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' 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.
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 or 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. This unusual work is the result of his calculations.
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. It is accompanied by a digitally printed insert of four panels that illustrate the calculations of the path and trajectory of the 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 binding 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 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