Multiple, Limited, Unique: The title of the exhibition currently on view at the Center for Book Arts contains part of the answer to the question, What Is an Artist’s Book?

While the term “Artists Books,” coined in the 1970s, is relatively new, many specialists agree that the book as an art object originated with poet, artist, and printmaker William Blake (1757–1827). As seen in a recent exhibition at the Morgan Library and Museum, books such as Songs of Innocence were written, illustrated, printed, hand-colored and bound by Blake and his wife Catherine. You could almost say that the idea of self-publishing originated with the Blakes.

With the growing interest in artists books, from concertina fold-outs made by schoolchildren, to punk and no-wave zines that can be found at comics fairs, to one-of-a-kind objects created by artists such as Ed Ruscha and Kiki Smith, there is also an increasing need for information about the genre. The Center for Book Arts, which was founded in 1974 by artist/performer Richard Minsky, has been a focal point for the field and a magnet for artists and educators alike.

Left: The Center for Book Arts gallery. Right: Artist book by Carlos Motta. Photos courtesy the Center for Book Arts.

Under the present leadership of Executive Director Alexander Campos, the Center has just completed a three-year program of cataloguing its collection of artist books, prints, catalogues, and ephemera. The searchable collection database is available online and a large selection of these objects are now on display.

Multiple, Limited, Unique features work by 120 artists using just about every possible realization of the book-as-art-object, and includes one-offs, multiples, and limited editions. After closing at The Center for Book Arts on September 10th, the exhibition will tour North America through 2013, making stops at Savannah College of Arts and Design (Fall 2011); Minnesota Center for Book Arts (Winter 2012); Museum of Printing History (Spring/Summer 2012); Lafayette College (Fall 2012); and the Book Club of California (Winter 2013).

Tonight, July 27^th, 6:30 pm: Artist Talk moderated by Alexander Campos and Doug Beube will feature artists from the exhibition The Un[framed] Photograph also currently on view. $10/$5 at the door, wine and cheese are served.

The Center for Book Arts, 28 West 27^th Street, 3^rd Floor, NY, NY. Due to construction, the Center for Book Arts' exhibition spaces will be closed to the public during the week of July 24-29. Classes and events continue as scheduled. 

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