Is THIS a Book?! Local Artists’ Books from the Book Arts and Fine Press Collection in Special Collections
What is an artists' book?
Artists’ books are works of art that utilize the form of the book. Forms may include the traditional codex (think bound pages between two covers), scrolls, fold-outs, concertinas (accordion fold), or even loose items contained in a box. This display features artists’ books from our collection that challenge the conventional “book” format. Many become sculptural objects.
What terms would you use to define a “book”? Here are a few definitions to get you started:
A handwritten or printed work of fiction or nonfiction, usually on sheets of paper fastened or bound together within covers;
A set of written sheets of skin or paper or tablets of wood or ivory;
A number of one type of thing fastened together flat inside a cover;
A medium for recording information in the form of writing or images
Now consider these definitions as you look at the objects in this display. Are they books? By your definition of book, is an e-book a book?
The Book Arts and Fine Press Collection includes hundreds of works by local and national book artists and fine press publishers in addition to books about book artistry, which includes printing, papermaking, fine binding, typography, and more. The library acquires dozens of new artists’ books annually and often works directly with artists in the community to build the collection.
Photos: (Top) Book arts display at Minneapolis Central Library in May 2021, (Middle left) The Natural History Museum #1 by Cathy Durso - 2014, (Middle right) The Vowels: A Congregation of Preachers by CB Sherlock/Seymour Press - 2013, (Bottom) On Hospitality by Regula Russelle/Cedar Fence Press - 2014
baratheonpilled
stormborns
vaporwave
prguitarman
ellievsbear
kianamaiart
