A123. The Train Comes to Wichita
Title
A123. The Train Comes to Wichita
Creator
Thomas, Peter and Donna
Description
18 x 7.5 x 7 cm (7” x 3” x 2 ¾”), five scrolls, all measure 38.5 x 2 cm (15 1/6" x ¾"), 20 copies.
Binding: The book consists of five scrolls which are rolled onto a single spool in the rear compartment of a model train engine. The spool is attached to a brass crank fitted into a hole in the side of the compartment. Paper: Handmade by Peter Thomas. Printing: Digital. Typography: Digitally set sans serif type. Illustration: Reproductions of five watercolor paintings by Donna Thomas.
“This book was designed and produced for an exhibit at the Wichita Art Museum. The train is a model of the typical western steam locomotive used during the period of westward expansion. The engineer's compartment has been hollowed out, a hole drilled parallel through it, and a brass crank placed through that hole. The text, on five scrolls, stacked on top of each other and rolled onto the same crank shaft tell the story of the arrival of the train in Wichita. The text, written by Peter after immersing himself in train lore and Wichita's early history juxtaposes fact with folk song: two of the scrolls are the lyrics to songs (‘The Old Chisolm Trail’ and ‘On the Atchison, Topeka and the Santa Fe’). Each scroll is decorated with water color illustrations painted by Donna, and has been color photocopied onto Peter's handmade paper. This book is the first time that multiple scrolls have been used as ‘pages’ in an artist book.”
Binding: The book consists of five scrolls which are rolled onto a single spool in the rear compartment of a model train engine. The spool is attached to a brass crank fitted into a hole in the side of the compartment. Paper: Handmade by Peter Thomas. Printing: Digital. Typography: Digitally set sans serif type. Illustration: Reproductions of five watercolor paintings by Donna Thomas.
“This book was designed and produced for an exhibit at the Wichita Art Museum. The train is a model of the typical western steam locomotive used during the period of westward expansion. The engineer's compartment has been hollowed out, a hole drilled parallel through it, and a brass crank placed through that hole. The text, on five scrolls, stacked on top of each other and rolled onto the same crank shaft tell the story of the arrival of the train in Wichita. The text, written by Peter after immersing himself in train lore and Wichita's early history juxtaposes fact with folk song: two of the scrolls are the lyrics to songs (‘The Old Chisolm Trail’ and ‘On the Atchison, Topeka and the Santa Fe’). Each scroll is decorated with water color illustrations painted by Donna, and has been color photocopied onto Peter's handmade paper. This book is the first time that multiple scrolls have been used as ‘pages’ in an artist book.”
Publisher
Santa Cruz, California: Peter & Donna Thomas
Date
2004
Language
English
Files
Collection
Appears in Exhibits
Citation
Thomas, Peter and Donna, “A123. The Train Comes to Wichita,” Digital Exhibits - UWM Libraries Special Collections, accessed November 16, 2024, https://web.uwm.edu/lib-omeka-spc2/items/show/575.