MINNESOTA BOOK ARTIST AWARD

MCBA CONGRATULATES JANA PULLMAN,
WINNER OF THE 2013 MINNESOTA BOOK ARTIST AWARD

Exhibition opening reception and presentation
Friday, February 8; 5:30-7:30pm, with a brief program at 6:30pm
Free and open to the public

Minnesota Center for Book Arts (MCBA) and The Friends of the Saint Paul Public Library are pleased to announce Jana Pullman as the winner of the 2013 Minnesota Book Artist Award. This annual award -- presented by MCBA and the Minnesota Book Awards, and sponsored by the Lerner Publishing Group -- recognizes demonstrated excellence and innovation of artistic work during the past three years, as well as significant contributions to Minnesota's book arts community. Previous recipients include Cave Paper's Amanda Degener and Bridget O'Malley (2012), Regula Russelle (2011), Wilber H. "Chip" Schilling (2010), Paulette Myers-Rich (2009), and Jody Williams (2008).

Pullman's primary artistic work in the book arts is in the area of Design Bindings. She creates unique bindings for specific books using materials such as leather (from goat, calf, buffalo, fish and even more exotic creatures), woods, metals, handmade papers, even eggshells. Her high expectation of craftsmanship pushes her to improve technique and explore new approaches. She is continually intrigued by the opportunity to use new materials and loves to utilize historical elements in her work. For Pullman, the book is part of a unique artistic medium that will never die out or be fully replaced.

Pullman is a faculty member in Book Arts at the College of Visual Arts in Saint Paul. She has taught a variety of workshops nationwide and since 1997 has been conducting classes in papermaking and bookbinding at MCBA. Pullman has also worked in printmaking, papermaking and as a book and paper conservator. She has been displaying her work in galleries for decades and has participated in exhibitions throughout the United States and in England and France. The recipient of several prestigious awards, Pullman was most recently the winner of the design award for 2012 Helen Warren DeGolyer Triennial Competition for American Bookbinding.

An exhibit celebrating Pullman’s work will run January 18 through February 24, 2013 in the second floor literary commons of MCBA's home, the Open Book building (1011 Washington Ave. S. in downtown Minneapolis). A reception showcasing the exhibit and honoring Pullman will take place Friday, February 8 from 5:30 to 7:30 pm at MCBA, with a brief program and presentation at 6:30 pm. The reception is free and open to the public, and features live music, hors d’oeuvres, and wine. Exhibits of Pullman’s work will also be featured at other venues throughout the state this year, including Saint Paul’s Central Library this spring.

Pullman will also receive special recognition and an award at the 25th annual Minnesota Book Awards Gala on Saturday, April 13, 2013 at the event’s new location—the Hilton Minneapolis. Awards will be presented that evening to the winners of the eight book categories (Children’s Literature, General Nonfiction, Genre Fiction, Memoir & Creative Nonfiction, Minnesota, Novel & Short Story, Poetry, and Young People’s Literature) and the Kay Sexton Award, sponsored by Common Good Books. Gala tickets will go on sale in late January.

The Minnesota Book Awards, presented by Marvin Windows and Doors, is a statewide, year-round outreach program of The Friends of the Saint Paul Public Library in partnership with the Saint Paul Public Library and the City of Saint Paul. Please visit www.thefriends.org or call 651-366-6497 for more information about the Minnesota Book Awards.