The rooms of the National Museum of Ornamental Arts will welcome starting from upcoming month of March, the exhibition "Skin of Silk: textile bookbinding in Spain", giving us the opportunity to admire and to see, works of art that will be exposed for the first time. The sample will gather a selection of books bound in cloths and embroideries from the XIII century until our times, being able to contemplate the evolution that this art presents. This evolution can be admired through outstanding masters exhibiting different historical styles that were not well-known embroideries in Spain but however, were the main characteristic of the old textile bookbindings in Europe. One of the objectives that the Association for the Development of the Art of Bookbinding (AFEDA)-, seeks, is to familiarize this artistic expression to the general public, keeping in mind that until the moment it was restricted to a very reduced cultural public.
Two Hundred Years of Children's Books.
curated by
Iris R. Snyder
irsnyder@udel.edu
An exhibition at the Hugh M. Morris Library,
University of Delaware Library,
Newark, Delaware.
The exhibition includes books for children from the eighteenth through the
twentieth centuries including early primers and chapbooks, illustrated
classics, and pop-up and movable books.
The exhibition highlights material from the University's fine collections
of English and American literature and educational materials.
In western Europe, there was no separate category of books for children before the eighteenth century. The Bible, stories of saints and martyrs, and bestiaries or books about exotic animals, were probably the first printed books available to children. The woodcut illustrations of these early works would be intriguing even for those unable to read the text. As early as the fourteenth century, children learned to read using horn books. These earliest primers consisted of a piece of paper or parchment fit into a recess in a tablet of wood or leather. On the paper the letters of the alphabet, a set of Roman numerals and perhaps the words of the Lord's Prayer were written or printed. As the student learned to read, the simple letters would be replaced by longer sentences.
The Center for Book Arts is dedicated to the preservation of the traditional crafts of bookmaking,
as well as contemporary interpretations of the book as an art object. Founded in 1974, it was the
first non-profit organization of its kind in the USA, and has since become a model for others
around the world. The Center organizes exhibitions related to the art of the book which feature
both emerging and established artists. More than 200 artists a year use the Center's fully-equipped
printshop and bindery to create new works which reflect centuries of craft tradition. The Center
also offers an extensive selection of educational courses, workshops and seminars in traditional
and contemporary bookbinding, letterpress printing, papermaking and other associated arts. The
Center provides services to artists, including an intern, artist-in-residence and apprenticeship
program, produces special publications, and maintains an artists' slide registry. With the support of
numerous foundations, corporations, individual contributors, and over 700 members worldwide,
the Center for Book Arts ensures that the ancient craft of the book -- that container which
preserves the knowledge and ideas of a culture -- remains a viable and vital part of our civilization. The Center of Bookarts Program, offers 16 pages of information about the membership and all courses.
The center is a non-profit organization made possible with the support of several sponsoring institutions. A hotlist of interesting, particularly bookart related sites, is regularly updated.
Victoria and Albert Museum
"The National Art Library has always collected books disseminating the ideas of artists and demonstrating the artist's experimentation with the medium of the book. These publications are broadly referred to as Artists' Books and there are currently c.5,000 items in the Library's collection. The earliest dates from the 1890s and the collection includes some fine examples from the first half of the 20th century. See the Library's Collection development policy for a fuller description of the collection of artists' books.
A significant feature of the latter part of the 20th century is the creation of books as individual works of art. Some of these are produced by people who have come from a background of traditional activities associated with books, such as binding or book illustration and design. Others are made by artists who wish to explore the role of books in daily life and in our culture generally, and provide a forceful comment on the association that books have for the individual and society."
Actor Brad Pitt may have taken moviegoers to the edge of
their seats in "Seven Years In Tibet," but the University
of Virginia's Special Collections Department will take you on an
enlightenment odyssey with a ground-breaking 19-week
exhibition that appeals simultaneously to the intellect and
spiritual senses.
A prayer wheel. A ritual scepter and bell. A
magnificent ivory statue depicting Padmasambhava --
revered for subduing demons -- seated on a silver throne. A
ritual dagger to conquer evil or negative emotions, a
sacred altar and a bunting of prayer flags. These are just
a few of the symbols of peaceful and wrathful deities in
Tibetan iconography and scroll paintings that are
mounted as part of a comprehensive exhibition titled, The
Tibetan Book of the Dead: Literature and Artwork on Prayer,
Ritual, and Meditation from the Religious Traditions of
Tibet, India and Nepal, which runs through
March 14, 1998 in the Library's McGregor Room and is
available online at: http://www.lib.virginia.edu/exhibits/dead/
Discover the nuances of Tibetan culture from the pages of
old woodblock printed books. Learn what Tibetan Lamas do
when they meditate in isolation, and about the colorful
rituals and artifacts that frame events relating to death
and dying for Tibetans.
The show brings together more than a dozen ritual artwork
items from the holdings of the University's Bayly Art
Museum, the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, and from private
collections. This is the most inclusive exposition in
subject matter and scope ever displayed at Alderman, says
Kathryn Morgan, associate director of special collections
at the U.Va. library. Anyone willing to surrender to the
serenity and harmony of the display will become attuned to
how a culture that believes in past and future lives
explores the process of death and rebirth.
"Tibetan Buddhism is known for its detailed descriptions of
the psychological and physical processes of death," says
Jeffrey Hopkins, a professor of Religious Studies at U.Va.
With a trove of more than 10,000 titles, U.Va. has the
largest collection of Tibetan literary materials outside
Tibet. More than 40 of the library's prized texts will be
showcased, and a limited-edition catalogue of the exhibit
will be issued. Curators of this exhibition are even
scheduling lectures by professors of religious studies,
including one by Tibetan Lama Tenzin Wangyel Rinpoche, who
will open the lecture series with a discussion on "Facing
Death With Hope and Without Fear."
Since artwork and ritual symbols are an integral part of
the religious system for Tibetans, scroll paintings and
statues depicting a dizzying array of deities help viewers
gain familiarity with the dying process.
Tibet, often referred to as "the roof" of the world because
it sits on a high plateau, is situated between China and
India. Most of its 6 million inhabitants practice Buddhism,
a religion not confined behind the region's high
mountainous peaks. Interest in Tibetan Buddhism is growing
in the United States, with practitioners totaling up to
100,000 according to a recent article in Time magazine.
Attention to things Tibetan is not expected to wane anytime
soon. In addition to "Seven Years in Tibet," movie
audiences can see "Red Corner", starring
devout Buddhist Richard Gere and "Kundun," a Martin Scorsese
film about the Dalai Lama. It is in keeping with growing
interest that U.Va. aspires to raise awareness of Tibet through
its artistic and philosophical reading materials.
To signal the start of the exhibit, a large traditional
cotton banner designed and crafted by Khedup Gyatso, a
Tibetan residing in America, will hang outside Alderman
Library. Accompanying the banner will be colorful
traditional Tibetan prayer flags, which also will adorn the
McGregor Room. The prayer flags are printed in black ink on
blue, white, red, green and yellow panels of fabric. Each
panel is printed with identical Tibetan text with a
representation of the "Wind Horse," a symbol of good
fortune bearing a blazing jewel at the center. Tibetan text
on each flag includes various mantras and Tibetan prayers
for averting obstacles, and for luck and prosperity. Such
flags are traditionally placed at high mountain passes so
that their prayers and good wishes will be carried on the
wind.
Since 1988, Broward County Library has worked toward creating a state-of-the-art literary center where rare books and special collections would be housed, preserved and
shared in conjunction with a place for related lectures, programs and exhibits.
Through the personal involvement and generosity of Fort Lauderdale philanthropists Dianne and Michael Bienes, this celebration of the printed book as an art form and
purveyor of culture has been realized. Support was provided through a grant from the Broward Public Library Foundation. Additional support for the project was provided by
the Florida Department of State, Division of Cultural Affairs, and the Florida Arts Council.
is an international non-profit organization
chartered in 1983 by the State of Ohio. Its purposes are to sustain an interest in
all phases of miniature books, to provide a forum for the exchange of ideas and to
serve as a clearing house for information about miniature books.
stems from the most important printer-publisher in the second half of the sixteenth century and one of the greatest of all times, Christoffel Plantin.
The Museum Plantin-Moretus is a unique and harmonious combination of magnificent patrician house and authentic company. The original workshops of the old 'Officina Plantiniana' and the typographical collections, which include the world's two oldest galley proofs, are unique in the world. The art collections, which are still preserved in their original historical setting, are impressive and extremely important.
"Are we witnessing the twilight of the book? Are books destined to become a relic of the pre-digital era, a specialty product consumed by a small, nostalgic elite?
Of all the millennial predictions that electronic media have given rise to, the impending demise of the book (or the threat of its demise) has passed most easily into conventional wisdom, at least among ardent book readers. The reason, I suppose, is that our encounters with print technology have been so deeply woven into our sense of ourselves. For many of us, books were our best and truest friends in childhood, and helped shape our imaginations and sensibilities as we came to adulthood."
(Futures and Histories of the Book: Title List
An Annotated Booklist Elaborations and Digressions to Futures and Histories of the Book )
The Common Wealth: Treasures from the Collections of the Library of Virginia, the first major exhibition in the new Library
of Virginia building at 800 East Broad Street in downtown Richmond, Virginia, premieres on 4 September 1997 and runs until
7 September 1998. The Common Wealth and the Library of Virginia will be open from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM Monday
through Saturday, holidays excepted.
Brett CHARBENEAU: Making a Good Impression: Letterpress Printing for
Historians and Bibliographers
James MOSLEY: Type, Lettering, and Calligraphy, 1450-1830
Paul NEEDHAM: The Uses of Physical Evidence in Early Printed Books
Nicholas PICKWOAD: European Bookbinding, 1500-1800
Michael Twyman: Lithography in the Age of the Hand Press
Michael WINSHIP: The American Book in the Industrial Era, 1820-1940
Terry Belanger : University Professor : University of Virginia
Book Arts Press : 114 Alderman Library : Charlottesville, VA 22903
Tel: 804/924-8851 FAX: 804/924-8824 belanger@virginia.edu
The National Art Library has always collected books disseminating the ideas of artists and demonstrating the artist's experimentation with the medium of the book. These publications are broadly referred to as Artists' Books and there are currently c.5,000 items in the Library's collection. The earliest dates from the 1890s and the collection includes some fine examples from the first half of the 20th century. See the Library's Collection development policy for a fuller description of the collection of artists' books.
A significant feature of the latter part of the 20th century is the creation of books as individual works of art. Some of these are produced by people who have come from a background of traditional activities associated with books, such as binding or book illustration and design. Others are made by artists who wish to explore the role of books in daily life and in our culture generally, and provide a forceful comment on the association that books have for the individual and society.
While it is generally accepted that the conceptual work of Ed Ruscha and Dieter Roth in the 1960s mark the foundations of the current trend of experimentation, it has been the 1980s and the 1990s that have witnessed the expansion of artists using the book as a medium for self-expression.
Small presses and individuals have continued to promote the art of letterpress printing and the hand-crafted book. Some artists have chosen to use computer generated images and others have used the photocopier to reproduce their work. Many artists have taken up the challenge to experiment with the content and physical structure of the traditional book form. 'Book-works' have stepped outside conventional boundaries to encompass concepts previously associated with the fine arts. Works range from the minuscule to the gargantuan, and they may take the form of installation pieces. A 'book-work' is not restricted to the use of paper and ink; all kinds of materials and appended objects may be incorporated. While such works are usually unique or limited editions, some are produced in multiple copies.
Czech avant-garde book exhibition
at Art Center College of Design in Pasadena.
Czech Avant-Garde: Reflections on European Art and Photography, 1922 - 1940 demonstrates the brilliance of Czech graphic design, illustration, photography, and photomontage in the period between the wars. Comprised of approximately 800 books and journals from the collection of Zdenek Primus, the exhibition highlights the work of several recognized masters of Czech book design, including Karel Teige, Jindrich Styrsky, Toyen, Ladislav Sutnar, Vit Obrtel, Zdenek Rossmann, and Frantisek Muzika. Most of the artists represented in the collection were members of the avant-garde artist's union (Devetsil) from 1928 to 1931, or participated in the Surrealist Group from 1931 to 1938.
The Primus Collection is the largest of its kind in the world, encompassing the complete works of Czech avant-garde book production. Following the design of the collection, the exhibition is divided into four sections: "Constructivist Design;" "Picture Poems of Poetism;" "Isms and the Book;" and "Photography and Photomontage."
The "Constructivist Design" section is based on the elementary forms of the circle, square, rectangle, straight line, diagonal, and arc. Sources of the work in this section also included related movements such as Suprematism, Neoplasticism, Elementarism, and Functionalism, the latter of which grew out of Constructivism in the 1930s. With constructivist elements, and using orthogonal forms, photographs, and typography as structural elements, works in the category of "Picture Poems of Poetism" use free association to create visual poems. "Isms and the Book" includes works that attempted to adhere to the tenets of then-current "isms," for example Purism, Artificialism, Lyrical Abstraction, and Surrealism. "Photography and Photomontage" were integrated into Czech book design by 1922, and predominated in the 1930s.
Czech Avant-Garde represents a major and under-recognized contribution to 20th-century art, giving insight into many important aspects of artistic production in Europe between the wars.
The information provided in these pages has been primarily taken (with permission) from the Teaching, Resources and Research in the History of the Book at Oxford newsletter being collated by Professor IWF Maclean of the European Humanities Research Centre in Oxford. Once completed, the newsletter will be circulated freely to all those at Oxford interested and involved in the History of the Book.
This guide covers some frequently asked questions about rare books and book values. The answers are meant only as general responses to these questions, and the many possible exceptions are not described. No attempt has been made to identify or to evaluate individual books.
Very active librarian/webmaster. This site was
recently honored with McKinley stars. Both this site and the BOOKARTS site above should be in your list of bookmarks.
Exhibits of POP-UP and movable books. Here you can
visit the POP-UP world of Ann Montanaro. Site will link you to other interesting related sites. Ann Montanaro also can be found in our EXTRAORDINARY page
This electronic brochure
describes the collections and services of the Arts of the Book Collection
at Yale University. It includes information on the AOB, student printing
at Yale (including this year's Lohmann prize winners) and links to other
book arts sites on the web.
The Guild of Book Workers is the national non-profit organization for all the book arts. It was
founded in 1906 and since that time, especially the last 15 years, has grown immensely in scope. It
currently boasts over 900 members world-wide. Areas of interest include bookbinding, printing,
conservation, marbling, calligraphy, and papermaking.
on-line research tools for dealers and librarians. A very rich site with links to important booksites.
Numerous on-line public access catalogs. (
A primary source of biblographic information on out-of-print books are the many
hundreds of online public and university catalogs. These can be reached by a number of
useful accesses: The Library of Congress provides access to their extensive online resources,
including telnet access to the LOC catalogs. This provides quick access to a
number of US government resources, particularly the National Archives.
Peter Scott of the University of Saskatchewan maintains a very broad and
comprehensive telnet-based library catalog access service known as Hytelnet. This
can be accessed using WWW courtesy of Inter-Links or directly via University of
Kansas. The Association of Research Libraries maintains an ARL Home Page that
provides WWW access to many of their members' catalogs, as well as extensive
additional online resources at a number of universities.
The Research Libraries Group is a consortium of many major online libraries,
museums, and research institutions in the US, Canada, and the UK. RLG provides
(on a fee basis) easy access to some 63 million bibliographic citations through their
RLIN search engine and other capabilities. In particular, RLG provides the only
available US access to the online version of the English Short Title Catalog, the
only comprehensive listing of all known English-language books published prior to
1800. There are a number of other WWW sites of interest to the book researcher:
Conservation OnLine accesses to resources relating to the preservation of books
and manuscripts, located at Stanford University
ALA/ACRL RMBS Page, provides information related to rare books and
manuscripts from the American Library Association and the Association of College
and Research Libraries.
The American Library Association maintains a gopher server with information on
their organization)
the legacy of Aldus Manutius and his press. In 1995 the
Friends of the Harold B. Lee Library, Brigham Young University published In
aedibus Aldi: the legacy of Aldus Manutius and his press. This catalog accompanied an
exhibition in the Harold B. Lee Library from March to August, 1995, of a selection of the library's
Aldine holdings, celebrating the quincentenary of the founding of the Aldine Press. This is a digital version of the exhibition, with text excerpted from the catalog.
devoted to the history and art of the book. Over 3,500 volumes documenting all aspects of book production, papermaking, printing, illustration, binding, bibliography, and publishing.
membership is open to everyone interested in letter and book arts related fields such as graphic arts, typography, greeting card design, fine art, silkscreening,
bookbinding etc.
Hypnerotomachia Poliphili. When the book Hypnerotomachia Poliphili was initially published, it was a technical achievement in a barely fledgling craft. The world of publishing was a
rough and tumble place - but Aldus Manutius, a scholar already in advancing
years, brought together pre-eminent scholars and craftsmen to painstakingly create
a work still breathtaking in its complexity and beauty. As a literary work Hypnerotomachia Poliphili is more likely to be remembered
for the artistic influence of its woodcuts than its tale of a fantastic journey through
a bizarre landscape. But the work still holds merit as an example of a early
precursor to novels like Gargantua and Pantagruel and Don Quixote. The
strangeness and extremely allegorical nature of the story makes it a field day for
symbolists everywhere.
The program leading to the M.F.A. in the Book Arts degree is a 60-credit
hour course of study comprising four basic areas: printing/publishing,
bookbinding, papermaking, and the history of the book. These areas do not
work in isolation. Connections between them are made as often as possible.
Our emphasis is on the book as an integrated unit, although there is
opportunity for a student who wishes to pursue a specific interest in one
or more of these areas after the initial general year of study. We are
interested in developing craft skills based on historical principles and
techniques, and the artistic expression that follows. Managed by Steve Miller, Coordinator, MFA in the Book Arts Program.
