Collections
Baby Book: Variations on a Theme by James Joyce / Anthony Aguiliar
Accordion books
FA.SA3.0060
6.5 x 5.1 in; 16.5 x 13 cm
Accordion book with a padded and stitched baby blanket (or diaper?) with cartoon animal print; held closed with a snap tab with rick rack edges. Signed in pencil by the artist, "Al Anguliar". Off white rag paper folded pages with deckle edges contain black & white vintage photographs held in place with clear plastic photo corners; photos are presumably of the artist (or narrator). Photographs depict childhood and family snapshots circa early 1960s, while accompanying typewritten text presents a question that becomes increasingly descriptive as the pages advance, " What can make a boy born in the bustling metropolis of Albuquerque, New Mexico.../ and who, in the first grade, received grades of satisfactory in Arts and Crafts.../ whose iconography at the that time consisted of subjects of the equine persuasion.../and whose father was excessively spruce and dapper.../as well as being a fearless and adept big game hunter.../and whose mother married him for those attributes.../and whose sisters were loving and virtuous.../now what could make a boy with such a background want to become an artist?". The last page of the book lists "References";family members, first grade teacher, and a note indicating that Alfonso Anthony Aguilar, III is/was "known back home as Alfie".