{"product_id":"ray-johnson-and-william-s-wilson-frog-pond-splash-collages-by-ray-johnson-with-texts-by-william-s-wilson-hardcover","title":"Ray Johnson and William S. Wilson: Frog Pond Splash: Collages by Ray Johnson with Texts by William S. Wilson - Hardcover","description":"\u003cp\u003eby \u003cb\u003eRay Johnson\u003c\/b\u003e (Artist), \u003cb\u003eWilliam Wilson\u003c\/b\u003e (Author), \u003cb\u003eElizabeth Zuba\u003c\/b\u003e (Editor)\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThis gemlike Ray Johnson book celebrates his friendship with writer and logophile William S. Wilson in pictures and words\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eA \u003ci\u003eNew York Times\u003c\/i\u003e critics' pick Best Art Books 2020\u003c\/b\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eDubbed Ray Johnson's Boswell, writer and logophile William S. Wilson was one of legendary artist Ray Johnson's closest friends and biggest champions. He was also perhaps Johnson's most trusted poetic muse and synthesizer of referents and references. The influence was mutual: throughout their lifelong friendship, begun when both men were in their twenties, writer and artist challenged and enriched one another's work. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003ePublished on the occasion of the exhibition of Ray Johnson works from Wilson's archive at the Art Institute of Chicago, \u003ci\u003eFrog Pond Splash\u003c\/i\u003e embodies the energy, expansiveness and motion of their work and their friendship. Editor Elizabeth Zuba has selected short, perspicacious texts by Wilson (from both published and unpublished writings) and collage works by Johnson to create juxtapositions that do not explicate or illustrate; rather, they form a loose collage-like letter of works and writings that are less bound than assembled, allowing the reader to put the pieces together, to respond, to add to and return to the way Johnson required of his correspondents and fellow travelers. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eTaking its title from Wilson's haiku equivalence of Johnson's process, \u003ci\u003eFrog Pond Splash\u003c\/i\u003e is a small book but many things: a collage-like homage to their friendship, a treasure chest of prismatic correspondances, as well as an unusual portrait of the disappearing, fractured Johnson through Wilson's words. Zuba's nuanced selection and arrangement of images and texts in this sumptuous little volume honors Johnson's open system (which rejected closed and consistent meanings, codes and symbols) in its open, associative, and intimate playfulness.\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eNumber of Pages:\u003c\/strong\u003e 88\u003c\/div\u003e\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDimensions:\u003c\/strong\u003e 0.5 x 7.2 x 5.4 IN\u003c\/div\u003e\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eIllustrated:\u003c\/strong\u003e Yes\u003c\/div\u003e\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePublication Date:\u003c\/strong\u003e November 20, 2020\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Books by splitShops","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":51768783372576,"sku":"9781938221279","price":29.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0974\/9764\/5344\/files\/7529e8cd7ec9cc875e764e6ffaeb81f1.webp?v=1780337196","url":"https:\/\/ebocreations.com\/products\/ray-johnson-and-william-s-wilson-frog-pond-splash-collages-by-ray-johnson-with-texts-by-william-s-wilson-hardcover","provider":"The E-Book Oasis LLC","version":"1.0","type":"link"}