CNY Book Arts exhibition opens in E.S. Bird Library

CNY Book Arts exhibition opens in E.S. Bird LibraryJune 06, 2007Pamela McLaughlinpwmclaug@syr.edu

The Central New York Book Arts exhibition — featuring book works created by regional book artists, including students at Wells College in Aurora, N.Y., and students enrolled in Printmaking 552 in the School of Art and Design at Syracuse University’s College of Visual and Performing Arts — is on display in the sixth floor gallery area in SU’s E.S. Bird Library through Aug. 17. It is also available for online viewing at http://library.syr.edu/digital/exhibits/c/cnybookarts.

The exhibition features works by Jennifer Betton, Nicole Blum, Carol Ceraldi, Leigh Craven, Tijana Djordjevic, Diane Fine, Jessica Ginsberg, Beverly Hettig, Zebadiah Keneally, Sue Huggins Leopard, Robert LoMascolo, Conor McGrann, Ellen Nanni, Zoe Nementz, Shalini Patel, Bertha Rogers, Jamie Shoneman, Jane Tam, Robert Walp, Cynthia Wang, Craig Wischerath and the Wells College Book Arts Center.

The 22 works in the exhibition illustrate a wide range of book structures, including sewn books, accordions and sculptural works using such materials as clay, cloth, paper, leather and parchment. Techniques used for text and imagery include letterpress printing, woodcuts, silk-screen, laser/inkjet, calligraphic and combinations of these techniques. These works represent the final projects for the 12 students from SU librarian Peter Verheyen’s Printmaking 522 class. They will be added to the holdings of SU’s Special Collections Research Center after the close of the exhibition and will be available for study. Earlier works by Verheyen’s class were shown in Central New York Book Arts, an exhibition that remains available online on the library’s website.

The first “Central New York Book Arts: Traditional to Innovative” exhibition was held in fall 2001 at the Schweinfurth Memorial Art Center in Auburn and featured 31 works by 25 artists. Works by 12 students of Verheyen’s Book Arts class in the printmaking department of SU’s School of Art and Design were included in the exhibition. These students also juried the exhibition, giving them a first-hand look at the range of work being produced by regional book artists and a further opportunity to discuss the various facets of one-of-a-kind artists’ books, editioned fine press work, bookbinding and student work.

For directions to E.S. Bird Library, visit http://library.syr.edu/information…contact.htm#directions. Meter parking is available nearby.

For further information on the exhibition, contact Verheyen at 443-9756 or pdverhey@syr.edu.