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Tyson (Ian) Collection
MSS 0413
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Table of contents
Languages:
English
Contributing Institution:
Special Collections & Archives, UC San Diego
9500 Gilman Drive
La Jolla 92093-0175
Title: Ian Tyson Collection
Identifier/Call Number: MSS 0413
Physical Description:
5.6 Linear feet
(4 archives boxes, 2 map case folders, and 8 flat boxes)
Date (inclusive): 1966-2010
Abstract: The Ian Tyson Collection contains book production materials for collaborations between Ian Tyson, the British painter, printmaker
and book artist, and prominent poets including Andrew Crozier, Larry Eigner, Wai-lim Yip, Jackson Mac Low, and Jerome Rothenberg.
Materials include correspondence, manuscripts, page layouts, paste-ups, galley proofs, and Tyson's original artworks.
Scope and Content of Collection
The Ian Tyson Collection contains book production materials for collaborations between Ian Tyson, the British painter, printmaker
and book artist, and prominent poets including Andrew Crozier, Larry Eigner, Wai-lim Yip, Jackson Mac Low, and Jerome Rothenberg.
Materials include correspondence, manuscripts, page layouts, paste-ups, galley proofs, and Tyson's original artworks. Ian
Tyson's books are the main focus in the collection and include: A Line That May be Cut (1968); Sightings I-IX, and, Red Easy
a Color (1968); 17 Horse Songs of Frank Mitchell, Nos. X-XII (1969); 23rd Light Poem for Larry Eigner (1969); The Pronouns
(1971); Narratives and Real Theater Pieces (1977); History of Dada as my Muse (1982); Songs from the Society of the Mystic
Animals (1982); Poem: A Cast of Dice Never can Annul Chance (1985); Millenium (1988); Six Gematria (1992); Surimono 3 (1995);
Pavan (2002); Vert(ical) (2003); Jardin de V(ie) (2004); and Surimono 7, after Li Ho (2005).
Arranged in three series: 1) BOOK COLLABORATIONS, 2) BOOKS BY TYSON, and 3) MISCELLANEOUS MATERIALS.
Ian Tyson was born in Wallasey, Cheshire, United Kingdom in April 1933. Tyson grew up in Upton, outside of Birkenhead, but
spent much time as a child with his grandparents near Wigan. He attended school in Wigan during the World War II and later
attended his father's old school. It was there he was introduced to modern art and creating expressive and abstract art. After
graduating, he worked as an apprentice engineer in the shipyards for two years. He decided, though, that his future was not
in engineering, and continued making artwork independently, determined to attend Birkhead School of Art, where he remained
for about two years.
In 1954, Tyson moved to London where he studied figure and life painting at the Royal Academy Schools for four years, in
addition to attending etching and lithography evening classes. He then took a position in the printmaking department at the
Camberwell School of Art and Craft, then about a year later, taught lithography at the Farmham School of Art from 1959-1966.
His first solo show was in 1958-59 at the 1957 Gallery in Edinburgh. It was at Farnham where he met Ron King and in 1967 when
King formed Circle Press, he joined him and started screenprinting. Shortly thereafter, he met Jerome Rothenberg through Stuart
Montgomery of Fulcrum Press. When Rothenberg saw Tyson's visual interpretations of poetry he suggested one of his poems, which
led to the first collaboration between the two and the second publication of Circle Press, SIGHTINGS I-IX & RED EASY A COLOR
(1968).
In 1970, Tyson founded his own press in London, Tetrad Press, where he worked with contemporary artists and poets including
Jackson Mac Low, Tom Phillips, Roy Fisher, and Larry Eigner. During this time, he created visual interpretations of his own
texts including LETTERS FROM THE BLACK PALACE I-III (1971) and STANZA FROM THE GRAVE (1972). In addition to his printmaking
and book works, he also created paintings and sculptures. Tyson operated Tetrad Press until 1995, whereupon he started ED.IT
Press at his home in France.
He was a visiting professor at the Royal College of Art (1984), the University of Wisconsin, Madison (1969) and the University
of California, San Diego (1992), and a Brinkley Fellow at the Norwich School of Art (1979-1980).
While he has continued to produced books arts and prints, he also has increasingly engaged in sculpture. Permanent installations
of his sculptures are located in Drome and Séguret, France; London; and the University of East Anglia. In the course of his
career, he has been featured in more than 32 solo exhibitions and 44 group exhibitions and his work can be found in more than
three dozen public collections across North American and Europe.
Publication rights are held by the creator of the collection.
Ian Tyson Collection, MSS 413. Special Collections & Archives, UC San Diego.
Acquired 1996, 1997, 2003, 2004, and 2010.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Artists' books
Book designers -- Great Britain -- Biography
Book design
Artists -- Great Britain -- Biography
Yip, Wai-lim -- Correspondence
Tyson, Ian, 1933- -- Archives
Mac Low, Jackson -- Correspondence
Rothenberg, Jerome, 1931- -- Correspondence