“The Book in Time & Place” is the title of the artist book exhibition currently on view at the Anderson Gallery at Drake University and features work from the The University of Iowa Libraries Special Collections and Drake Universities Cowles Library.
“The goal of the exhibition is to enhance understanding of 20th century artistic and literary developments within the world of books,” said Sarah McCoy, Drake assistant professor of graphic design and art and design.
It is a fitting title given the massive upheaval the book world is currently experiencing. As the 21st century moves along the pressure on the traditional book seems only to be increasing. But there is a bright side, The Book Arts are prospering.
Sid Huttner, head of Special Collections & University Archives at The University of Iowa, frames it this way:
“As Google digitizes its way through libraries here and abroad, and the Kindle is said to be about to replace paper and ink entirely, it is perhaps surprising how many artists are finding they can best communicate their artistic vision via book formats,“ said Huttner. “But this is a vigorous, lively, enchanting corner of the contemporary art community.”
Historically, artists have always incorporated new technologies into their book works but what makes these times so exciting is that technology now can also provide something that has always challenged the book artist. Exposure!
As Huttner also notes: “Artists’ books are typically produced in only a few copies – even 50 copies is a large edition and consequently few people have experienced them.”
Well, those days are over.
More from the University of Iowa Library News, UI Libraries’ Artists’ Books Exhibited at Drake University