Today, the fine press book is thriving. This kind of artist's book, whose character derives from the properties and pleasures of craft, has emerged as the leading edge in a field that is attracting working artists and students in increasing numbers. Yet just twenty-five years ago letterpress printing was dismissed as irrelevant. It is time to mark this medium’s resurgence and consider its future arc.

The practice of letterpress printing incorporates craft standards and the book’s haptic character, along with art world strategies, materials and content. The resulting work can continue traditions in literary and typographical primacy, or ideas about craft can be filtered through interests in content, materials and structure. Fine & Dirty: Contemporary Letterpress Art assembles work by established and emerging artists that reflects this diversity, which together comprise the best in letterpress books today.

Work includes books that explore literary content traditionally associated with letterpress, as well as books created in response to social or political concerns; books directed by conceptual programs or sign systems; and books created through strategies such as chance and improvisation. Finally, although every letterpress book by definition contributes to a tactile and sensual art experience, the exhibition includes works that display a strong material or sculptural presence. The exhibition also investigates wider cultural influences evidenced in current letterpress work. These include D.I.Y. ("Do It Yourself"); Asian influences such as wabi sabi; other international influences such as (from the UK) Ken Campbell’s improvisatory approach and Ron King’s theatrical presentations, and (from Germany) a heightened focus on design and an inventive selection of papers.

Artists include:
Lynne Avadenka
Harriet Bart
Victoria Bean
Inge Bruggeman
Sarah Bryant (Big Jump Press)
Ken Campbell
Carolee Campbell (Ninja Press)
Macy Chadwick
Julie Chen
Aaron Cohick (NewLights Press)
Maureen Cummins
Bridget Elmer (Flatbed Splendor)
Leslie Gerry (Whittington Press)
Anja Harms
Diane Jacobs
Gunnar A. Kaldewey
Stuart Klipper and Colin Frazer (The Press at Colorado College)
Peter Rutledge Koch
Michael Kuch
Karen Kunc
Clemens-Tobias Lange (CTL-Presse)
Sara Langworthy
Russell Maret
Kitty Maryatt and students (Scripps College Press)
Emily McVarish
Daniel Mellis
Jeffrey Morin
Didier Mutel
Paulette Myers-Rich
Raymond Pettibon (Arion Press)
Robin Price
Simon Redington
Harry and Sandra Reese (Turkey Press)
Lisa Beth Robinson
Abigail Rorer (The Lone Oak Press)
Regula Russelle
Veronika Schäpers
Wilber H. "Chip" Schilling with Michael Dennis Browne (Indulgence Press)
Gaylord Shanilec
Lynn Sures
Barbara Tetenbaum
Ann Tyler
Claire Van Vliet (The Janus Press)
Marjorie Welish and James Siena (Granary Books)

The showing of Fine & Dirty: Contemporary Letterpress Art is presented in conjunction with MCBA's second Book Art Biennial and announcement of The MCBA Prize in July 2011.

The exhibition will tour to additional locations over the next two years, including the Center for Book Arts in New York City. A print catalogue will be produced to document the work on display and will include an essay by co-curator Betty Bright that explores the forces reshaping the meanings of craft in letterpress printing in the twenty-first century. Those observations may in turn shed light on the evolving role of letterpress in the worlds of craft, art and life.

Minnesota Center for Book Arts
is open to the public seven days a week:
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Sun: 12-4pm

Minnesota Center for Book Arts is located in
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Minneapolis, MN 55415
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© 2011 Minnesota Center for Book Arts