Utah Reader

New York: Vincent FitzGerald &Company, 1986. Artist's book, one of 40 copies on Arches. Illustrated with 11 single page linocuts and six double-page linocuts containing 41 different prints on 52 different pieces of paper. Each linocut is a collage with extensive handwork by Zahra Partovi and Vincent FitzGerald. This continuation of Mark Beard's autobiography, and sequel to MANHATTAN THIRD YEAR READER, is a beautiful book, each page an astonishment and delight (the way a true artist's book always is). The linocuts were pulled by Mark Beard and Marjorie Van Dyke at Bob Blackburn's Printmaking Workshop; the prints were hand drawn by Mark Beard, who signed each copy of the book on the colophon. Page size: 11-1/4 x 15 inches. Bound by Gerard Charriere: full turquoise stamped silk with endpapers by Richard DeBas. Mark Beard (1956-) was born in Salt Lake City, Utah, and is now residing in New York. His work has been acquired by the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Whitney Museum, Yale University, Harvard University, the Utah Museum, The New York Public Library, among others. Full of sharp wit and humor, this nod to the artist / author's Mormon upbringing in Bountifulk, Utah is a delight. Using neo-classical images, the artist's page spreads reference popular culture of his youth: TV sets with rabbit ears, basket ball nets and a portrait of Joseph Smith which is actually a self-portrait of Joseph Smith descendent, the artist Mark Beard.