University of Minnesota Libraries

Francis V. Gorman Rare Art Book Collection began from an endowment given to the University of MN Libraries in 1987, for the growth of the art collection and in support of the professional activities of the art librarian. The collection consists of a broad range of rare art exhibition catalogs, artists books, illustrated periodicals (19th century), published sketchbooks from artists and architects, rare monographs, style guides, and zines. The date range is from 1500s - present with strong focus on the 19th century and the post 1950 avant garde. The collection is highlighted in annual exhibitions.

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NEW ACQUISITION: The Fluxus Performance Workbook, 1990

“The first examples of what were to become Fluxus event scores date back to John Cage's famous class atThe New School, where artists such as George Brecht,Al Hansen, Allan Kaprow, and Alison Knowles began to create art works and performances in musical form.One of these forms was the event. Events tend to be scored in brief verbal notations. These notes are known as event scores. In a general sense, they are proposals,propositions, and instructions. Thus, they are sometimes known as proposal pieces, propositions, or instructions”

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Highlights from the Culture Wars Zine Collection that were on exhibit in the Protest Publishing and Art show

The Guerrilla Graywater Girls Guide to Water, 2001

The Coup Vol 2 Issue 2, 2003

Gaylord Phoenix Issue 4, 2009

What’s a Zine? The Revolution will be photocopied (and classified), Madison Zine Fest, 2005

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Upcoming article about our zine collection

We are pleased to announce that we will be highlighted in an upcoming article, The Libraries’ Zine Collection: Inspiring Assignments and Art, written by Jon Jeffyres about our zine collection and recent exhibit, Protest Publishing and Art: From the Copy Machine to the Internet. Here’s a little taste: 

“The University of Minnesota Libraries houses a unique collection of handmade publications that are sparking scholarly engagement and creative inspiration. Over the past year Arts & Architecture Librarian, Deborah Ultan, partnered with faculty to incorporate the Marshall Weber Culture Wars Zine Collection into multiple classes.The collaboration culminated with the exhibition "Protest Publishing and Art: From the Copy Machine to the Internet", where highlights from the zine collection were shown with zines and poster art made by students, faculty, and community members.”

The article will be published in the upcoming issue of University of Minnesota’s magazine, “Continuum.”

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PROTEST PUBLISHING AND ART: From the Copy Machine to the Internet

March 13 - May 19, 2017

A culminating exhibit of protest publishing and art featuring zines from the Culture Wars Zine Collection, student made zines, protest posters, and performance art.  The exhibit is a collaboration between the University Libraries, the Department of Communication Studies, the Department of Art and local artists.

Opening Reception: April 20th 5-7:30pm

4th floor of Wilson Library, T.R. Anderson Gallery

309 19th Ave S Minneapolis, MN  55455 United States

Pannel discussion at 5:30pm with local artists, faculty and students

Refreshments provided

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New Acquisition: Southern Landscapes 

Published by 21st century editions, this gorgeous book is a limited edition of 58 copies. 

Photographs by Sally Mann Text by John Stauffer Edited by John Wood Edition: 58 copies 11 bound and 3 loose platinum prints 13 x 15 inches Handcrafted in New England

Currently being cataloged and will shortly be available for perusal from our collection.

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WEIRD FORMAT WEDNESDAY: Fluxus Preview Review by George Maciunas, 1963

We have several Fluxus items in our collection, this scroll is one of the recent additions.

Vertical scroll printed in offset (both recto and verso) on three joined strips of coated stock, rolled as issued. The scroll includes a montage of scores, performance photographs, information on future performances, listing of past and future Fluxus publications, and the definition of the hyper-word "Fluxus". Contributors include: Eric Anderson, Ben Patterson, La Monte Young, Jackson Mac Low, Dick Higgins, Daniel Spoerri, J. J. Lambert, Henry Flynt, Yoko Ono, etc.  Editorial committee: Chairman, George Maciunas; Cross section, Nam June Paik, Emmett Williams; U.S. section, La Monte Young [and others], as well as sections representing other countries. 

Find it in the catalog

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WEIRD FORMAT WEDNESDAY: The Bookmaker - Deb Rindl, 2000

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WEIRD FORMAT WEDNESDAY: 1018 W Scott Street - Thomas Rose, 2005

Description: "The images are printed on Arches Infinity digital 203 g/m paper on an Epson 4000 by Digi-Graphics in Minneapolis. The clamshell box, typography and printing are by Chip Schilling of Indulgence press. The text is set in the typeface, Century. The pages are printed letterpress from plates onto Arches Infinity 230 g/m paper"--Colophon.

Find it in the catalog

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WEIRD FORMAT WEDNESDAY: EDVARD MUNCH ETCHINGS, 1950

Perhaps this format isn’t quite as weird, this item contains a portfolio, several loose etchings from Munch, in a wrapper and matching box.  There is also a separate booklet with contextual information.

Munch is best known for his work “The Scream.”  He was a Norwegian artist whose work dealt with the depth of human psychology.

“As early as 1885, Edvard Munch felt the need to develop a bolder and more simplified style of painting, which we have now come to know as ‘expressionism’. He was one of those artists who reacted against naturalism, and led a movement which has since dominated modern art. It took Munch ten years to produce his own expressionist style, which was the formative influence of the German School of 1902, and which later in 1940 influenced American experimental art. Both as a painter and as a graphic artist, Munch searched to express the hitherto unplumbed depths of the human soul.” 

-Johan H. Langaard, Tate Britian

Find it in the catalog

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WEIRD FORMAT WEDNESDAY: Pablo Picasso’s Guernica : the 42 preliminary studies on paper reproduced in facsimile, 1990

This book is 2 feet long and consists of a booklet and 31 plates.  This facsimile includes an introduction and commentary by the curator of The Picasso Museum in Paris, Marie-Laure Bernadac.  Throughout the plates, you can observe Picasso’s process, to peek into his genius.

Picasso’s enormous black and white painting, Guernica, was completed in June of 1937.  It is considered one of the most powerful anti-war paintings created.

Find it in the catalog

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WEIRD FORMAT WEDNESDAY: New Acquisition to the Fine Art Press Collection at the UMN Libraries (a corresponding collection to Gorman Rare Art Books Collection) - Miniature Books created by Jody Williams, 1989-2014

Jody Williams is a local Minneapolis book artist who teaches printmaking and book arts at the Minneapolis College of Art and Design and the Minnesota Center for Book Arts.  She has also taught at Columbia College Chicago Center for Book and Paper Arts and the University of Iowa Center for the Book.  Her work is in several library and museum collections such as The Walker Art Center, San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, and the Minnesota Historical Society.  Williams has received many grants, awards and fellowships throughout her career.

Her limited edition books are printed and bound with different materials and a vast variety of different formats.

@uispeccoll also wrote a tumblr post about her books in their collection!

Find her miniature books in our special collections!

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WEIRD FORMAT WEDNESDAY: A B C--we print anything--in the cards - Carolee Schneemann, 1977

The cards are from a performance art piece by Carolee Schneemann.  The following quote is from LIMA’s website.  LIMA is based in The Netherlands and is the international platform for sustainable access to media art.  You can read more as well as view a clip from her performance here  

“This performance, recorded at De Appel, is completely different from what would be expected from Schneeman. Schneeman herself describes her performance as a ‘lecture with images’. She is sitting up straight, almost formally, in front of a white screen. Her contours are sharply defined against the canvas hanging behind her, due to a bright lamp that is shining on her. She is dispassionately reading out texts that are written on small cards. Blue cards contain conversations between characters a, b, c and d. Fragments from dreams and diaries are written on yellow cards, while red cards contain comments from friends and artists about each other. The differently coloured cards are being read in random order. (However, the video is in black-and-white, so that th colours of the cards remain a secret). Slides are being projected on two screens behind Schneeman; on the left, slides of the texts being read, so that the audience can read along, and in the middle, private, unposed photos of Schneeman and her friends. Despite the fact that both text and images often convey an intimate tale, the performer Schneeman remains aloof from her own story. She presents it as clinical and detached as if she were reading the ABC. The strength of this performance lies in the constructed scenario form that Schneeman has chosen. Both visually and textually, she takes her story apart to investigate the relationship that comes about between text and image. The text is recorded in, or rather, translated into, a scenario, so that in fact persons come across more as characters. Her monotonous presentation reinforces this detachment, and makes the intimate photos and texts almost implausible. The authenticity of language and images is put to a severe test.”

Find it in the catalog

Her work, Vulva’s Morphia #33, is also in our special collections!

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WEIRD FORMAT WEDNESDAY: A+B - Arthur & Barbara, 2011

"Arthur & Barbara is a portrait of art critic/philosopher Arthur Danto and artist Barbara Westman seen reflected in the space of their New York City apartment on Riverside Drive. This book embodies their life and work in symbolic forms of thoughtful play ... Arthur & Barbara is a collection of simple objects, images and "games" referring to both Duchamp's Boîte-en-valise and to Fluxus Collections."--Artist's prospectus. 

Created with Mahogany, aluminum, DVD, letterpress and archival pigment printing, laser etching, duplex plastic, paper and Van Heek cloth. 

Limited edition of 20. 

Find it in the catalog

Find more artists’ books in our special collections!

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COLLECTION HIGHLIGHT: Dracula : A Toy Theatre : The Sets and Costumes of the Broadway Production of the Play Designed by Edward Gorey, 1979

Gorey’s award winning Broadway production of Dracula opened on October 20, 1977.  He designed the costumes and sets and won a Tony Award for his costume designs.

This book includes adapted furnishings, characters and scenery which can be cut out and assembled to create a toy theatre.

Edward Gorey (1925-2000) was an American writer and artist known for his black and white gothic style set in Victorian times.  He wrote more than 100 books, many of which are rare and hard to find , and illustrated more than 50 works by other authors.

Find it in the catalog

More Edward Gorey materials in our Special Collections!

More Dracula materials in our Special Collections!

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WEIRD FORMAT WEDNESDAY: Moses and the Shepherd - Poem by Jalaluddin Mohammad Rumi, 1207-1273.  Print by Daniel Keleher and Etchings by Mark Beard, 1987

Accordion style book gives the reader multiple ways to engage with the story.  A historical poem given new life through artwork, fine printing and unique binding.

Limited Edition 64/100

Find it in the catalog

Find more Artists’ Books in our special collections!

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WEIRD FORMAT WEDNESDAY: Holzpostkarte - Joseph Bueys , 1974

How would you like to receive this postcard in the mail?

Joseph Bueys was a German artist and prominent figure of the Fluxus movement.  Primarily a sculptor and performance artist, he participated in time-based “happenings” and Impermanent installation art.  He shared the Fluxus values of pushing at and seeking to eradicate the boundaries of the art world.

Find it in the catalog

Find more Joseph Bueys materials in our special collections!

Pst....you can see an online collection of his works at the moma!

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WEIRD FORMAT WEDNESDAY: Compositions 1961, Fluxus Special Editions - La Monte Young, 1963

La Monte Young was often regarded as 

The first minimalist composer

He was born October 14, 1935 and is 79 years old.  As an avant garde composer, musician and artist, he created a large body of work.  Young collaborated with Yoko Ono and George Maciunas of Fluxus, contributing works for publication in Fluxus compilations.

This tiny book measures 9 x 10cm.  

Find it in the catalog

Want to learn more about this piece?   Check out Title: Draw a straight line and follow it : the music and mysticism of La Monte Young by Jeremy Neal Grimshaw

Find more La Monte Young materials in our rare art book collection!

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