Contributions to 'An Encyclopaedia of Everything'

Over the past little while I have involved myself sporadically with making a few books for Cheryl Penn's artist book project "An Encyclopaedia of Everything".

I am currently working on another edition for the project.  This time pamphlet stitch books as part of a collaborative trade between Artist Book 3.0 members.  For this latest edition I am incorporating lino prints with the subject of refugees/boat people.

I think this will be the final call of works for the project as the exhibition is imminent and Cheryl will reach her goal of 500 (?) books by the conclusion of this latest collaboration.

The most recent book I contributed was "After All", a concertina fold book about the final silence which awaits us all.  A bit of a dreary subject, but don't we all love a bit of melodrama now and then?! Unfortunately, I forgot to take a photo of the cover before I sent it off into the never, never.

A small extract from a well known  Edgar Allan Poe poem "The Raven" weaves it's way across the folds 

(Deep into to that darkness peering, long I stood there wondering, fearing, doubting, dreaming dreams no mortal ever dared to dream before) 

along with images of gravestones, dodos, skeletons and the like - all symbols of memento mori and eternal demise.

The other books I have contributed:

You are my everything......

 and

Missing

Artist Books 3.0 #12 - Biography - "Missing"

I have finally completed my edition of accordion fold books

for inclusion in the Artist Books 3.0 #12 (biography/autobiography) 

Collaborative Mail Art Group project.

"Missing"

The subject I chose to explore was Agatha Christie, specifically

the 11 days in December of 1926 she went missing.

I was originally going to poke a bit of fun,

making various disguises in which Ms Agatha

might have been spotted.

However, on re-reading information about the

personal angst which Ms Agatha was suffering at the time,

I thought it would be inconsiderate to make fun of her 

obvious state of desolation, even after all these years.

Herewith are the two pieces of writing 

included with the book (the first being a copy of the 

missing notice posted after Ms Agatha's disappearance,

offering a detailed (though not wholly flattering) description of her at the time:

       BERKSHIRE CONSTABULARY.

              WOKINGHAM DIVISION.

                       9^th December 1926

MISSING

From her home “Styles” Sunningdale in this Division

Mrs. Agatha Mary Clarissa CHRISTIE

(WIFE OF COLONEL A. CHRISTIE)

AGE 35 YEARS, HEIGHT 5FT 7”. HAIR RED (Shingled),

NATURAL TEETH, EYES GREY,

COMPLEXION FAIR, WELL BUILT.

DRESSED – Grey Stockingette Skirt,

Green Jumper, Grey and dark Grey Cardigan,

small Green Velour Hat, may have hand bag

containing 5-10 pounds. Left home in

4 seater Morris Cowley car at 9.45 p.m.

on 3^rd December leaving note saying she was

going for a drive.  The next morning the

car was found abandoned at Newlands

Corner, Albury, Surrey.

Should this lady be seen or any information

regarding her be obtained please communicate

to any Police Station, or to

        CHARLES GODDARD, Superintendent

                                  WOKINGHAM.

            Telephone No. 11 Wokingham

1926 was a tumultuous year for Agatha Christie.  Agatha’s books were beginning to gain in popularity, pushing her reluctantly into the spotlight.  Her ailing mother, Clarissa, died of bronchitis in early February.  Agatha’s husband, Archie, professed his distaste of grief and sadness and resolutely remained in Spain refusing to return to support Agatha through the funeral, her grief and the ordeal of sorting through her childhood home whilst caring for their young daughter.  When Archie did eventually return to England he took up residence in London, far away from their home in Surrey. He took a mistress, Nancy Neele, who shared his passion for golf.  It is believed Agatha, a shy, reserved person, quietly suffered a nervous breakdown after a year filled with personal trauma.

On the 3^rd December, after Archie left for a weekend house party to announce his engagement to his mistress, Agatha slipped quietly from their home “Styles” and disappeared for eleven days.  After a nation wide manhunt she was found safe at the Hydropathic Hotel and Spa at Harrogate, claiming she was not aware of who she was or what she was doing there.

Her disappearance has sparked much conjecture through the years, however, Agatha refused to ever speak of the events.

Vintage Christie Covers

 

Three covers sourced from my rather large collection of Agatha Christie covers with artwork supplied by Tom Adams.

I think these three have a bit of a 50's/60's feel and seem "of a type", with light pastel backgrounds showing no horizon line and supporting photo-realistic images in the foreground.

favourite vintage Christie covers

Three more vintage Christie covers by Tom Adams.  None too gruesome, but all suggestive of a little bit of evil.

Vintage Christie

Some cool vintage late 50's, early 60's Christie covers (not Tom Adams - and unfortunately the illustrator is unacknowledged).

Agatha Christie: illustrated covers by Tom Adams

 

I don't recall a time in my life without Agatha Christie books.  They seem to always have been there in one form or another.

I remember, in my teens, coming across the "Agatha Christie - Cover Story" book compiled by Julian Symons and Tom Adams about Adams' illustrations of a very long list of Christie titles.  I thought I had reached Nirvana.

I have kept this reference book of his Christie artworks and am still accumulating quite a pile of well loved paperbacks featuring her stories and his artwork, some of which I share with you now.

I hold both author and illustrator in high regard and envy their skills for storyweaving and illustration. I find it amazing that, sadly,  illustrators often go uncredited for their artwork on book covers, so reference to them is lost through the years. 

There are links to both writer and illustrator in my "interesting links" column.