Artists’ books are works of art that are realized in the form of a book. Generally published in limited editions or as unique works of art, artists’ books can take many forms. For example, DAAP Library’s collection includes concertinas, games, painted cards, and quilts with text. Although book printers have experimented with unique looks for their products for centuries, the artists’ book is primarily a twentieth and twenty-first century art form.
Up until recently, there wasn’t a collection focus per se. Instead, we allowed the collection to develop in interesting ways. That said, recently we decided to establish a collection focus. We’re going to collect artists’ books which focus on cultural, racial, and sexual diversity, a focus that we feel aligns well with the interests of UC as an institution as well as the greater UC community. Many of the books in our current collection deal with diversity as a theme, particularly sexual diversity, and we hope to acquire many more artists’ books that promote or feature issues of diversity and multiculturalism.
We created this blog to increase awareness of and engagement with our lovely artists’ book collection. By making images of the books available online, we are sharing them with a much larger audience, especially those who are unable to view the books in person. A wider audience is especially relevant to our new collection focus on diversity issues.
Limited edition of 100 copies. Book made from 2 cloth-covered pieces fastened at the corners. The front is made of a plexiglas panel through which book pages are viewed. Along the sides of the book are numbered wooden levers corresponding to the page of the book to be revealed. Levers are slid, moving 7 panels on the page surface, overlaying one page upon the next, creating "a patchwork narrative of events." Each page contains images and text. Berkeley, CA: Flying Fish Press, 2004.
This book art piece of Julie Chen's is very unique. It still has the integrity of a book since you can turn the pages by sliding the levers up and down.
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