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Periodicals Gallery

EXHIBITIONISTA: Book As Art 2021: Muse

July 5, 2021 By Debra Disman

The Book as Art v. 9.0: Muse
Presented by the The Decatur Arts Alliance
Decatur, Georgia
 August 13–October 1, 2021.

The Decatur Arts Alliance (DAA) presents the ninth edition of the juried exhibition of artists’ books, The Book as Art, August 13–October 1, 2021. This edition will be installed once again at the Decatur Branch of the DeKalb County Public Library. If conditions allow, the DAA will sponsor a limited opening on Friday, August 27, 2021,or a virtual opening and tour of the exhibition. The exhibition is brought to you by Decatur Arts Alliance, Georgia Center for the Book, the DeKalb Co. Public Library, DeKalb Library Foundation and Keep it Indie-catur.

“Nine: a number both sacred and profane. This mystical numeral, both spiritual and scientific, is celebrated the world over and in all religions, representing the brightest ands darkest aspects of the celestial and the terrestrial. Fulfillment, completion, reflection, and birth are balanced with pain, misfortune, evil, and death.
For the Ancient Greeks, nine sisters born of heaven and memory gave inspiration to artists, scientists , and historians. They guided the feet and the fingers, moved the brush and the pen, swelled the chest, and sweetened the voice. But when their gifts of love and wisdom were overshadowed by hubris, the sisters punished and imprisoned those who forsook the purity of their spiritual gifts.
The muses still call out to artists world-wide, placing in their minds the seeds of creation, the word, the phrase, the form, are born and transformed upon the page. Held in the hand, a book can be a source of stability in unsettled times. Tactile and olfactory, the black and white pages conjure emotions and images that endure longer than flickering light on small screens. From tablet to folio, papyrus to scroll, song to psalm—all are created as a concept that becomes thought, becomes word, becomes book, becomes sculpture.
These objects, in an increasingly digital world, stubbornly survive and have proved a steady presence in our unprecedented isolation. Color and light, script and structure, translate thought and idea, and bestow upon us, the viewers, the fruit of artistic inspiration. The objects in this exhibition will interpret the concept of the book and invite the viewer to look beyond the printed page to where ideas, words, and symbols are transformed and are transfigured. They are expressive, iconic, mystical, and inspirational. They are, in form, muse.”

Beautifully made volumes, sculptural and conceptual interpretations, and one-of-a-kind approaches to the book format as well as  wall-hung interpretations will be showcased!

I am showing “Window Treatment“, 13″ x 38″ x 9.25″, a one-of-a-kind  sculptural Artists’ Book made of book board, file folders, paint, hemp cord, linen thread, canvas, mulberry paper and watercolor paper. It stands upright on a pedestal, shelf, table or other surface parallel to the floor. When opened, it can span up to 38” wide.

See the Show! https://decaturartsalliance.org/book-as-art/

EVENTS:
Several events are planned throughout the run of the show. The Georgia Center for the Book inaugurated a series of virtual tours of the exhibition, artist talks, and discussions in 2020 that will be continued in 2021. Through these presentations artists were able to talk in depth about their books, and lead us on virtual tours through their volumes. You can review these presentations at bookasart.com, and on the Georgia Center for the Book’s YouTube channel

The Jurors: 
Anna Embree is a Professor for the MFA Book Arts Program in the School of Library Science and Information Studies at the University of Alabama. She teaches courses and workshops in bookbinding, box making, and special topics in book preservation and book history. Anna has a strong interest in the physical and material aspects of book structures, collaborates with printers and papermakers on limited edition handmade books, and has exhibited widely.
Anna’s book work focuses on composition and form. When designing a single book or an edition, she works to unify content, structure, and materials. The goal is to create a visually engaging work that facilitates interaction with the content through purposeful mechanical and operational design choices.

Beth Shoemaker is the Rare Book Librarian at Emory University’s Stuart A. Rose Manuscript, Archive & Rare Book Library in Atlanta. Her work includes cataloging, collection development, teaching and curating exhibits in the Emory Libraries. In 2018 she co-curated the exhibit Common Thread: Women’s Experience through Artists’ Books at Rose Library and was recently a featured speaker on the role of artists’ books in academic libraries for the Form & Function from Afar Conference, organized by Book Paper Thread. At Emory she is the co-organizer of an event series called Bound with History, where each event is focused on a portion of the rare book collection, including artists’ books and pop-ups, and attendees get to have a hands-on experience with collection material.

 Sande Wascher-James has been working with the book arts since the mid-nineties when she discovered that she could use all of the mediums she enjoyed working with in a format that varied greatly and had meaning—the book. One of the hallmarks of her work is purposefully using techniques such as embroidery and beading, which are considered “women’s work”, to deal with issues felt to be of importance to most women through the medium of book structures. The books are meant to be held in the hand and to be read, as well as to be displayed in their sculptural format. She makes both one-of-a-kind books and small editions, usually no more than two editions per year due to the intensive labor involved in making them. Sande feels that the books need to be both artistically beautiful and have a text that is as powerful as the imagery. Sande is a full time studio artist whose work has been in many exhibitions, is held in both private and public collections, and in publications. She has been honored with awards for her work in exhibitions, and has work held by the National Museum of Women in the Arts, Yale, Harvard, Duke, University of Washington, and others.

Tagged With: Anna Embree, Artist Talks, ARTIST'S BOOKS, Beth Shoemaker, Book as Art, Books, Decatur, Decatur Library, GA, Handmade Books, Joe Sanders, Muse, Periodicals Gallery, Sande Wascher-James, The Art of the Book, The Book as Art v9.0: Muse, Virtual events, Virtual Exhibition Opening

The Book As Art v. 8: INFINITY…A Closer Look

November 22, 2020 By Debra Disman

The BOOK AS ART v.8: INFINITY was a fantastic exhibition and experience to be involved in.

Kudos to all who put these events together, and brought us together as artists working in the form of the Book.

Bravo, and enjoy….

August 28 through October 17 | virtual tour only
The Periodicals Gallery of the Decatur Library
215 Sycamore St., Decatur, Ga. 30030

The Book As Art v.8: Infinity, installed at the Decatur Branch of the DeKalb County Public Library, provided virtual tours, artist talks, and more throughout its run. Check out the catalog.

This exhibition is brought to you by Decatur Arts Alliance, Georgia Center for the Book, the DeKalb Co. Public Library, DeKalb Library Foundation and Keep it Indie-catur.

VIEW THE CATALOG

TOUR THE SHOW!

 Artist’s Talk

ARTISTS’ SHOWCASE AND DISCUSSION

Filed Under: ARTISTS, Artists' Books, BOOKS, Exhibitions, Presentations, Work Tagged With: Artist Talks, ARTIST'S BOOKS, Book as Art, Book as Art Exhbitions, Books, Chris Revelle, Christian Feneck, Decatur Library, Handmade Books, Joe Sanders, Julie Fordham, Nicole Polonsky, Online Catalogue, Periodicals Gallery, The Art of the Book, The Book as Art v. 8: Infinity, The Book as Art v. 8.0: Infinity, Virtual events, Virtual Exhibition Opening

The Book As Art v 8: Infinity Artist Showcase

October 29, 2020 By Debra Disman

What an honor to participate in this artist showcase for the exhibition: The Book as Art v.8: Infinity.

It was thrilling to be in conversation with Joe Davich, Executive Director of the Georgia Center for the Book, supported by Ally Wright, Ph.D., Program Assistant,  in concert with fellow artists Julie Fordham, Nicole Polonsky (all the way from London), Chris Revelle and Christian Feneck. 

Watch and listen here:

Filed Under: ARTISTS, Artists' Books, BOOKS, Exhibitions, Work Tagged With: Ally Wright, Artist Book Talk, artist showcase, Artist Talks, ARTIST'S BOOKS, BOOK ART, Book Art Exhbition, Book Art Exhbitions, Book art Show, Book as Art, Books, Chris Revelle, Christian Feneck, Decatur Library, DeKalb Library Foundation, Handmade Books, Joe Davich, Joe Sanders, Julie Fordham, Nicole Polonsky, Periodicals Gallery, The Art of the Book, The Book as Art v. 8.0: Infinity, Virtual Artist Showcase, Virtual Artist Talk, Virtual events

EXHIBITIONISTA: The Book as Art v. 8.0: Infinity

September 7, 2020 By Debra Disman

I am honored to show two pieces in The Book As Art v.8: Infinity
exhibition
happening:

August 28 through October 17 | virtual tour only
The Periodicals Gallery of the Decatur Library
215 Sycamore St., Decatur, Ga. 30030

The Book As Art v.8: Infinity is installed at the Decatur Branch of the DeKalb County Public Library, and virtual tours, artist talks, and more will be provided throughout its run. Check out the catalog, and remember, these works are available for purchase!

I am showing: “PRAIRIE“and “MAXIMUM SECURITY” below.

“Held in the hand, a book can be a source of stability in unsettled times. Tactile and olfactory, the black and white pages conjure emotions and images that endure longer than flickering light on small screens. From tablet to folio, papyrus to scroll, song to psalm—all are created as a concept that becomes thought, becomes word, becomes book, becomes sculpture. These objects, in an increasingly digital world, stubbornly survive. The objects in this exhibition will interpret the concept of the book and invite the viewer to look beyond the printed page to where ideas, words, and symbols are transformed and are transfigurative.

They are expressive, expansive and iconic. They have become form, and are infinite.

The Book as Art v.8: Infinity is the eighth edition of this critically acclaimed artists book exhibition established by the Decatur Arts Alliance in 2013. Entries hail from across the United States and around the world, and from emerging artists as well as recognized masters in the genre. The Book as Art is pleased to present these examples from the finest in the field.”

Watch the
The Book as Art v.8: Infinity Virtual Opening!

Live Zoom Events (FREE tickets via Eventbrite, links available soon)

Oct. 7: Artist Talk with Valerie Aranda and Clemente Orozco Farías
Oct. 14: Artist Talk with Stephanie Russ and Isabelle Fleurelien
Oct. 21: Artist Interview: Peggy Johnston
Oct. 28: Artist Showcase and Discussion: Nicole Polonsky, Christian Feneck, Chris Revelle, Debra Disman

 

Filed Under: ARTISTS, Artists' Books, BOOKS, Exhibitions, Work Tagged With: Ann Kresge, Artist Talks, ARTIST'S BOOKS, Bexx Caswell-Olson, Book as Art, Books, Decatur Library, Handmade Books, Joe Sanders, Periodicals Gallery, The Art of the Book, The Book as Art v. 8.0: Infinity, Virtual events, Virtual Exhibition Opening

Exhibitionista: The Book as Art v. 8.0: Infinity

July 6, 2020 By Debra Disman

I am  honored to participate in:

The Book as Art v. 8.0: Infinity

Jurors: Bexx Caswell-Olson, Ann Kresge, Joe Sanders

Opening Reception
Friday, Aug. 28 | 7–9 pm

I will be showing two pieces:


Prairie

and


Maximum Security

A book begins as a small mass of material, formed and pressed into life by ideas, words, and machines. A concept becomes thought, becomes word, becomes book, becomes sculpture. From the tactile complexity of handmade paper, to the alteration of existing volumes, to a variety of other materials and concepts, these objects, in an increasingly digital world, stubbornly survive. The objects in this exhibition will interpret the concept of the book and invite the viewer to look beyond the printed page to where word has become form.

The Book as Art v. 8.0: Infinity  will be presented online until further notice.

However, the exhibition will be installed at the Decatur Branch of the DeKalb County Public Library, in anticipation that the Periodicals Gallery at the Decatur Library may be open for limited viewing before the advertised end of the exhibition (October 17).

Virtual programming is in development to supplement and enhance viewer experience. 

Filed Under: ARTISTS, Artists' Books, BOOKS, Exhibitions, Work Tagged With: Ann Kresge, ARTIST'S BOOKS, Bexx Caswell-Olson, Book as Art, Books, Decatur Library, Handmade Books, Joe Sanders, Periodicals Gallery, The Art of the Book, The Book as Art v. 8.0: Infinity

The Book as Art v. 8.0: Infinity

July 6, 2020 By Debra Disman

The Book as Art v. 8.0: Infinity

Jurors: Bexx Caswell-Olson, Ann Kresge, Joe Sanders

Opening Reception
Friday, Aug. 28 | 7–9 pm

A book begins as a small mass of material, formed and pressed into life by ideas, words, and machines. A concept becomes thought, becomes word, becomes book, becomes sculpture. From the tactile complexity of handmade paper, to the alteration of existing volumes, to a variety of other materials and concepts, these objects, in an increasingly digital world, stubbornly survive. The objects in this exhibition will interpret the concept of the book and invite the viewer to look beyond the printed page to where word has become form.

I am showing two pieces in the exhibition:

Prairie,  2018 (10.25″ x 45″ x 15.25″, mixed media)

Maximum Security, 2018, (15 x 18 x 10.25″, mixed media)

 

The Book as Art v. 8.0: Infinity  will be presented online until further notice.

However, the exhibition will be installed at the Decatur Branch of the DeKalb County Public Library, in anticipation that the Periodicals Gallery at the Decatur Library may be open for limited viewing before the advertised end of the exhibition (October 17).

View The Book as Art v.8: Infinity Virtual Opening!

Virtual programming is in development to supplement and enhance viewer experience. I an honored to be participating in an Artist Talk at 7PM EST on Friday October 28th! 

Live Zoom Events (FREE tickets via Eventbrite, links available soon)

Oct. 7: Artist Talk with Valerie Aranda and Clemente Orozco Farías
Oct. 14: Artist Talk with Stephanie Russ and Isabelle Fleurelien
Oct. 21: Artist Interview: Peggy Johnston
Oct. 28: Artist Showcase and Discussion: Nicole Polonsky, Christian Feneck, Chris Revelle, Debra Disman

 

Tagged With: Ann Kresge, Artist Talks, ARTIST'S BOOKS, Bexx Caswell-Olson, Book as Art, Books, Decatur Library, Handmade Books, Joe Sanders, Periodicals Gallery, The Art of the Book, The Book as Art v. 8.0: Infinity, Virtual events, Virtual Exhibition Opening

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