The University of Alabama School of Library & Information Studies, College of Communication, is pleased to announce the appointment of Don Glaister to its faculty bookbinding position, beginning fall semester 1998. Don has long been known for his work as a design binder and teacher, and recently as a book conservator. He will join Dr. Marcella Genz, historian of the book, and Steve Miller, printer and papermaker, to complete the three member faculty of the M.F.A. in the Book Arts Program, where students intensively study the craft and art of the whole book.
Roberta Pilette is now Associate Chief, Preservation Treatment Division at the New York Public Library. Her e-mail address: rpilette@nypl.org; tel: 212 930-0663.
Olivia Primanis, Senior Conservator at HRHRC, University of Texas, recently co-curated an exhibit entitled "Modern American Book Arts at the Ransom Center".
Elizabeth (Penny) Sherred has moved to be near her new granddaughter. Her new address: 7 Mayflower Lane, Salem, MA 01970; tel & fax: 978 745-8992.
Carolee Campbell is pleased to announce that the entire Ninja Press archive has just been purchased by the University of California at Santa Barbara. The archive will be housed in the UCSB Special Collections as part of the Skofield Printers Collection in the Davidson Library. It will be available for study and research.
Included in the archive are original manuscripts, design concepts, printing proofs and schedules, binding models with detailed instructions, photographs, correspondence, business records, and research materials used for every Ninja Press book, broadside and keepsake project. The archive spans the period from the inception of the press in 1984 to 1997. New materials will be added at intervals.
Ninja Press work is exhibited and collected widely by such institutions as The Getty Center, The New York Public Library, Yale University, The Houghton Library at Harvard, and The Bodleian Library in Oxford.
Enid Mark, Lois Johnson, Hedi Kyle and Denise Carbone's work was the subject of an article in The Philadelphia Inquirer of January 30, 1998 entitled "Books or Art? You Often Can't Tell by the Cover". The reporter Catherine Quillman writes: "Most people define a book as printed or written text bound in a volume. But what about a book that is designed not to be read but viewed as a sculpture or left open to reveal little dioramas, or stage sets? What about a book shaped like an accordion, a fan or a mini-blind? Are those books? Enid Mark, Lois Johnson, Hedi Kyle and Denise Carbone certainly think so. They are among a growing number of area artists and teachers practicing the art and craft of bookmaking..." She goes on to say, "In recent years, Philadelphia has become an important center for book arts, largely because of the University of the Arts' 40-year involvement in handmade books and printmaking. The University offers an undergraduate and a master's degree in book arts.... There's also the Delaware Valley chapter of the Guild of Bookmakers (sic), which offers workshops, lectures and exhibits in book arts..."
Members on View:
Carol Barton, Hedi Kyle and Richard Minsky's show, "Worthy Pioneers" at the Center for Book Arts in New York City January 24 to March 28.
Claire Owen's Book Artist Presentation at the Morris Library, University of Delaware on January 21.
Robbin Silverberg, Bonnie Stahlecker, Carol Barton, Bill Drendel and Julie Chen's work in "Bound To Be" at the Minnesota Center for Book Arts in Minneapolis until May 1.
Laura Wait's one-woman show, "Explorations & Transformations" at the Dayton Memorial Library in Denver, Colo. until May 3.
Claire Van Vliet's work during the 1998 Summer Artist Book Intensive at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City June 6 - July 23. Claire will conduct the Book Intensive in June.
Sidney F. Huttner and Elizabeth Stege Huttner are the authors of the Register of Artists, Engravers, Booksellers, Bookbinders, Printers & Publishers in New York City, 1821-42" currently on Oak Knoll's booklist.
Bill Streeter and Barbara Rhodes presented the results of their extensive research on the Copy Press document copying process at the Center for Book Arts in New York City in late February. Their book on the topic will be published by Oak Knoll later this year. Barbara is the Conservator at the Museum of Natural History Library in NYC and Bill is a Hand Bookbinder in Northampton, Mass.