Arcana:

(RHOADES, JASON). Rhoades, Jason. NP. ND (Circa 1997).: NP (Self-Published). First Edition. 8vo. Stapled Pictorial Wrappers. Artist's Book. Very Good.. np (22pp), 9 b&w illustrations + color covers. "VARIOUSVIRGINS: Deviations in Space" is a slender twenty-two page artist's book likely produced by Jason Rhoades in conjunction with his 1997 installation entitled "Deviations in Space, Various Virgins" exhibited at New York's David Zwirner Gallery. In it, the iconoclastic late Los Angeles-based artist definies a number of terms incorporating the word "version" - from "aversion" to "universion" - before elaborating upon the piece's references, background, and sculptural components. It is an intensely smart publication that reveals the work's inspiration in both Pasadena's notorious rocket propulsion pioneer-turned-Majick acolyte Jack Whiteside Parsons and the artistic practice of Franz West! As a bonus, it also reproduces Rhoades' astrological natal chart. Low-budget and chaotic like so many of his installations, this was almost certainly hand-assembled and staple-bound by Rhoades himself at his Inglewood studio using the artist's trusty Canon multi-cartridge color duplicator. A most handsome example of this exceedingly uncommon, possibly unique document showing some trivial dampstaining along the top edge of the last few pages. Inventory Number: 026501