Online Exhibit Quick Links
National Exhibitions
For many, the horizon is a source of contemplation. In the journey of the individual, the horizon represents ambitions and perceived limitations. For the hand bookbinder in the 21st century, perhaps the horizon is the drape of a leather bound book. The Guild of Book Workers’ 2012-2014 exhibition prompted entrants to consider the horizon, to interpret the theme, as they were so inspired.
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Time has long captured the imagination of artists, writers, scientists, philosophers, and theologians. Guild of Book Workers members were invited to interpret "marking time" as broadly or narrowly as they wish. Themes included: 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.
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The 100th Anniversary Exhibit celebrated the Guild as it reached its 100th anniversary. This exhibit opened at the Grolier Club in New York City for the Guild's Centennial Celebration in 2006. The opening featured both a Retrospective exhibition and a juried exhibition of Current Members' works. The online exhibit features both.
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In Flight, offered a broad range of bindings, from traditional fine bindings to experimental book arts structures, with a few calligraphy and letterpress printed broadsides as well. Whether inspired by aircraft from the past, of the future, or the beauty of flight in nature, these bindings were not limited to aeronautics. The theme of flight also lended itself to the whimsical such as a "flight of fancy", and to the dramatic interpretation of flight from a place, as in fleeing from danger.
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At the end of the century, Guild members celebrated with "the best of the best" of their recent artists books, design bindings, small press printings, and anything bookish. There is a stunning variety of work from traditional techniques to the latest technologies of inkjet printing.
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Celebrate the alphabet with ABeCeDarium the Guild's 1998 members' exhibition. This exhibition is an excellent representation of contemporary work in binding, letterpress printing, calligraphy, illustration and artists' books. ABeCeDarium features the collaborative work with binders and calligraphers, binders and printers, binders and illustrators, as well a numerous other combinations.
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The Guild's 1996-1997 travelling exhibit, PaperBound, features different binding interpretations of Peter and Donna Thomases' book Paper. This book is a collection of samples of handmade paper from some of the finest hand papermills at work in this country.
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Fine Printers, Finely Bound, Too was the Guild's traveling exhibit during 1992-1994. It featured fine press books bound by GBW members. A PDF of the exhibit catalog can be downloaded (WARNING: This is a large 13MB file!).
Chapter Exhibitions
West of the Plains
2008-2009 Rocky Mountain Chapter Exhibition
A juried exhibit of contemporary book works by members of the Rocky Mountain Chapter of the Guild of Book Workers. An online catalog is available on the Rocky Mountain Chapter website.
The 2008 New England Chapter exhibition is Inspired Design, a set book exhibit featuring Lance Hidy's book about the design for the "Mentoring Stamp." The exhibit is hosted by the Mortimer Rare Book Room at Smith College in Northampton, MA through December 20, 2008. A catalog of the exhibit is available.
The New England Chapter sposored the exhbit "New England Vignettes" in 2004. Catalogs are still available. For information, contact Jeff Altpeter, New England Chapter chair.
The Rocky Mountain Chapter sponsored an exhibit which opened in October, 2003. More details are available on the entry form. As of now, there are no plans on putting this exhibit online.
Stone Eye was the Midest Chapter's 2002 exhibit and traveled around the region in that year. More information is available on the Midwest Chapter pages. The bindings can be viewed online thanks to Northwestern University Library. Catalogs for the exhibit are still available.
The 1999 exhibition of the Lone Star Chapter was called Heaven On Earth, featuring the text of John Muir. This exhibit is no longer online.