New this week in our reading room is an exciting and different exhibit. We usually have exhibits related to our collections and Iowa State history, but for the next two months we will have on display book work done by members of the Midwest Chapter of the Guild of Book Workers. Come to the Special Collections’ reading room to view this beautiful exhibit, which will be on display from Thursday, March 17 through Tuesday, May 10, 2011. The exhibit is here at Iowa State University thanks to our Conservator, who has also written a post about the exhibit on the Preservation Department’s blog.
Included are examples of artists’ books, bookbinding and conservation work. We are lucky to also have an example of work done by an Iowa State professor and her class in this exhibit. Paula Curran, Associate Professor of Art & Design, submitted Design Iowa: A Book in Pigtures. Curran’s students contributed to the contents of this interesting book which plays on the word “picture” and one of Iowa’s major industries. Another example of a local artist is Tsunami by Peggy Johnston of Des Moines. Her artists’ book is made of handmade paper and skewers. You can read more about Johnston’s background, and others, on the Guild of Bookworkers web page.
Madeleines Found by Judy Lynn
If you are interested in looking at some wonderful examples of bookbinding artistry, take a look at the intricate work on Le Mariage de Figaro by Pamela Barrios and Neverwhere by Scott Kellar. Another fun example from the exhibit is Madeleines Found by Judy Lynn (see image above) in which the artist plays on the French dessert’s sea scallop shape. However, this book, along with the others in the exhibit need to be seen in person to fully appreciate. Please come on up to our reading room on the fourth floor of Parks Library (8-5, M-F) and take a look at this fun exhibit!
