An Architectural Bestiary, from High Tide Press
Eleven structures metamorphosing into animals
(High Tide Press) An Architectural Bestiary. Prints by John Ross. Text translated by Lloyd Jonnes.11 structures metamorphosing into animals by John Ross. [New York. 1993.] 15″ x 15″. Collagraph images each on a 30″ x 15″ spread in a portfolio. Greek text in red, English text in black. Designed and printed by John Ross, with the assistance of Tim Ross and Ann Marie Farinacci on Stonehenge white. English text set in Primer and Greek text set by Cosmos Printing. Both texts are printed on a Vandercook proofing press. Headline and display type are from the High Tide collection and printed by John Ross. Orange and black faux fur fabric covered drop-back box. This is one of 3 very special copies in color in an edition of 25 signed copies. Fine. Scarce.
From the Introduction by Jonnes: “Certain of the animals perceived in the various structures here portrayed by the artist found themselves with their foibles discussed by classical authors. Some ten excerpts in Greek and in English translation from texts of two authors appear here. The first of these authors, if he existed, Physiologos (3rd -4th C. A.D.), used animals (and plant and minerals) in very simple parables for teaching the lessons of Christianity. The second, Claudius Aelianus (2nd C. A.D.), may have been seeking both to understand the animal kingdom and to entertain. … The final excerpt comes not from a classical work, but as a giraffe was needed, from Denis Diderot, the French encyclopediest.”
John Ross writes: “The collagraph (a print pulled from a collage plate of cardboard, paper, sand, fabric, and found objects) is a particularly favored technique of mine and most of my images are created by this method..
“I do not bind my books, but use several binders whose work I have come to respect for their craftsmanship and ability. I have clear ideas as to what form these bindings should take to complement my own work. I am also convinced that text and image should reinforce and relate to each other: simple concept, but difficult achievement.”
Ross states: “My interest in metamorphosis shows itself in these books where animals or people turn into buildings or structures (or vice versa). I have been drawing such ideas for twenty years and have been able to convert some [of] the sketches into books. The Bestiary was inspired by the sight of structures which evoked other beings.” Most of the images were made in Venice, Italy, in the summer of 1992.”
Related items: Artists' Books, Catalogue 37 - Summer 2009, High Tide Press, John Ross, Lloyd Jonnes