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.
I loved how the pages folded out into a snake. When I first saw the title of this piece I thought that snakes aren't nice because some are poisonous and can kill. Lois Morrison takes this meaning in a different direction explaining that snakes can turn on one another and eat each other. I also loved the intricate prints on each page.
ReplyDeleteFor Advanced Photography, we were each given a box full of altered books and this was my favorite book out of my box. I love how small and compact this book is. Also, the fact that is interactive and you have to spread out the snake in order to see all the text is a success. The craft of the actual snake is great however, the hand drawn eyes of the snake through me off. The texture of the book brought alive the books meaning and title.
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