Saturday, May 21, 2011

Jason Middlebrook, A Celebration of Debris, San Francisco Art Institute, 2001


A graduate of the San Francisco Art Institute, this curious and oddly shaped accordion is an offset lithographic print commissioned by the SFAI, December 2001. Signed by artist.  4"-1' (H) 16" (L)

Tate Artist Timeline, Tate Gallery, London, 2006

 
 
 



A handwritten timeline by Sara Fanelli that covers the 20th century and lists all the major artists and movements. This accordion is the published version of the same timeline that's installed on the walls of Levels 3 and 5 at the Tate Modern. The text that accompanies this publication states that Fanelli's handwriting "...is designed to reflect the dynamic nature of twentieth-century art history, rather than something set in stone."  6.25" (H) 75" (L)

The Timechart History of the World, Third Millennium Trust, England, 2004/2008


 
  
A 600 year history of the world from Adam and Eve to Barack Obama in 14 feet 9 inches! Originally published as a Victorian wall chart in 1890, this version's timeline has been extended to the year 2008. This is an extraordinarily detailed chart of world events and figures, and the reverse side contains a contemporary timeline of the leaders of China, Russia, Italy, France, Great Britain, Germany and the USA.

The panoramic feature of accordions is obviously well suited to the chronological display and evolution of many different types of subject matter, and these accordions constitute a distinct sub-genre within accordion publications. This type of timeline publication also illustrates the historical linkage with the accordions' predecessor — the scroll.  17.5" (H) 177" (L)