Jody Alexander, Santa Cruz CA Wilber "Chip" Schilling, Minneapolis MN Susan Collard, Portland OR Bridget O'Malley, Minneapolis MN Jessica Spring, Tacoma WA Melissa Jay Craig, Chicago IL Monique Lallier, Summerfield NC Rutherford Witthus, Walpole NH Jana Pullman, Minneapolis MN Read Jana's blog about the intricate creation of this work Sarah Smith, Beverly MA Karen Hanmer, Chicago IL

MARKING TIME An internationally touring juried exhibition of fine press, fine binding and artists' books curated by the Guild of Book Workers On display May 15 – August 15, 2009 Minnesota Center for Book Arts and the Guild of Book Workers are proud to present the inaugural installation of Marking Time, the Guild’s triennial members’ exhibition. Time has long captured the imagination of writers, scientists, philosophers, and theologians -- and, of course, artists. Guild of Book Workers members were invited to interpret the theme “marking time” as broadly or narrowly as they wished. The exhibition was curated and coordinated by Guild of Book Workers exhibition chair Karen Hanmer. “The curator’s challenge is to find a theme that will inspire potential venues, viewers and exhibitors alike,” Hanmer explained. “For a Guild of Book Workers members’ exhibition, the theme must also be one that inspires both the most traditional fine binder and the most cutting edge book artist.” View the online catalog Read a review of the show by Minneapolis Star Tribune art critic Mary Abbe Featured artists include: Cathy Adelman Jody Alexander Eric Alstrom Jeffrey Altepeter Alicia Bailey Kristin Alana Baum Marlyn Bonaventure Susan Collard Melissa Jay Craig Coleen Curry Lesa Dowd David Esslemont Don Etherington Madelyn Garrett Stephanie Gibbs Donald Glaister Karen Hanmer Roberta Hilbrandt Deborah Howe Andrew Huot Jamie Kamph Ellen Knudson Deborah Kogan Dorothy Simpson Krause Monique Lallier Amy LeePard Sue Huggins Leopard Emily Martin Chela Metzger Bridget O'Malley Todd Pattison Jana Pullman James Reid-Cunningham Wilber "Chip" Schilling Genie Shenk Sarah Smith Priscilla Spitler Jessica Spring Kathy Strother Bonnie Thompson Norman Richard Troncone Gerritt VanDerwerker Peter D. Verheyen Laura Wait Shu-Ju Wang Ellen Wiener Rutherford Witthus Stephanie Wolff Pamela Wood 114 Guild members submitted 155 works for consideration. Interpretations included, but were certainly not limited to, a specific incident in or period of history, the future, science fiction, time as a scientific or spiritual concept, the measurement of time, current events or the role of time in one's own life. A jury of three accomplished binders and book artists narrowed the field to 47. Each juror was then invited to submit one work, for a total of 50 pieces in the exhibition. Jurors had a difficult time narrowing the field of submissions to less than a third of the original total, working over the course of several weeks to come to a consensus. "It is an enormous tribute to the creativity and skill of the Guild’s members, I think, that while choosing the final pieces, we each found ourselves advocating for works which fell well outside our personal orientations to the field,” juror Melissa Jay Craig remarked. “Though the choices were extremely difficult, and a number of excellent works could not be included, we have a strong and varied exhibition." "I was struck by how much the quality of the submitted works continues to rise, [and] by the wide variety of techniques and metaphors employed,” fellow juror Peter Verheyen observed. “As a genre the book arts are as vital as ever and getting better every day." Works on display will include techniques, disciplines and formats ranging from the ancient to the contemporary; from “work in the codex format [to] complex folded structures, wooden constructions, hand-held toys and sculptural objects,” Hanmer said. The touring exhibition makes its inaugural appearance at MCBA, and will subsequently travel to eight additional venues across the country, closing in the spring of 2011. A list of additional venues and dates can be viewed on the GWB website. An accompanying exhibition catalog will be available for sale at The Shop at MCBA, featuring full color photographs and complete descriptions of each work; biographies of the artists; remarks from jurors Jeff Altepeter, Melissa Jay Craig and Peter Verheyen; and essays by Karen Hanmer and Guild president James Reid-Cunningham. “The membership of the Guild of Book Workers continues to be a vital force in both preserving fine tradition and forwarding innovation in book arts generated by keen minds and skilled hands,” Craig affirmed. For more information about the Guild of Book Workers, visit the GBW website.

 

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All exhibits and associated events are free and open to the public, unless otherwise noted.

 

Minnesota Center for Book Arts is open to the public: Tuesdays: 10 am to 9 pm Wednesdays through Saturdays: 10 am to 5 pm Sundays: noon to 4 pm Mondays: closed Minnesota Center for Book Arts is located in the Open Book Building in downtown Minneapolis 1011 Washington Ave S, Suite 100 Minneapolis, MN 55415 Phone: 612.215.2520 Fax: 612.215.2545 Email: mcba@mnbookarts.org © 2009 Minnesota Center for Book Arts