dumdum Artist's Book by Christopher Selleck
This artist’s book is featured in the MCBA/Jerome Book Arts Residency XVII Exhibition, on display in MCBA’s Main Gallery from October 31st, 2024 to January 4th, 2025. They will ship on January 10th, 2025, after the exhibition has closed.
This piece is featured in the November 2024 issue of The Fore Edge, a quarterly newsletter from MCBA that highlights new artist’s books and zines for collections, universities, and libraries. If you are interested in receiving this newsletter, there is a sign up available here. Past featured pieces can be viewed here.
“dumdum is a trayed box that holds a pair of metallic silver hand weights or dumbbells each weighing 5 pounds. It is not until they are handled that they are revealed to be mimetic reproductions cast in hydrocal cement. The playful trick a subversive reference to the nature of strength and the underlying connections to traditional masculinity. The title dumdum is also a tongue in cheek reference to the often-used stereotype that weightlifters lack depth, intelligence or emotional maturity beyond the surface of their muscled bodies. Once the divided tray is removed, a small almost unnoticeable tab appears. When the tab is pulled, the bottom layer is discovered to be a false bottom holding a vintage gay erotic fiction magazine. This sense of secrecy and self-restraint echoed in the fictionalized encounters documented in the pages of the digest sized magazine, where the encounters between men are often fraught with the need for discretion or an alignment with heteronormative expectations of masculinity.
dumdum was fabricated with assistance from Keith Taylor, a professional book and box builder and a master photographic printer based in Minneapolis.” -Christopher Selleck
Box: 10.25” x 7.25” x 4.25”
Weights: 8.25” x 2.25” x 2.25” each
Inner Box: 9.25” x 6.25” x 2.75”
Hidden Magazine: Varied
*Consignment item. Not eligible for 10% membership discount. All consignment purchases are final and non-refundable once shipped.
This artist’s book is featured in the MCBA/Jerome Book Arts Residency XVII Exhibition, on display in MCBA’s Main Gallery from October 31st, 2024 to January 4th, 2025. They will ship on January 10th, 2025, after the exhibition has closed.
This piece is featured in the November 2024 issue of The Fore Edge, a quarterly newsletter from MCBA that highlights new artist’s books and zines for collections, universities, and libraries. If you are interested in receiving this newsletter, there is a sign up available here. Past featured pieces can be viewed here.
“dumdum is a trayed box that holds a pair of metallic silver hand weights or dumbbells each weighing 5 pounds. It is not until they are handled that they are revealed to be mimetic reproductions cast in hydrocal cement. The playful trick a subversive reference to the nature of strength and the underlying connections to traditional masculinity. The title dumdum is also a tongue in cheek reference to the often-used stereotype that weightlifters lack depth, intelligence or emotional maturity beyond the surface of their muscled bodies. Once the divided tray is removed, a small almost unnoticeable tab appears. When the tab is pulled, the bottom layer is discovered to be a false bottom holding a vintage gay erotic fiction magazine. This sense of secrecy and self-restraint echoed in the fictionalized encounters documented in the pages of the digest sized magazine, where the encounters between men are often fraught with the need for discretion or an alignment with heteronormative expectations of masculinity.
dumdum was fabricated with assistance from Keith Taylor, a professional book and box builder and a master photographic printer based in Minneapolis.” -Christopher Selleck
Box: 10.25” x 7.25” x 4.25”
Weights: 8.25” x 2.25” x 2.25” each
Inner Box: 9.25” x 6.25” x 2.75”
Hidden Magazine: Varied
*Consignment item. Not eligible for 10% membership discount. All consignment purchases are final and non-refundable once shipped.
This artist’s book is featured in the MCBA/Jerome Book Arts Residency XVII Exhibition, on display in MCBA’s Main Gallery from October 31st, 2024 to January 4th, 2025. They will ship on January 10th, 2025, after the exhibition has closed.
This piece is featured in the November 2024 issue of The Fore Edge, a quarterly newsletter from MCBA that highlights new artist’s books and zines for collections, universities, and libraries. If you are interested in receiving this newsletter, there is a sign up available here. Past featured pieces can be viewed here.
“dumdum is a trayed box that holds a pair of metallic silver hand weights or dumbbells each weighing 5 pounds. It is not until they are handled that they are revealed to be mimetic reproductions cast in hydrocal cement. The playful trick a subversive reference to the nature of strength and the underlying connections to traditional masculinity. The title dumdum is also a tongue in cheek reference to the often-used stereotype that weightlifters lack depth, intelligence or emotional maturity beyond the surface of their muscled bodies. Once the divided tray is removed, a small almost unnoticeable tab appears. When the tab is pulled, the bottom layer is discovered to be a false bottom holding a vintage gay erotic fiction magazine. This sense of secrecy and self-restraint echoed in the fictionalized encounters documented in the pages of the digest sized magazine, where the encounters between men are often fraught with the need for discretion or an alignment with heteronormative expectations of masculinity.
dumdum was fabricated with assistance from Keith Taylor, a professional book and box builder and a master photographic printer based in Minneapolis.” -Christopher Selleck
Box: 10.25” x 7.25” x 4.25”
Weights: 8.25” x 2.25” x 2.25” each
Inner Box: 9.25” x 6.25” x 2.75”
Hidden Magazine: Varied
*Consignment item. Not eligible for 10% membership discount. All consignment purchases are final and non-refundable once shipped.
Christopher Selleck was born in Augusta, GA. He received his BFA in Photography from the University of MN-Twin Cities in 2013 and his MFA in Visual Studies and Photography from the Minneapolis College of Art & Design in 2016. Selleck currently divides his time between an active studio practice and teaching photography at the Minneapolis College. He has been exhibited and published both Nationally and Regionally, including a notable solo exhibit at the Minneapolis Institute of Arts.
