Art Maxims in a Bronx Fedora

Claremont, CA: Aleatory Press, 1970. This is a very early and scarce work by noted book artist, Barry McCallion. Mr. McCallion has had a lengthy career in the book arts following his graduation from Columbia and move to the west coast for a period of time. His work can be found in many institutional and private collections. His career has been documented in a fine article by Mark Segal in the East Hampton Star in 2013: “A Springs Artist’s Creative Odyssey." In the article, Segal also writes extensively about Mr. McCallion’s "astonishingly beautiful and utterly unique books," saying "they use an impressive range of materials and techniques. … It’s difficult to do justice to the variety and complexity of the books in words or in photographs. They are ideally experienced by hefting and opening the boxes and exploring the contents in what becomes a very personal exploration of an artwork.”

This is the original first publication of Mr. McCallion's interesting and somewhat mysterious book. It was later published again by the ABYSS Publications. The text is a series of questions and comments about art and life. Bound in bright yellow paper covers with a white cloth spine. The front cover has the title and a design of dark and white circles. The staples attaching the book to the spine show through the spine, otherwise book is in very good plus condition. Measures 8.5 x 13 inches. Unpaginated. [12 pages printed on rectos only] PRI/121624. (Inventory #: 37706)