Gary Panter, Dirty Drawings, CBO Editions, late 1980s, [ed. 120]

I was really excited to receive this totally cool screenprinted accordion by bad-boy Gary Panter, and it does not disappoint! Amidst the turgid sexual scenarios splayed out across these pages Panter inserts a sea of turds that are just popping out of all the actors' assholes...it was interesting for me to observe that the potentially erotic charge of this accordion was totally negated by the turds - unless, i suppose you are into scatophilia. Either way, this book is a winning combination of unforgettable subject matter done in a scratchy low-tech sort of style that entirely fits the contents. For more about this important artist: Gary Panter.

Update to the above: I recently received a letter from Panter in answer to my question as to the date of the book, here is his answer: "I don't really know the answer to your question. The drawings were done over a few years time in the 80s. I don't do a lot of dirty drawings. My friend Bruno Richard always asked me for dirty drawings so sometimes when I was working I would do these stupid drawings & throw them under the table. After a few years in the late 80s I sent them to Bruno & a year or so later the book arrived in the mail." [ed note: Bruno Richard is a french artist based in Paris whose powerful drawings skirt the borders of good taste, bad taste and everything inbetween]

One-sided, 9 pages, individual pages 8" (h) x 5" (w), when open 45" (3ft 9").

Dogan Surek, Poems 526/527, DS-Documents, Germany, 2017 [ed. 50]

I've always had a soft spot for Dogan Surek's accordion works and this one does not disappoint. As the title suggests the publication is made up of 2 poems, and these are visual poems accompanied with very short texts inserted into each work, such as "real fake," "darkness," "reality check" "null and void." The clue to the thrust of the book can be found stamped on the back of the publication in the traditional place for these details and it reads "Trump Press Made in Anger." With this pointer as our guide it becomes clear that book is a response to the madman who is president of the united states at the moment. It's an oblique response with earth-like orbs moving within a dark outer space landscape coupled with assorted visual elements that contribute to creating an unsettled feeling to the landscape. The coup d'etat is provided by a series of punched holes that create letters across each page of the book that spell out "loveless." As someone who lives in the united states and voted in the last election and now has to face this monster for the next 3 years I would have to say that this singular word speaks volumes regarding the thrust of the policies and politics being generated in this desperate time in the USA.

8 pages, 5.5" (h) x 4" (w), when opened 32" (2ft 8"). Note: Dogan's website describes the media involved in the printing of this book as "linoleum and woodcut" but Printed Matter (where i purchased the book) states "lithography and woodcut."