MICHAEL HARVEY - Unoriginal Sins

GROVE. 1997.

paul robertson — Tue, 08 Jul 1997 17:17:57 +0000

Little Sparta: Wild Hawthorn Press, 1997

8 x 16cm, 2pp artist's card with typography by Michael Harvey printed green and lime on white card. The poem reads

GROVE.

FLYING-JIB OR OUTE-JIB. MAIN-STAYSAIL JIB. MAIN-TRYSAL. FORE-STAYSAIL MIZEN-STAYSAIL. FORE-TRYSAIL JIB-HEADED SPANKER

The ship is described by its various masts and sails - the verticality of which reminds Finlay of a grove of trees. The bring colour of the card also evokes vegetation. VG+.

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A TRADITIONAL RUSSET TINT. 1996.

paul robertson — Tue, 16 Apr 1996 14:49:02 +0000

Little Sparta: Wild Hawthorn Press, 1996

13.4 x 14.2cm, 2pp brown on cream artist's card with typography by Michael Harvey in an old-fashioned style. The text notes that linseed oil, cod oil, red ochre, yellow ochre and seawater caused the colouring on older sails as if deliberately painted. VG+.

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FOR THE TEMPLES OF THE GREEKS…. 1995.

paul robertson — Wed, 02 Aug 1995 18:33:15 +0000

Little Sparta: Wild Hawthorn Press, 1995

8.3 x 19.2cm, 1pp, Artist's card with an elevation drawing of a modern warship with the various towers and gun placements being labelled as if they are the four types of classical columns found in Greek architecture. An amusing correspondence but the quotation "For the Temples of the Greeks our homesickness last forever" comes from Odysseus and his longing for the familiar sights of his home. That gives this war machine a poignancy that the forms of sheet metal itself are unlikely to encourage. The beauty of Michael Harvey's line drawing also makes the boat a thing of classical form.
This image was also a much larger print and one of Finlay's most popular late works. VG+.

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PURSE SEINE. 1995.

paul robertson — Thu, 20 Jul 1995 18:44:40 +0000

Little Sparta: Wild Hawthorn Press, 1995

10.5 x 15cm, 2pp, Artist's card with concrete poem drawn by Michael Harvey in orange and green. The words Purse and Seine are jumbled up the former words all on top, the latter below. The mass of the words comes to resemble the actual Purse Seine - a form of netting that is vertical and surrounds the fish - usually netting far more catch than more traditional formats. VG+.

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SCOTTISH BLUE BELL. WK279. MATCHBOX SCULPTURE.

paul robertson — Tue, 09 May 1995 10:43:24 +0000

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HOLLAND. 1994.

paul robertson — Tue, 09 Aug 1994 15:42:40 +0000

Little Sparta: Wild Hawthorn Press, 1994

10.5 x 14.2cm, 2pp card designed by Michael Harvey under Finlay's instruction. A brick wall has the words

Holland

WINDMILLS

WATERWAYS

BICYCLES

BRICKS

The cliches of Holland are conjoined with Dutch brick which is (clear from its name) a regional brick which was used to create a different architectural look (and also for ballast in British boats), Dutch bond is also a style of laying bricks in which " the vertical joints of the stretchers in any course are in line with the centres of the first stretchers above and below." as here. VG+.

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LEMON. 1994.

paul robertson — Wed, 27 Jul 1994 19:20:45 +0000

Little Sparta: Wild Hawthorn Press, 1994

11 x 14.2cm, 1pp card. A drawing of a lemon by Michael Harvey using architectural methods - as if on a blue print giving plans and body plans. Finlay often uses fruit to represent boats and the various parts of the fruit here are labelled as "aft" or fore". VG+.

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AN 18TH CENTURY LINE ON A WATERING-CAN.

paul robertson — Sun, 01 Nov 1992 17:01:25 +0000

Little Sparta: Wild Hawthorn Press, 1992

12.5 x 14.8cm, 4pp. Folding card with a drawing by Michael Harvey on the front and inside. The watering can has the text on it that is repeated inside the card so it can be read in full: "The mute dispenser of the vernal shower". The latter is an adaption of Thomas Gray’s 1769 "Sweet is the breath of vernal shower . . . The still small voice of gratitude" (‘Ode for Music’). The water from the watering-can is now a spring-time shower but without any sound of rain. Finlay may also be reminding the reader of the events of Arrosoir 1974 when Robespierre and his cohorts were removed overnight by his colleagues on the National Convention but that was July and perhaps not a spring cleansing shower - that is moot. VG+

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SIX MILESTONES. 1991.

paul robertson — Fri, 12 Jul 1991 19:45:27 +0000

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IAN HAMILTON FINLAY. LONGHOUSE. 1991. SIGNED & NUMBERED FROM EDITION OF 30.

paul robertson — Fri, 22 Feb 1991 09:09:02 +0000

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SWALLOWS LITTLE MATELOTS. 1989.

paul robertson — Wed, 26 Jul 1989 14:08:39 +0000

Little Sparta: Wild Hawthorn Press, 1989

59 x 59cm, blue on white silkscreen. The work is entirely typographical, the text - SWALLOWS LITTLE MATELOTS - hand-drawn by Michael Harvey. The font is light and sans serif - and the ease of line reminds one of the bird's flight against the blue sky. Additionally the Ws and Ms in the rhythmic drawing reflect the wings of these nimble birds. Finally the poet's words reminds everyone that these fabulously fast and social animals have similarities to sailors. A lovely print which in its simplicity deceives. VG+.

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A GATEWAY TO A GROVE. 1985.

paul robertson — Mon, 12 Aug 1985 20:24:57 +0000

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