The Book As Art

Is it a book, is it art, or is it both? From Oct. 27, 2006, to Feb. 4, 2007, The Book as Art: Twenty Years of Artists' Books from the National Museum of Women in the Arts explores this question and celebrates the sometimes controversial art form that is artists' books.

"The Book as Art is designed to spark viewers' imagination and to broaden popular understanding and appreciation of this interdisciplinary art form. We also hope to whet the appetites of potential new collectors and to inspire budding artists to try their hands at creating their own works," explained Krystyna Wasserman, National Museum of Women in the Arts (NMWA) curator of book arts as well as the curator for this exhibition.

Artists' books can be defined as art objects in the form of books. When the content and form of a book are considered together, and given equal significance, the book becomes more than a simple container for information. The goal of many book artists is to involve the reader actively in the viewing process, not only to see the words on the page but also to think about how the words, pictures, and physical form of the object all contribute to the meaning.

In addition, artists' books assume many forms, include every artistic medium and method of bookmaking, and address subjects as varied as politics, poetry, familiar tales, and fantasy. A wide variety of structures and formats are employed, such as traditional codex, unfolding accordion books, scrolls, tunnel books, boxes, pop-ups, fans, and flag books. The materials used in these works range from handmade and commercially produced papers to substances not typically associated with books, such as fabric, glass, wood, leather, metal, and found objects.

"The National Museum of Women in the Arts boasts one of the world's finest and largest collections of artists' books thanks to Krystyna Wasserman. Since 1987, she has organized annual exhibitions of artists' books that have attracted a dedicated audience of aficionados and introduced many new admirers to the medium. As we celebrate NMWA's twentieth anniversary, we are proud to present this major exhibition, the culmination of Krystyna's outstanding work and commitment to collecting," said NMWA Director Judy L. Larson.

The Book as Art features 108 selected artists' books, by 86 artists, from 12 countries culled from NMWA's more than 800-volume collection. Created between 1970 and the present, the works are organized into nine themes that reflect artists' interests, involvements, dreams and desires: Storytellers; Autobiographers; Historians; Mothers, Daughters, and Wives; Dreamers and Magicians; Travelers; Nature; Food and the Body; and Inspired by the Muses. Some of the artists confront dark episodes in recent history such as the Holocaust and the tragedy of September 11, 2001; others explore the interior realm of the human psyche, such as the emotional range encompassed in the roles of mother, wife, and daughter. Still other artists engage the natural world's beauty or the muses of poetry, literature, and music.

"Artists' books have an intellectual and visual impact on the viewer. They satisfy both the mind and the senses. Each time I look at an artist's book I am surprised because I discover something new. It is an honor and pleasure to present a major exhibition of artists' books at the National Museum of Women in the Arts," Wasserman said.

By www.nmwa.org