Beats and Solos 12/2023
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.
Item #37226
Price: $1,800.00