Austin Film Society Austin, TX
Aaron T. Pratt, Ph.D
Carl and Lily Pforzheimer Curator of Early Books and Manuscripts, The Harry Ransom Center at The University of Texas at Austin; Assistant Professor of Instruction, Department of English
The Colour of Ink— Humankind makes its mark: A scientific and artistic exploration of ink
Program Description
Dr. Aaron Pratt, Carl and Lily Pforzheimer Curator of Early Books and Manuscripts from The Harry Ransom Center at The University of Texas at Austin, discusses his experience with the printed and written holdings at the archives as well as considerations for the preservation and recovery of inked artifacts.
Presented At
Austin Film Society Austin, TX
Film Synopsis
Toronto inkmaker Jason S. Logan harvests colours from the wild-weeds, berries, bark, flowers, rocks, rust-and sends custom-made inks to artists around the world, from a New Yorker cartoonist to a Tokyo calligrapher.
Ink is our primal medium. It has always been with us, inscribing the evolution of humanity. The Colour of Ink uncovers the medium's mystery and power through the eyes of Jason Logan, a visionary Toronto inkmaker. Working with ingredients foraged in the wild-weeds, berries, bark, flowers, rocks, rust-he makes ink from just about anything. Jason sends custom-made inks to an eclectic range of artists around the world, from a New Yorker cartoonist to a Japanese calligrapher. As the inks take on a life of their own, his playful alchemy paints a story of colour that reconnects us to the earth and returns us to a childlike sense of wonder.
Photo credit: Sphinx Productions
About the Speaker
Pratt graduated from Yale University in 2016 with a doctor of philosophy in English Literature. As the Curator of Early Books and Manuscripts, Pratt provides curatorial support for the Ransom Center’s early book and manuscript holdings and participates in a variety of activities that promote their teaching and research use.
The Center’s early book and manuscript holdings include the Carl H. Pforzheimer Library of English Literature, which is internationally known for first and important editions of plays, poems, novels, essays, polemical writings and translations of the most significant English writers from 1475 to 1700. The Pforzheimer books are supplemented by 2,000 manuscript items.
Pratt's particular research interests include early modern literature, bibliography, and the history of home video. Prior to his appointment at The Harry Ransom Center, he ran a small business as a bookseller.