20th Anniversary Events

In 1985, MCBA first opened its doors to the public. Twenty years later, the organization has grown into a thriving center. Throughout 2005, MCBA will be hosting a number of special events to celebrate, including special exhibitions highlighting the work of MCBA artists, lectures, parties, classes, family activities, a multi-day special session of classes and a host of other activities that demonstrate the diverse world of book arts. Here is a sampling of what’s in store for the year; stay tuned for more information

SAVE THESE DATES!

Bookish:

An Open Call Exhibition Showcasing the Work of MCBA’s Artist Community

SYMPOSIUM 2005

20 Fine Years

20 Fine Years is an exhibition that looks in-depth at the work of eight printers who have helped to shape the community of books and art that has grown up over the past two decades at MCBA. The printers represent a variety of interests and approaches, and thus capture a microcosm of fine printing’s development. The exhibition includes work by Philip Gallo, Robert Johnson, Allan Kornblum, Paulette Myers-Rich, Mary Jo Pauly, Regula Russelle, Gaylord Schanilec, and Chip Schilling.

Curators Betty Bright, Paulette Myers-Rich and Regula Russelle determined three criteria for participation. Printers invited to exhibit have a substantive engagement with MCBA or with the local book art community, are associated with fine press books (letterpress printed), and they are producing ongoing work.

Several of the printers were associated with MCBA in its early years. Allan Kornblum was MCBA’s first printer-in-residence, and all of the printers except for Philip Gallo have served as printers-in-residence at later times. Gallo is a respected concrete poet and a local printer, who has shown his work at MCBA and spoken at the Walker Art Center, which collects his work.

Work on exhibit will highlight the changes that fine press printing has undergone in the last twenty years. Some works reflect both a traditional amd literary emphasis, such as poetry chapbooks printed solely from lead type. Other books are printed in part or whole with photopolymer plates. With technological developments allowing platemakers to interface with personal computers, in addition to other changes such as a rising number of visual artists attracted to fine printing, many fine press books carry more visual content, and some integrate “paper engineering” such as pop-ups and fold-outs.

20 Fine Years also features a “show within a show.” Curator Derek Black has assembled a collection showcasing the art of bookplates, another fine press tradition. “Since the fifteenth century, bookplates (library labels) have evolved to include much more of the bearer’s personality, often with a specific theme or technique emphasized. Individuals create and commission bookplates as limited edition prints to be exchanged with other artists and collectors,” Black explains. In conjunction with this exhibit, Black will be teaching a family class on February 19th at MCBA, in which parents and children will be able to create and print bookplates of their own. See page 13 for more information.

EXHIBITIONS
Call for Entries!

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Spot On: The Art of Zines
and Graphic Novels

Annual By Design Exhibition

The Press at Colorado College:
The Pressroom as Classroom

To Have and To Hold:
Art You Can Touch

Plane and Form:
Contemporary Handmade Paper Works

December 3 - February 25

Co-curated by Mary Hark and Jeff Rathermel, this exhibition of contemporary handmade-paper artists’ works will cause you to think differently about what paper is and what it can do as an art form.

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