as follows: Dark blue, browns, orange and grays - drums and rhythm instruments; Green, lighter blue, red, violet and yellows - keyboard instruments; Ocher and yellow - electronic wind instrument; Gold and copper - saxophones. The drawing is divided into 41 sections arranged in a clockwise rotation. Each division is 21.6 seconds long and illustrateds the time period of eighteen 6/8 measures at 150 beats per minute. This is the rhythmic base for the entire composition, and the shapes mark the accurate time and duration of instruments in the work. The second side is an abstract representation of possible moods suggested by the music as it progresses through the five sections. The artist's notes and working papers are available with the purchase of this striking work.

The book is comprised of 6 double sided triangular panels hinged to open to a hexagon. The first side is done in Acrylic ink, markers, and colored pencil. The second side is done in dry pigments in alkyd medium and acrylic inks. Printed on Strathmore 400 series acrylic paper. In a slipcase painted in the same colors as the book and protected by a black paper folder. In fine condition. Measures 10 x 12 x .25 inches closed and 21 x 21 inches open. ARTB/041524. Fine. More

Philadelphia: Thomas Parker Williams, 2023. A unique four-section artist's book by noted book artist and composer Thomas Parker Williams, signed and dated by him on each of the separate panels comprising the work. Williams began creating artists' books in 1998 while also painting. As of 2009 he has limited his art practice exclusively to artists' books. He often creates videos and composes music to accompany his books that may be found on his website (www.thomasparkerwilliams.com). Books by Williams or the Luminice Press imprint under which he and his wife Mary Agnes Williams issue books, may be found in 88 public collections around the country including the Watson Library at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. and the National Gallery of Art.

This work is part of Williams's WORDLESS series- Painted and Drawn Narratives that are unique books with many different structures that contain a wordless narrative executed in multiple media. Transcriptions is a subset of the Wordless – Painted and Drawn Narratives series. Prime Number Meters are part of the Transcriptions series. All artwork, music composition, recording and performance (all instruments) by Thomas Parker Williams. The musical compositions are available through his website (thomasparkerwilliams.com). This fascinating and complex work is based on experimental original music compositions using four prime numbers, 3, 5, 7 and 11, as the upper number of the time signature of an eight-beat measure. These time signatures, 3/8, 5/8, 7/8 and 11/8, result in music with a very different feeling than the 4/4 rhythm commonly used. All rhythms in Prime Number Meters are programmed to run at a tempo of 200 beats per minute.

The visual works of three panels for each section are literal transcriptions of the music. The color panels on the front of each set convey the mood created by the music, and are accurate in horizontal distance to the tempo. The reverse side of the panels illustrate the programmed rhythm sections in music notation. The covers, resembling LP covers, illustrate an enlarged section of the color panels. Each of the time signatures is shown in a separate section of drawings and panels, each housed in a black paper folder. with the title of that section's time signature on a paper label on the front flap of its folder. The work comprises 4 sets of drawings and covers consisting of a cover 12 x 12 x.25 inches and three hinged panels each 11.75 inches diameter. Each set of panels open to 35 inches. The paper used for this production is Strathmore 400 series acrylic sheets. Williams used dry pigments in alkyd medium, acrylic inks, enamel and pigment markers to create the color panels and the rhythm sections in music notation. The bindings are a disappearing hinge structure. The artist's working papers are available with the purchase of this work. In fine condition. $1,750 for each section or $6,000 for all four sections. ARTB/041724. Fine. More