Variations: on the Dialectec between
Mingus and Pithecanthropus erectus
VARIATIONS on the dialectic between Mingus and Pithecanthropus erectus is a new artist book by Lynn Sures, with text by Rick Potts and printing by Terrence Chouinard. Inspiring this book is the musical work entitled “Pithecanthropus erectus” written and performed by twentieth-century musician Charles Mingus.
Mingus speaks in the album liner notes about the stages
of evolutionary development and the self-awareness of humans. Book artist
Lynn Sures and paleoanthropologist Rick Potts use images and words to weave
Mingus' musical tale together with the poignant factual story of early
hominid Pithecanthropus erectus. The dialectic between Mingus and Pithecanthropus
erectus addresses fragility, the power of creation, the hand played by chance,
and the blank slate of the future.
(Variations description originally published in Book
Arts Classified, written by Tom Bannister)
VARIATIONS on the Dialectic between Mingus and Pithecanthropus
erectus is an accordion with 16 pages of abaca, pulp-painted paper. Eight consecutive
pages are printed with woodcuts and polymer-plate text, eight are printed with
woodcuts alone.
Three pamphlets of abaca and hemp papers are sewn into
the accordion; each contains two polymer-plate images and one essay, plus
a watermark image. The title and colophon are printed on the front and back
of the wrapper, which is a single folded sheet of abaca paper with a woodcut
and polymer-plate text. All text and images are letterpress printed, all
paper is handmade.
Dimensions are 10.5"x7.5"x.5";
the book opens to 58.5".
Variations began in 2000 and was completed
in 2005 in an edition of 55.