Antonio Frasconi, A Sunday in Monterey, New York: Harcourt, Brace & World, Inc., 1964

As far as I know this was the first of only two accordion books that were published of Frasconi's (1919-2013) work during his lifetime. The other, "Kaleidoscope in Woodcuts" (1968), can be found on this blog. This one-sided accordion displays all his skills in the woodcut medium, as well as a smart use of the panoramic qualities of the accordion to showcase this enchanting work. 

Born in Argentina, but by nationality Uruguayan, his parents were Italian immigrants who moved to South America during WWI. In 1945 Frasconi moved to the USA and soon established a reputation for himself, later becoming a professor at the State University of New York at Purchase. Frasconi provided illustrations for many books during his long career.

Frasconi often tackled themes of social justice and politics, and a later series that took 10 years to complete was titled "The Disappeared" and addressed the disappearances that took place under the various Uruguayan dictatorships. Individual pages for this book are: 5.25" (h) x 2" (w), and with a total of 58 pages it is 9' 8" when fully extended.

This image from the Harcourt, Brace & World website

Clifford Hunt, From the North, collage, 2019

Clifford Hunt is really working it with this latest accordion. It's a cool melange of fragments of images sensitively collaged to create new readings. One clue to deeper themes is a small portion of a map of the northern part of Scotland incorporated into the reverse side, and I know Clifford recently visited Scotland and was powerfully effected by the landscape.

8 pages, double-sided, individual pages 2.5" (H) x 3" (L), when fully opened 24".

front

back

Carol Emmons, Some Times..., digital print, 2013

In 2013 I lost my wife, Arda Ishkhanian, in a car accident in Egypt. Carol Emmons is an artist, a friend and was a longtime colleague in the art department at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay where we both worked. This understated accordion says it all.

4 pages, single sided, individual pages 3.75" (h) by 3.5" (w) and when opened 14".

Scott MacLeod, Hem and Maul, photographic negatives, Oakland, 2019, ed. 1

Two rather unique accordions constructed out of old photographic negatives by this multi-media artist from Oakland. Hem doesn't easily give away its secrets as it's kind of hard to read what the image is.  The text in Maul is also hard to read but would seem to revolve around waiting for a train that might or might not arrive.

Hem

4 pages, each page 3 3/4" (h) x 2 3/4" (w) when opened 11"

Maul

16 pages, each page 1 1/2" (h) x 1 1/4" (w), when opened 20"

Nicolò Degiorgis, La Laguna di Venezia (The Venice Lagoon), Rorhof: Bolzano-Boze (Italy), 2014, ed. 500

Degiorgis is a documentary photographer who runs the Rorhof publishing house with his partner Michele, and the following is their statement for this quite subtle and understated accordion book of 22 postcards of photographs of "The Venice Lagoon".

The city of Venice was founded in the 5th century and spread over 118 small islands. It is worldwide-known for its blend of historical palaces, bridges, squares and local artisan shops. At the far ends of the city one can chance upon a different world ruled by seawater, strands, animals and plants. All together they constitute a unique and fragile ecosystem which past industrial developments and current increase of tourism are seriously putting at risk. Venice and its Lagoon – one of the biggest and most important in the Mediterranean – was declared world heritage site by UNESCO and still remains off touristic routes. Uninhabited islands, small watercrafts, piers, harbours and fishing infrastructures merge with the natural environment and extreme conditions man has to face in this very special place. With this project Nicolò Degiorgis aimes to pay homage to the city of Venice and draw our attention towards its controversies.

Individual cards 3 1/2" (h) x 5 1/2" (w), when fully opened 10 feet 1".